Exploring the therapeutic adventure: The pandemic lockdowns and restrictions have created a yearning for outside spaces and the great outdoors. Heidi Shingler explores the practical and philosophical considerations for outdoor and adventure therapies.

In this article, I invite readers to consider the potential of outdoor therapies and to think about what it would mean to step outside with a client, engage with the natural environment, library picture, for illustration and to embrace an element of adventure within the therapeutic process. I’m not suggesting that every counsellor should pack up a rucksack and head out for the hills with their clients. As with all therapeutic approaches, careful consideration should be given to exploring the questions: ‘Why this approach?’, ‘Why with this client?’ and ‘Why now?’.