This PowerPoint presentation was developed by Rab Erskine and was offered to the Cosca Members Gathering on Wednesday 7th September 2022. The slides highlight aspects of offering counselling/therapy in nature and are based on Rab learning over the years.. Rab has lived and worked as a therapist, in the Tweed Valley (Scottish Borders Region) for over thirty five years. His initial experience of working therapeutically started in 1985, while employed at a pioneering therapeutic-community project. After qualifying in 1993 as a counsellor and psychotherapist, and alongside working as a counsellor in primary care, he set up a small company offering nature-based short term residential experiences to individuals and groups. From 2004 to 2016, he was commissioned to run the nature-based project for the Adult Mental Health Psychiatric Rehabilitation service. For a number of years he also worked as a trainer and supervisor. He presently runs a nature based private practice alongside mentoring and working with charities that support adults with complex trauma.

1. Welcome
Cosca Members
Gathering
Environmental Therapy
Offering Counselling, Therapy,
Therapeutic Support, outside the
Counselling Room
Rab Erskine
7th September 2022

2. Overview of the slides
or a bit of a whirlwind tour
(30 minutes for slides then 20 minutes for
questions):
• The following ten slides focus on
my personal working environment as
one example of the terrain and
working conditions, alongside some
of the contextual issues I have
encountered.
• The second group of eleven slides
highlight more general points of
note.
• The four slides that follow those,
highlight work with groups with a
more activity orientated structure.
• And the last slide is a reminder
about insurance and membership.

3. What to expect from a nature-
based counselling/therapy session
in
The Tweed Valley Forest Park.
I have offered therapeutic support
in the Tweed Valley (Scottish
Borders Region) for over thirty five
years.
I therefore know most of the
walking routes and surrounding
terrain.
During any initial contract
discussions (by telephone or
email), I will discuss and negotiate
where to meet, how to get there,
what the terrain will be like etc.

4. More Urban
Landscapes
Although the majority of my work is based in
the Tweed Valley, I will, at times, agree to
meet individuals in more Urban areas. For
example town parks and local walking routes.
In this short presentation, I have included
information that will be useful in different
outdoor contexts.
However, some landscapes may need further
consideration prior to being offered as
working spaces.

5. My Hypothesis:
Although most Counselling and
Psychotherapy takes place effectively
indoors, there are times when there is a
need for a more natural working
environment.
This much broader working environment
sometimes known as: Eco-Therapy, Nature
Therapy, Eco-Psychology, Environmental
Therapy, can lead to the creation of a much
gentler therapeutic encounter.
Often (I believe) useful when there is
trauma or deep-seated emotional
experiences, or hard to get to aspects to be
worked with.

6. Experiencing or journeying
in nature as a way of
exploring your feelings and
experiences of life.
Can allow therapeutic moments to
be more naturally spaced out with
moments of silence and/ or nature
observation.
In these moments feelings can
settle and the connection with
nature may fill the space in ways
that can enhance the therapeutic
process.

7. Offering therapeutic
engagement
outdoors in Nature
May have to contend with issues of
weather and occasional interruption from
passing people or other nature-based
distractions.
However, for some individuals the
therapeutic experience can gain in many
ways. For example:
• From the healthier air quality available
in a natural space
• Alongside the studied (well researched)
benefits to our physiological system of
being in nature.
• Often individuals comment on the less
exposed feeling of walking side by side
rather than sitting opposite each other.

8. Offering therapy
in Nature
There is more of a sense that the
physical context plays a greater role.
For example: at the beginning while
exploring what today’s session may
focus on.
or
It can be more obvious that we are
nearing the end of the route.
Therefore, we can more naturally
bring this awareness into the
encounter in the run up to the end
of the therapeutic space.

9. Sharing access to
the therapeutic
space
Outside of the allocated time slot
for any indoor counselling/ therapy
session, the therapy room is not
available to the client.
While in nature work, the path or
bench remains available before
and after any therapeutic
encounter.

10. Transitions
Some clients engaged in
counselling in a room setting,
within a one-hour time slot,
may experience the transitions
between the outside world and
therapeutic space as quite abrupt,
harsh or restrictive.

11. Working
therapeutically in
nature: client X.
These slides may seem to be highlighting
the benefit of movement in nature.
One category is even described as: ’walk
and talk’.
However, look at the example of client X:
Physically disabled (can only be on their
feet for a few minutes each day).
Really wanted to access nature while
engaging in talking about their
experiences.
This person and I contracted for me to
pick them up at their house and drive to
the nearest forest site where there was a
carpark with benches next to it.
We can then sit in nature for the session.

12. Will I meet other
people on the walk and
if so what happens?
Occasionally, we can come across other
people out in the forest/park/riverside
walks. Normally cycling or walking their
dogs. (Of course, there are many tracks
that are less used and therefore it is less
likely to meet someone).
It is very normal to come across two people
walking in the forest/on a path and after a
brief passing ‘hello’ the interruption will
normally come to an end.
As mentioned previously, I will discuss this
potential intrusion with clients while
contracting and we will explore what the
clients needs are alongside discussing how
they would like to manage these moments.

13. If possible, use
a watch
Rather than a mobile phone,
when checking the time, during a
session.
It is much more distracting to look at a
phone screen than the face of a watch
and may be mis-interpreted by the
client.
If you need to use your phone in order
to check the time, let the client know
first.

