Sometimes, the Best Place to Think is Outside

What if a conversation about what matters to you could happen while walking beside the sea, through woodland, across the open countryside or simply in a green space near you?

At Conscience Coaching and Consulting, I believe there is something powerful about taking coaching outdoors.

When we step outside, something often shifts. We are no longer sitting opposite each other in a room, trying to find the “right” words. We can walk, pause, notice what is around us, breathe, and allow the conversation to unfold naturally.

And sometimes, when our bodies are moving, our thinking begins to move too.

Outdoor coaching is not therapy, but it can be therapeutic

I want to be clear about this distinction.

Outdoor coaching is a non-clinical intervention. It isn’t psychotherapy or counselling, and it isn’t intended to diagnose or treat mental-health conditions. Where clinical or psychological support is needed, that should always come from an appropriately qualified professional.

But therapeutic doesn’t have to mean therapy.

Something can be therapeutic because it supports our wellbeing, gives us space to reflect, helps us reconnect with ourselves, or enables us to see things from a different perspective.

And there is growing research behind the idea that nature can help.

Recent reviews have found encouraging evidence that nature-based interventions can support mental wellbeing, with benefits associated with activities including walking, green exercise, and spending time in natural environments. Research specifically exploring outdoor “walk and talk” coaching has also reported improvements in stress, burnout and wellbeing, although the evidence base for outdoor coaching itself is still developing, including my own MSc research which informs my practice.

That distinction matters. I won’t promise that walking outdoors will “fix” anxiety, burnout or any other mental health difficulty. What I can offer is a different environment in which to think, explore and make meaningful change.

Before we walk, we connect

For me, effective coaching starts with the relationship.

Before any coaching begins, I offer a no obligation chemistry session. This is an opportunity for us to meet, talk about what you’re looking for, and, most importantly, discover whether we have the rapport and foundations of trust needed to make coaching worthwhile.

I believe you should feel comfortable with the person you are going to be open and honest with. When there is trust, curiosity, and a sense that we can work well together, we have a much stronger foundation from which to explore the things that really matter.

So, what happens when we take coaching outside?

Perhaps you arrive feeling stuck and leave with a little more clarity.

Perhaps walking side-by-side makes a difficult conversation feel easier.

Perhaps the sea, the trees, the changing weather, or the path beneath your feet offers a fresh perspective on something you’ve been wrestling with.

Or perhaps nothing dramatic happens at all.

You simply have an hour where you can slow down, breathe, and think about what matters to you.

That can be enough.

A different kind of coaching

Through Conscience Coaching and Consulting, I offer coaching outdoors across the North East and Cumbria, creating space for people to pause, reflect, gain perspective and move forward.

You don’t need to be a keen walker. You don’t need to arrive with all the answers. And you don’t have to know exactly what you want to change.

Just bring yourself.

We can start with a conversation, see whether the chemistry is right, and take it from there.

Sometimes the first step towards change is simply being willing to take a walk.

If that feels like something you might benefit from, get in touch to arrange a chemistry session.

Research behind outdoor and nature-based approaches

• Kaleta, B., Campbell, S., O’Keeffe, J. & Burke, J. (2025). Nature-based interventions: A systematic review of reviews. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1625294.
• Shrestha, T. et al. (2025). Factors influencing the effectiveness of nature-based interventions aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing: An umbrella review. Environment International, 196, 109217.
• White, M. et al. (2021). Nature-based outdoor activities for mental and physical health: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SSM – Population Health. The review included 50 studies and found evidence of improvements in depressive mood, anxiety, and positive affect.

← Back to all articles