Outdoor Therapy

A free counselling service for young people and adults combining the benefits of spending time in nature and professional therapy.

海角社区鈥檚 Outdoor Therapy service

The service aims听迟辞听support people by combining the听full range of听产别苍别蹿颈迟蝉听from听迟颈尘别听in nature and the听outdoors听with professional therapy听to improve mental health and wellbeing.听听

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

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.听

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

These include, but are not limited to:鈥�听

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

We believe in the child's right to

Read our Children's Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment here.

Note: 海角社区 does not currently work with registered sex offenders or those subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

Read our Outdoor Therapy Impact Report 2021-22 here.听

Click to open and download our Outdoor Therapy Digital Leaflet.

Learn More about our Outdoor Therapy Training Courses

Key information Impact What to expect How to refer

Key information

East & Central

Locations:鈥� Fife.

Age range: 鈥� Young People (10-24) (Or, up to 26 if care-experienced).

Wait time:听3-6 months.

We have currently had to pause accepting referrals from听East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian due to exceptionally high numbers being referred to the service, we hope to review this situation in 2025.

West

Locations:鈥� East Ayrshire, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.

Age range: People of any age (16+).

Wait time: 6-12 months.

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

This is not a crisis service.听If someone is suffering from an acute mental health crisis, please read Our Immediate Help guide for advice听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:听

Reduced intrapersonal distress 鈥� e.g., anxiety, depression.
Improved interpersonal relationships 鈥� e.g., interaction with family and friends, communication.
Reduced social problems 鈥� e.g., antisocial behaviours.
Improved behavioural function 鈥� e.g., handling frustration, impulsivity.

What to expect

Referral stage: may take 3-6 months

There will be an initial consultation with a 海角社区 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 that Outdoor Therapy 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 Outdoor Therapy sessions (50 mins)听are offered initially. Sessions will be delivered year-round and in a range of听weather听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.听
Locations for sessions听will be agreed at a suitable outdoor听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.

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:

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