Walk & talk counselling in Norwich
Not everyone feels comfortable sitting face to face in a counselling room. Sometimes it's easier to talk when you're walking alongside someone, with a bit of fresh air and the world going on around you.
I offer walk-and-talk counselling in Mousehold Heath, Norwich. It's the same person-centred counselling I'd offer indoors, just in a different setting.
We'll walk side by side, at a pace that suits you, and you can talk about whatever's going on in your life. There's no particular destination, no fitness requirement and no expectation that you have to keep talking the whole time.
What happens during a session?
We’ll meet for sessions at the car park by Zak’s Mousehold. There's no set route we have to follow, and we can stop, sit down or take things slowly whenever you need to.
You don't need to be particularly fit or outdoorsy. This isn't about exercise or how far we walk. It's about having somewhere you can talk openly, with someone alongside you.
Some people find that walking makes difficult conversations feel a little easier. Others simply enjoy being outside, away from four walls. And sometimes we might just stop for a moment and take in what's around us.
There's no right way to do it, and no pressure to fill every silence.
Is there any research behind walk-and-talk counselling?
There's a growing body of research into the benefits of spending time outdoors, walking in nature and combining movement with talking therapy.
Some studies suggest that walking side by side can make counselling feel less formal and help people feel more comfortable expressing themselves. Research has also found that walking in natural environments can have positive effects on mood, stress and wellbeing.
The research specifically into walk-and-talk counselling is still relatively limited, and I wouldn't suggest it's inherently better than meeting indoors. But for some people, being outside and moving while we talk can make a real difference to how comfortable they feel.
If you're interested in reading more, here are a few studies:
Investigating clients' experiences of walk and talk counselling (2023) — Newman & Gabriel.
Walking and talking for well-being: Exploring the effectiveness of walk and talk therapy (2025) — Prince-Llewellyn & McCarthy.
Effectiveness of nature-based walking interventions in improving mental health in adults: A systematic review (2024) — Ma, Lin & Williams.
What about privacy and confidentiality?
Mousehold Heath is a public space, so there's always a chance we'll pass other people or encounter someone one of us knows. It can also be busier during school holidays.
I'll do my best to choose quieter routes, but I can't guarantee that we won't be seen or overheard. Before we begin working together outdoors, we'll talk about how to handle these situations, including what happens if we bump into someone either of us knows.
Your privacy matters to me, and I'll never identify you as a client to someone we encounter. If we're discussing something particularly sensitive, we can always pause or find somewhere quieter.
We can talk through any concerns before deciding whether walk-and-talk counselling is right for you.
Accessibility and practical arrangements
Sessions begin and end at the car park by Zak’s Mousehold, where there is a public toilet, open 10am - 5pm.
I've carried out risk assessments of the routes I prefer to use. Mousehold Heath has a mixture of paths and terrain, including some fairly steep sections, but there are gentler options too. We can plan a route that suits your mobility, comfort and preferences, avoiding steeper ground where needed.
We can also stop for a rest or sit down whenever you like. There's no pressure to walk a particular distance or keep up a certain pace.
If you have any concerns about accessibility, please get in touch and we can discuss what's practical before arranging a session.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Come rain or shine, our sessions will usually go ahead as planned. A bit of rain, mud or even snow isn't necessarily a reason to cancel — just make sure you're dressed for the weather and wearing suitable footwear!
The exception is extreme weather or weather warnings that could make conditions unsafe. If it's not safe for us to meet outdoors, I'll contact you as early as possible to make alternative arrangements, normally by moving our session online.
The usual 48-hour cancellation policy applies to walk-and-talk counselling, just as it does to my other sessions.
Fees and getting started
Walk-and-talk sessions last a full hour (60 minutes) and cost £60, the same as my in-person and online counselling sessions.
There's no minimum number of sessions. We can work together for a few weeks or longer term, depending on what feels right for you.
If you're interested in walk-and-talk counselling, I offer a free 15-minute introductory call. It's an opportunity to ask questions, talk about how outdoor sessions work and get a feel for whether we'd be a good fit.
There's no obligation to go ahead.