Andrea LongCounselling & Psychotherapy
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Walk and Talk Therapy in Bolton

Counselling doesn’t have to happen in a room. Walk and Talk Therapy is counselling outdoors: we walk side by side and talk, at a pace that suits you, somewhere we’ve agreed together in advance.

It’s another way of working, not a better one. Some people simply find it easier to open up when they’re moving and not facing someone across a room.

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  • Free introductory call
  • £50 for 60 minutes
  • Outdoors, by arrangement
Two people walking side by side across open parkland, seen from behind

A different setting

Talking side by side

In a counselling room, you usually sit facing your counsellor. Walking changes that. We look ahead rather than at each other, and there’s movement and space around the conversation.

The counselling itself is the same: confidential, unhurried and focused on you. As the BACP explains, outdoor therapy may suit people who find indoor settings confining, or who find it easier to talk while moving.

  • Less eye contactSome people find it easier to say difficult things when they’re not being looked at directly.
  • Room to moveIf sitting still makes you restless or tense, walking can feel more natural.
  • A less formal feelBeing outside can make starting counselling feel a little less daunting.

On the day

What happens on the day

Here’s what a walking session may involve.

  1. We agree the place beforehand

    We choose a location together in advance, so you know where we’re going and what to expect before the day.

  2. We meet and settle in

    We start by checking in, the same as any session, and agree anything we need to for walking outdoors.

  3. We walk at your pace

    There’s no target distance and no need to keep up. We go as quickly or as slowly as feels right, and the conversation can wander as much as the path.

  4. We can pause, sit or be quiet

    You don’t have to walk continuously. We can stop, find somewhere to sit, or walk in silence for a while. Silence is part of counselling, outdoors as much as in a room.

  5. We finish together

    The session lasts 60 minutes. We’ll leave time to wind down before we part, so you’re not stepping straight from a difficult conversation into the rest of your day.

Privacy

Privacy outdoors

What you say on a walk is just as confidential as what you say in a room, within the same limits I explain at the start of counselling.

Being outside does mean other people may be around. That’s worth thinking about before you choose this way of working.

If we see someone you know

We’ll agree beforehand what you’d like to happen, for example simply saying hello and carrying on, or pausing the conversation until we’re on our own again.

Choosing where we walk

When we agree a location, we can consider how busy it’s likely to be and whether you’d prefer somewhere you’re less likely to be recognised.

Being prepared

Weather and what to wear

Walk and Talk Therapy depends on the weather. If conditions aren’t suitable, we’ll arrange what to do instead.

  • Comfortable footwearShoes you can walk in for an hour, suited to the ground we’ve agreed on.
  • LayersClothing for the weather, including something waterproof if it might rain.
  • WaterSomething to drink, especially on warmer days.
  • Anything you needAny medication or other essentials you’d usually carry with you.

A first step

Not sure if walking would suit you?

The free introductory call is a chance to ask about anything, from privacy to pace and where we might walk, and to decide whether outdoors, face-to-face or online feels right for you.

Arrange a free introductory call

Prefer to start with a message? WhatsApp me

  • Free introductory call
  • No obligation to book
  • Sessions are £50 for 60 minutes

Other ways to meet

Prefer to stay indoors?

Walking isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I also offer:

Anywhere in the UK

Online Counselling

Sessions from home, for adults anywhere in the UK, at the same £50 fee.

Explore online sessions
Andrea Long, counsellor and psychotherapist

Who you’ll be walking with

I’m Andrea Long

I’m a BACP-registered counsellor and psychotherapist (MBACP 414595). I work using Transactional Analysis and see adults in person at Douglas House in Bolton, online and outdoors.

Wherever we meet, I’ll go at a pace that suits you. The free introductory call lets us both decide whether we can work well together.

More about Andrea

Questions

Questions about Walk and Talk Therapy

For general questions about starting counselling, see what to expect.

What is Walk and Talk Therapy?

It’s counselling that takes place outdoors while we walk side by side, rather than sitting opposite each other in a room. It’s the same counselling, with the same professional boundaries; only the setting changes. It’s sometimes called walking therapy or outdoor counselling.

Is it better than counselling in a room?

Not necessarily. It’s another way of working that some people find more comfortable. Others prefer the privacy and stillness of a room, or the convenience of online sessions. You can choose whichever suits you, and the introductory call can help you decide.

What does walking do for your mental health?

Many people say they find it easier to talk while they’re moving, or with less direct eye contact. I won’t promise particular effects, though: what matters most in counselling is having space to talk and feeling able to trust the person you’re talking to.

How much does Walk and Talk Therapy cost?

Sessions are £50 for 60 minutes, the same as face-to-face and online sessions. The introductory call is free. You can pay by card, bank transfer or cash. I ask for 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel; late cancellations are charged at £25.

Where do sessions take place?

We agree a location together in advance, before your first walking session.

Can I switch between walking, face-to-face and online sessions?

I also offer counselling in a private room at Douglas House in Bolton and Online Counselling anywhere in the UK. If walking stops suiting you, we can talk about changing.

What if I’m nervous about counselling outdoors?

That’s understandable. You don’t need to decide straight away. The free introductory call is a chance to ask about anything that worries you, from privacy to pace, before you choose how we’ll meet.

Getting in touch

Let’s talk about where to start

Send me a WhatsApp message to arrange a free introductory call, and mention that you’re interested in walking sessions. A sentence is plenty.

Message me on WhatsAppContact and directions
£50
per session, outdoors, in person or online
60 minutes
for every session
Free
introductory call before you decide

Fees, payment and cancellations

Or send a short enquiry

Step 1 of 4

A few quick questions to arrange your free 10–15 minute introductory call.

How would you like to work with me?
How would you like me to confirm your introductory call?
When are you usually free for the call?

Choose any that suit you. This isn’t a booking; I’ll suggest a time when I get back to you.

Days

Times

Your details

Please keep this brief and do not include medical, diagnostic or other sensitive health information.

Other ways I can help

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Grief and loss

Bereavement Counselling

Space to talk about someone you’ve lost, including the feelings that can be hard to keep sharing with friends.

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My approach

Transactional Analysis Therapy

A practical way of understanding why you think, feel and react as you do, explained in plain English.

How it works

Anywhere in the UK

Online Counselling

Online sessions for adults anywhere in the UK, at the same fee as face-to-face sessions.

Explore online sessions
Free intro call