A free counselling service combining the benefits of spending time in nature and 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 counsellors, 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
Current Services
Outdoor Therapy for Fife Young People
A free counselling service for school aged children and young people in Fife, to address intense emotional distress, delivered in outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens, and beaches.
Outdoor Therapy for Veterans
A free counselling service for veterans in the Greater Glasgow area, offering support in outdoor settings to improve wellbeing and support positive change.
Our Outdoor Therapy service is currently funded to support these priority groups. Alongside this, we have extensive experience working with a diverse range of clients and can adapt our approach to meet different needs and contexts. If you would like to discuss our wider experience, partnership opportunities or future service development, please contact us at therapy@venturetrust.org.uk.
