Outdoor Therapy

Venture Trust’s Outdoor Therapy service

The service aims to support people by combining the full range of benefits from time in nature and the outdoors with professional therapy to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Outdoor Therapy is delivered in urban outdoor and green spaces such as parks, community gardens, woodlands, beaches or local hills. It can help people gain perspective and reflect on past or current life events that are troubling. Metaphors offered by nature may develop into insight on feelings, relationships and experiences.

Individuals access greenspaces and experience the grounding benefits of nature, which clears a busy mind and brings feelings of calm and stability for people who regularly experience high levels of stress and chaos at home. In this way nature offers an opportunity for reflection that can be utilised within therapy practice.

This will be delivered by our team of dedicated and qualified therapists, including trainee therapists where appropriate. For many people, outdoor therapy may be more suitable than traditional therapeutic settings. Participants can connect with nature in their local areas building a connection to place and community. Our team have specialist knowledge and are experienced in working outdoors with the issues facing our clients.

These include, but are not limited to: 

poor mental health and emotional wellbeing

violence and aggression

depression

relationship and family difficulties

anxiety and stress

grief and trauma

loneliness and social isolation

problem substance use

Download a brochure

Key information Impact What to expect How to refer

Key information

Age range:  16+

Location: Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Fife, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire.

Who it's for: Young People (16-25) and ex-service personnel.

It may be particularly appropriate for people who have sought support through traditional statutory therapeutic services (GP’s; CAMHS/community psychiatric services; other counselling; psychotherapy; CBT etc.) but have not been able to make the changes they were hoping for or were unable to gain access to services.

This is not a crisis service. If someone is suffering from an acute mental health crisis, please read Our Immediate Help guide for advice on how best to seek immediate support.

Impact

Outcomes of therapeutic intervention are highly individualised, however some expected results for this kind of intervention include:

Individuals have improved mental wellbeing and are better able to action their future plans.  
Individuals develop strategies to reduce the risk of getting involved with crime. 
Individuals have the skills, confidence and support to address some underlying causes of offending, eventually moving away from crime. 
Individuals are better placed to deal with the challenges of the modern workplace.
Individuals better understand and can communicate their experiences constructively.

What to expect

Referral stage: may take 3-4 weeks

There will be an initial consultation with a Venture Trust therapist by phone or video-call.
The participant will discuss their situation and get a sense of who we are and what they might gain from attending.
If both participant and therapist agree the programme would be appropriate a dedicated therapist is allocated and a first session planned.

If we are operating a waiting list, we will inform the referral as soon as possible of the expected timescales.

Outdoor Therapy delivery:

12 weekly 'walk and talk' sessions (50 mins) are offered initially. Sessions will be delivered year-round and in a range of weather conditions, so access to suitably warm/waterproof clothing and footwear is helpful, but not essential. During extreme weather, the session will revert to online/phone.
Locations for sessions will be agreed at a suitable outdoor space with the participant.
As a part of the service, participants may be offered the chance to take part in group sessions alongside individual work.
Occasional indoor or online sessions will be used if the weather is poor or operating within Covid-19 restrictions.

How to refer

If you have questions about outdoor therapy or want to find out more about this service for yourself or a potential referral, please contact: therapy@venturetrust.org.uk

To make a referral, please complete our webform: Outdoor Therapy Referral Form

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