nature as your companion
grounded, sensory and affirming therapy
walk and talk is counselling on the move, side by side, at your pace, with the conversation still at the heart of it. We just have trees instead of walls.
Walk and talk can be especially supportive for:
Grief and loss. There's something about putting one foot in front of the other when life has stopped making sense.
Life after/with cancer or chronic pain. It's a gentle way to rebuild trust in your body, at a pace that respects its limits.
Trauma. The ground under your feet and the steady rhythm of walking can help your nervous system feel safer while we talk.
ADHD and restless minds. Your body is moving, so your brain doesn't have to fight to sit still.
Anxiety. Less eye contact, less pressure, and lots of places to rest your gaze.
Queer and gender-diverse folks who want therapy that feels less clinical and more human.
Life transitions. Being literally on the move while you figure out where you're heading.
About Walk & Talk Moving Counselling Sessions are 1 hour
Choose from various trails in the Northside Suburbs of Melbourne, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country
Coburg | Brunswick | Preston | Northcote | Carlton | Moonee Ponds | Reservoir
$80 per session
In our sessions, we may work with:
reflection & conversation; sometimes you just need to talk it through
patterns of tension, collapse, or activation
emotions, feelings, fears, worries, joys, hopes
how stress and trauma have shaped the way you respond
how your system finds its way back to safety
your lived experience, honoured
relational fractures, the ruptures, repairs and grief of change
life transitions and the ground shifting beneath you
your identity, and how you've come to know yourself
practising new ways of responding, relating, or being
somatic exploration, stream of consciousness, active imagination, tapping, regulation activities, creative therapy
Everything moves differently under an open sky.
Walking in natural environments has been shown to reduce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline while boosting mood. Researchers have found that time in nature enhances problem-solving and creative thinking. Combining physical movement with therapeutic conversation also supports better sleep and circulation, and can ease anxiety by taking the pressure off direct eye contact that traditional face-to-face counselling requires.
Walk and talk counselling sessions are available for people in Coburg, Brunswick, Brunswick East, Pascoe Vale, Preston, Thornbury, Northcote, Reservoir, Fitzroy North and Carlton North.
How a session flows
Arriving. We meet at the trailhead, take a moment to acknowledge whose Country we're walking on, and check in with how you're arriving today.
Walking and talking. We follow the conversation wherever it needs to go, with pauses for noticing, breathing or simply looking at something beautiful.
Landing. We slow down for the last stretch, reflect on what came up, and make sure you feel steady before you head back into your day.
Fresh air, trees, the sound of water or birds all help bring you back into the present moment. Often the setting quietly supports what's being said.
Walking is also a somatic practice in its own right. There's a steady rhythm to it: left, right, breath, step. That rhythm supports the therapeutic process. You might notice your feet on the ground, the temperature of the air on your skin, or your shoulders dropping a centimetre without you deciding to let them.
what to expect
Before we meet. We can have a free 20-minute call to see if we're a good fit and choose a trail. You'll get an intake form and your meeting point by email.
Your first walk. I'll meet you at the starting point. We'll spend a few minutes talking about what you'd like from the session and how you want to handle things like pace and pauses. Then we walk.
The pace is yours. We can stroll, stop, sit on a bench or stay still for a while.
Wrapping up. We finish back where we started. I leave a few minutes at the end so you can leave the session grounded.
What to bring. Comfortable shoes, water, layers, and a hat or rain jacket depending on the weather.
privacy and confidentiality
Being outdoors means we might pass other people, including someone you know. Before we start, we'll agree on what to do if that happens. I'll never introduce myself as your counsellor.
Confidentiality works the same as it does in a room/online. The usual limits apply, and I'll go through them with you in our first session.
weather and cancellations
Melbourne weather does its thing. Light rain is usually fine with a good jacket. If it's stormy, dangerously hot or smoky, I'll contact you. We can either move the session online at the same time or reschedule it.
For cancellations from your side, please give 24 hours' notice. Late cancellations are charged.
accessibility
The trails vary. Tell me what your body needs, such as mobility, energy levels, pain or sensory considerations, and we'll choose a trail and pace that work for you. Sitting sessions in a park are also an option.
walk & talk FAQs
Do I need to be fit?
No. We go at your pace, and stopping is part of it.
What if I am upset in public?
It can happen and we make space for that. People on trails are usually focused on their own walk. We can step aside, sit down or slow down whenever you need to.
Can I bring my dog?
We can discuss this when booking, it will depend on the trail you choose.
Can I mix walk & talk with online sessions?
Yes. Lots of people do both. You might walk when the weather's good and book online when it isn't.
I've walked through much of this myself. I know what it's like to sit with a diagnosis and feel your whole world shift. I know what it's like to carry childhood trauma into adulthood, and to move through the world as a queer, neurodivergent person navigating spaces that weren't built with you in mind. That's not the whole reason I do this work, but it's part of why I understand what I understand.
Walk & talk sessions are 1-hour sessions are billed at $80, with packages available.
Email hello@deannelove.com
