Spring, Nature and New Perspectives: Why I Love Working Outdoors

There’s something about spring in Mid-Devon that always feels deeply therapeutic.

After the long winter, the land begins to come back to life. Buds appear on branches, birdsong returns to the trees - oh what a joy and the meadows slowly begin to show signs of the new season as the wild flowers begin to appear.

Here just twenty five minutes from Exeter (and less from Crediton and Tiverton), I notice this seasonal shift every year, on the private land where I offer nature-based counselling and forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) sessions.

I recently read a lovely Counselling Directory article on nature-allied therapy in springtime and it really resonated with the way I work. The piece explored how spring can support reflection, healing and renewal and I found myself smiling because this is exactly why I love walk and talk therapy so much. 

For me, outdoor counselling is about so much more than simply moving therapy outside. It’s about allowing the natural world to become part of the healing process.

As we wander through meadows, a small woodland, or sit and reflect - without the intensity of sitting face to face in a therapy room, many clients find it easier to talk openly. The act of walking side by side, the sound of birds overhead, the feeling of the ground beneath your feet can all help to create a sense of safety and spaciousness.

And from that space, new perspectives often emerge, which is wonderful to witness.

This is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about walk and talk therapy here in Mid-Devon. Movement and nature together can help thoughts flow differently. When we’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, grieving, or stuck in old patterns, the outdoors can offer a quiet shift in perspective that feels less forced and more natural.

Noticing the first blossom on an apple tree reminds us that growth doesn’t happen all at once - it begins slowly, often invisibly, before eventually becoming something we can truly see.

Nature has a beautiful way of showing us they way - like when the leaves fall in Autumn, nature shows us it is ok to let go. Or when the new buds arrive we can use nature to remind us of fresh starts.

As an integrative counsellor and forest therapy student, I love weaving this deeper connection to the land into the work where it feels helpful. The restorative power of nature can help us feel more grounded, more present and often more connected to ourselves. It’s not unusual for clients to tell me they leave sessions feeling a little lighter.

Spring especially seems to hold an invitation towards hope and I think there’s something reassuring in that when it comes to our own healing. Therapy doesn’t need to be forced. Often it’s about creating the right conditions: safety, trust, compassion and enough room to breathe. Outdoors, surrounded by woodland, meadow and orchard, those conditions can feel perfectly supported.

This is why I love offering nature-based counselling near Exeter in Mid-Devon.

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, grief, trauma, ADHD, or simply looking for space to reflect and grow, working outdoors can help you find fresh perspective in a way that feels grounded.

Sometimes the shift we need begins with a single step outside and spring is a beautiful time to begin.