Walking Therapy in Stockport

If sitting opposite somebody in a counselling room feels a little too intense, walking therapy can offer a different way to talk.

I offer one-to-one walking therapy in Stockport and the surrounding areas, providing counselling outdoors while we walk side by side at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Walking therapy can feel less formal than traditional face-to-face counselling. Some people find that being outside, moving and not having constant eye contact makes it easier to talk openly and gather their thoughts.

My walking therapy sessions are convenient for people living in and around Stockport, Marple, Bredbury, Woodley, Offerton, Poynton, Brinnington, Cheadle, Bramhall and Woodford.

Walking therapy — sometimes called walk and talk therapy, outdoor counselling or outdoor therapy — is counselling that takes place while walking outside rather than sitting together in a therapy room.

The counselling itself is still the important part. It isn't an exercise session, and you don't need to be particularly fit.

We walk at a pace that suits you, and there is no target distance to cover.

Sometimes we'll walk throughout the session. At other times we may stop or sit somewhere if that feels more comfortable.

The idea is simply to create a setting where talking may feel a little more natural.

For some people, traditional face-to-face therapy can feel quite intense.

Sitting opposite somebody in a quiet room and being expected to talk about difficult things isn't comfortable for everyone.

Walking side by side can change that dynamic.

Being outdoors can give you something else to look at, allow natural pauses in the conversation and reduce the pressure of continuous eye contact.

You may find walking counselling helpful if you:

• feel uncomfortable sitting face to face in a therapy room 
• find it easier to talk while doing something 
• enjoy being outdoors 
• feel restless sitting still 
• spend much of your working day indoors or at a desk 
• find traditional therapy environments too formal 
• would simply prefer a more relaxed way of having counselling 

There is no right way to do therapy. What matters is finding something that allows you to feel comfortable enough to talk.

You don't need to have a particular diagnosis or problem to have walking therapy.

I work with adults experiencing things such as anxiety, low mood, stress, feeling overwhelmed, low self-esteem, bereavement, loneliness, relationship difficulties and family issues.

You may also simply feel stuck.

Perhaps you're struggling with work, questioning a relationship, constantly overthinking decisions or comparing your life with other people's.

Maybe you know something needs to change but aren't sure what.

You don't need to work that out before getting in touch.

My approach is warm, relaxed and person-centred.

I'm not there to tell you what you should do or decide what your life ought to look like.

I'll listen, ask questions, reflect things back and give you space to explore what is happening for you.

I can also draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Transactional Analysis (TA) when they may be useful, but the sessions are always centred around you.

There can be serious conversations when they're needed, but counselling doesn't always have to feel heavy or clinical. There can be room for humour and ordinary conversation too.

I offer walking therapy in the Stockport area, using suitable outdoor routes where we can talk privately while walking.

The locations I use can be convenient for people travelling from:

Marple
Bredbury
Woodley
Offerton
Poynton
Brinnington
Cheadle
Bramhall
Woodford

as well as other parts of Stockport and the surrounding area.

When you contact me, we can discuss which available walking location is most convenient for you.

We live in Greater Manchester, so unfortunately sunshine can't be included in the counselling fee. 😄

A little rain doesn't necessarily mean a walking session has to be cancelled, but your comfort and safety come first.

If the weather is particularly poor or conditions aren't suitable for walking, we can discuss alternatives.

You don't need specialist walking equipment, although comfortable footwear and clothing appropriate for the weather are a good idea.

Walking therapy is still confidential counselling, but being outdoors does mean we may occasionally pass other people.

We can talk beforehand about how we manage this, and I choose routes that allow us to maintain as much privacy as reasonably possible.

The usual professional limits to confidentiality also apply, and I'll explain these when we begin working together.

Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £50.

There is no fixed number of sessions you have to commit to.

Some people come for a shorter period to work through something particular, while others find longer-term counselling more helpful.

We can regularly review what feels useful for you.

You don't have to know before you try it.

Some people specifically seek out walk and talk counselling because they already know they prefer being outdoors.

Others simply don't like the idea of sitting in a therapy room and want to try something different.

If traditional face-to-face counselling feels too formal, too intense or simply not quite right for you, walking therapy may be worth considering.

If you're looking for walking therapy in Stockport, Marple, Poynton or the surrounding areas, feel free to get in touch.

We can talk about what you're looking for and which walking location would be most convenient.