"In nature nothing exists alone." Rachel Carson
I provide therapy and coaching sessions outdoors on Hackney Marshes, drawing on principles from my training in nature-allied psychotherapy with The Nature Therapy School.
Nature-allied psychotherapy or ecotherapy recognises the profound healing power of the natural world. By working outdoors on Hackney Marshes, we invite the wisdom of the landscape into our therapeutic relationship. The changing seasons, the flow of the River Lea, and the vast open skies create a living, breathing container for our work together. The marshes offer endless metaphors for life's challenges and transitions – from the meandering waterways to the seasonal cycles, from the migrating birds to the resilient plant life that thrives in this urban wilderness.
Hackney Marshes is East London's largest area of common land, offering 337 acres of open grassland, wetlands, and riverside paths offering:
Space to breathe away from the intensity of city life
Connection to natural rhythms that ground and centre us
A sense of wildness within reach of urban living
Rich biodiversity that mirrors life's complexity and beauty
Weather and seasons that teach us about change and resilience
What to Expect
Your First Session
We'll meet at a designated spot on the marshes and begin with a gentle walk, allowing you to settle into the natural environment. There's no pressure to share immediately – sometimes the landscape itself opens conversations we didn't know we needed to have.
The Therapeutic Process
Each session is unique, responsive to both your needs and what the natural world offers that day. We might:
Walk mindfully along the river paths while exploring your concerns
Sit quietly by the wetlands to deepen awareness and reflection
Use natural objects and landscapes as therapeutic tools
Practice grounding exercises that connect you to both earth and self
Work with the metaphors that emerge from seasonal changes
Weather and Seasons
We work outdoors in all seasons, and in all weathers unless there is a risk to safety. The changing conditions become part of our therapeutic exploration – what does it mean to find shelter in a storm, or to feel the first warmth of spring on your skin?
If you're curious about this approach, or if something in these words resonates with you, reach out. We can start with free 20 minute video or phone conversation to explore whether this way of working feels right for you.