Walk and Talk Therapy in Dorset
Counselling and coaching for men who think better on the move.
Why I work outdoors
My love of working outside started long before I trained as a counsellor.
For years I was a Forest School instructor, working with young people aged 6 to 16. Kids who struggled in a classroom would come alive in the woods. They talked more. They tried things. They found out what they were capable of.
I never forgot that. Nature does something a room can’t.
How walking helps
Sitting face to face isn’t for everyone and for a lot of men, it feels like an interview or an interrogation.
Walking is different. You’re side by side. Eyes on the horizon and the freedom of movement. The guys who walk with me will say that the pressure drops, almost instantly and that the biggest issues or fears just feel different when outside.
Moving gets you out of your head, whilst the fresh air offers a new perspective to the challenge you bring. "Everything looks different when I walk out here with you Ash".
The research backs it all up too:
A University of Exeter 2019 study of nearly 20,000 people found that just two hours a week in nature is linked to better health and wellbeing.
A 2015 Stanford researchers found a walk in nature quietens overthinking.
And a major 2024 review in the British Medical Journal found walking works well alongside talking therapy.
Walk 'n' Talk
Walk and talk is one of the ways to do the Live Full Partnership: six sessions to get to the root of why life feels like hard work, then build a life full of fun, freedom and fulfilment.
However, if the weather turns or life gets busy, we can switch that week to WhatsApp video.
Not sure yet? A single session is also available.
Get in touch first, as space is limited.
We meet at: Wild Woodbury car park, Southbrook, Bere Regis, BH20 7LL.
Your questions answered
Q: What if it rains?
A: That’s your call. I carry waterproofs, but you need to feel comfortable too. The only exception is strong winds. Safety comes first, so we’ll switch that session to WhatsApp video.
Q: Do I need to be fit?
A: No. This isn’t a workout. You set the pace and the direction, and we stop whenever you like.
Q: Is it confidential if we’re outside?
A: Yes. We’ll talk it through before we start, including what to do if we meet someone you know.
Q: What should I wear?
A: Comfortable boots and a layer for the weather. Some paths get muddy, especially in winter.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A:It’s best not to. A dog gives you something else to manage, and draws other dog walkers over. This hour is for you to focus on you. Assistance dogs are welcome, and I’ll consider other exceptions case by case.
Q: Are there facilities on site?
A: It’s a rewilding site, so it’s pretty basic. There’s a free gravel car park, but no toilets. Bere Regis village is close by, with a small shop for essentials and a local pub that opens in the afternoons.
Why Wild Woodbury
I walk with clients at Wild Woodbury, a 170 hectare rewilding project run by Dorset Wildlife Trust, on the edge of Bere Regis.
It’s easy to get to from Poole, Wareham, Dorchester and Blandford. Parking is free. And no two walks are the same. Wetland, grassland, scrub and young woodland, all in one place.
You’ll likely share the walk with Exmoor ponies, Hereford cattle and free-roaming pigs. Skylarks overhead in spring. Butterflies everywhere in summer.
What the land teaches us
Five years ago, this was farmland. Drained, worked hard, and producing as much as it could.
Then it was given space.
Since then, over 1,900 species have been recorded here. Skylarks went from two singing males to more than 55. Butterfly numbers have more than doubled. Water found its natural path again.
Nobody forced it. They just stopped running it so hard, and gave it room to recover.
That’s why I love working here. It’s a living reminder that growth doesn’t come from pushing harder. And that what’s possible is far bigger than it looks from where you’re standing.
