Most of us feel better from getting outside in fresh air and sunshine. There’s a growing body of evidence pointing to the mental health benefits of nurturing our connection with nature.
Counselling and psychotherapy can become very thought / head focused yet we are embodied beings. Moving in nature can awaken much in us and can help us make mind-body connections. We can reconnect with the body and senses in ways which open up different channels of information or wisdom.
Being outdoors gives us a spacious perspective from which to notice and experience our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Connecting with the natural landscape can help us put our internal landscape into context.
By taking therapy outdoors we will encounter things that we don’t meet in the same way when working in a room. We may identify themes such as season change, birth, loss and renewal.
We may encounter unexpected weather, physical discomfort or self-judgement about fitness and the body.
I work in quiet spaces but there’s always the possibility of meeting other people or animals. These challenges will give us fertile ground to learn and practice psychological flexibility skills – right here and now in the moment.
Working outdoors invites curiosity about where and what we are drawn to. Where do our heart and our feet want to take us? What direction do we choose and what is getting in our way?