14. Notice the kind of
clothes you are
wearing
Some modern fabrics can make a big
difference in terms of comfort and body
temperature.
If you are used to being outdoors, you
may wear good quality outdoor clothing
that is designed to keep you warm while
walking.
Our clients may not have access to this
level of specifically designed clothing.
So, you might be warm and comfortable,
and they might be cold and damp.

15. Know the
terrain
Walk the route regularly so that you are
aware of where you are at any point ,
incase there is a need to change the route
or shorten the route, as a way of catching up
on time.
Different speeds of walking
or stopping to talk for a few minutes will alter
the amount of time needed to complete a
route.

16. It can be helpful to
keep your client aware
of the particulars of
the route
At least until they get to know the route for
themselves.
At points during the session, acknowledge how far
you have travelled or how long is left (in terms of
time and/or distance),
so your client is not surprised when you say, “We
are nearly at the end.”
Although it might feel uncomfortable interrupting
your clients narrative,
it is important to keep them in contact with the
route (especially if it is a route you have chosen
and one they do not know).
Limiting surprises by keeping clients informed is
beneficial as this reduces shock and supports
clients feeling safe.

17. Clients may feel
more on an equal
footing
when engaging in a counselling session,
walking in nature.
It is of course a more neutral way to
meet up with someone.
This can often mean that clients may feel
more freed-up to be curious about you
and who you are.
I would identify this is a positive aspect
in any experience but you need to be
ready and clear about how you wish to
respond to these questions or
comments.

18. When discussing
where to meet
prior to the first
session
Discuss the length of the route and
the possible level of uphill/
downhill/rough or muddy sections.
Or parts that may be have a higher
potential of experiencing
distractions or interruptions (busy
parts of the park for example).
It is important that the client
knows what to expect.

19. Always leave extra
time before and
after each session
so that the ability to walk at the
clients walking pace can be
considered.
You might be a fast walker and
therefore may choose a route where
you can cover the distance easily
within the hour.
However, it is possible that clients,
especially when in the middle of
sharing a narrative and connecting
with feelings,
will be much less likely to be aware
of time passing.

20. Where possible
• Try and use the same route with
each client so they can become
familiar with it.
• This is valuable, as it can support
the client in feeling comfortable
and familiar with the setting.
• If there are small variations
available it can also offer an
opportunity for the client to decide
• which way to journey today
• or where to sit etc.

21. Be aware of the
way a route can
change
Under different circumstances
and with very little warning,
e.g. mudding up or heavy rain and
becoming slippery.

22. Mobile phone
signal
It is really helpful (and can be re-assuring)
to check that you have phone signal
throughout the route
Or
if not, then how far away the nearest spot
is, before you reconnect with a strong
enough signal.
Remember: Check that you have put your
phone on ‘silent mode’
and invite your client to do likewise.
Due to the fact that they are not entering a
therapy room they may simply forget.

23. I normally send a
confirming email or
text to each client prior
to each session
This can become a valuable
addition to your preparation in the
run up to each session.
Especially if the sessions are not
scheduled for the same time on
the same day each week.
This can also create an opportunity
to remind clients of a change in
the weather forecast or terrain
conditions.

24. 1995-2016
The Glengaber
Years
After qualifying in Counselling in 1993, alongside
a couple of years of research into different ways
of offering therapeutic support, I set up a small
company based at Glengaber Cottage.
From this site, I offered many therapeutic
experiences, using the nature-based model, from
1995 – 2004 with individuals and groups.
Mostly 16-25 years old adults and normally
individuals who would have met the criteria to
be identified as suffering from severe and
enduring mental health problems.
And who did not seem to be able to access, or
maintain working relationships with, what the
existing services could offer.

25. A Wilderness based,
Pre-Therapy orientated
way of engaging.
From 2004 – 2016 I was commissioned to run a project
using the nature-based, Pre-Therapy-orientated model.
The project was offered to clients from the adult mental
health psychiatric rehabilitation service.
Mostly the work of the rehabilitation service was to
offer support to individuals who met the criteria for
schizophrenia and/or psychosis.
My role was to establish and support engagement with
individuals from the ward as well as within the
community based mental health teams.
Individuals who were potentially at risk of taking their
own lives, severely depressed and withdrawn or not
engaging with the services.

26. Heart Wood
Charity
Since 2018, I have been co-
facilitating nature-based
therapy groups.
Alongside the facilitation, I am
mentoring the charity during
its initial phase of developing
its model of engagement.
The charity offers weekly four-
hour long activity based
sessions with room for,
Moments of therapeutic
engagement.

27. Heart Wood Charity
After getting the fire going, boiling the kettle and
handing out mugs of tea etc,
we have an initial check-in space where group members
can talk and be listened to.
We offer support with achieving environmental
activities.
We make group soup,
and sometimes homemade bread or rolls on the open
fire.
We are always available for any group or individual need
to talk abut their lives or feelings and these
opportunities are interwoven into the structure of the
time available.
The sessions always finish with a final check-out or
what are you left with? round.

28. And last, but not
least: Liability
Insurance
Governing bodies and Professional
Liability Insurers will have a clause
for working outdoors,
or what may be known as:
• Walk and Talk Therapy,
• Environmental Therapy
• Journey Therapy
Check that your own membership
and insurance covers this activity.