Many people find it easier to talk to others whilst walking alongside together – it’s less intimate than sitting opposite. As a counsellor and coach Jo has found that literally ‘walking with’ someone on their pathway can feel very supportive and assuring. Walking together over, under, through, up and around different country can also really enable us to move over, through and across different moods, feelings and ideas we have – we might gain new perspectives that bring us new choices which may in turn help get out of any ‘stuck’ situation. Similarly, movement itself, helps move thinking and feeling – and having trusted, different people along with us can also bring new insights and options.

We walk in the bush to allow nature, the natural world to be our therapist – letting go of the digital domain for a short while and allowing ourselves to listen, see, smell, feel and to be differently. In many ways, Jo is there to facilitate the experiences, help make sense and make active what we discover rather than as counsellor herself.

Jo will guide us practically and also in terms of creating invitations to notice differently, to pause for a while, listen deeply, focus on a particular theme. She is also there for counselling conversations either within the group or more privately by dropping off the back of the group for a few moments.

There are lots of articles and further readings in the Outdoor Therapy / Bush Adventure Therapy literatures for those curious to know more. The model below is a neat distillation of the four ways in which outdoor therapies play out: the bio (physical, bodily); the eco (natural); the social (being with others) and the psychological (having therapeutic enablement).

Outdoor Therapy model by Adventure Works Australia, 2022.

For the purpose of the walk n talk pilot we use ‘bushwalking’ to refer to walks on firetrails, small trails and other paths through nature reserves and other green places managed to conserve the natural ecosystems and habitats for native flora and fauna. This excludes urban parks with mowed lawns etc. The ‘bush’ we walk through for the pilot has smallish hills, creeks and rivers. It means thicker, denser woodlands as well as open grasslands. All the bushy areas are reserves local to Canberra’s suburbs. In this pilot we are not venturing out to the bigger ranges of Tidbinbilla etc.

Trainers, walking shoes or walking boots – something with a reasonable tread so you can make positive contact with the trails and that you feel confident to walk on uneven ground in. They should be reasonably sturdy so your feet are not slipping about inside the shoe.

Clothes – dress for the weather. Layers are good – things we can peel off as we get warm going up hills and layers we can add on as we cool down when we stop or if the temperature drops. The ideal is lightweight, quick drying material but T-shirt and a couple of long sleeve layers is good enough.  Jeans are not great as they stay wet and cold for a long time and can rub.

Bring or wear a coat – ideally windproof or waterproof but use whatever you have and we’ll adapt.

• Bring or wear a warm hat and gloves if the forecast is chilly. An umbrella can be handy too.
• Bring water– at least 500ml, ideally 1 litre in a resealable bottle.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat are good to have as we move to spring.
• Your phone for photos, navigation etc.
• Personal medication that you would normally have access to. If you’ve a small first aid kit that would be great, however Jo will have a full First Aid kit with her. If bringing an Epipen or salbutamol or similar inhaler please let Jo know at the start of the walk.
• Camera / phone.
• Snack bar/ favourite nibbles for energy.

We will go out in all weather (unless it is dangerously cold or windy), so dress appropriately. We’ll adapt the walk length or route to match how we feel and the weather.

Sorry, but on this walks n talks pilot we are not able to accommodate children.

As we will be in Nature Reserves and in groups of folk who may / may not like dogs, we’d prefer you not to bring a dog with you.

People who have had or have cancer who have come to know of the walks n talks through the Cancer Council ACT. People of all ages, cultural backgrounds, shapes and sizes. People who are curious about being in nature, gentle exercise, learning a few new skills / practices and would like to do that in company.

You can choose to say as much or as little about yourself as you like. A key consideration and a core aspect of Jo’s work is safety – practical and psychological. So be assured we will pay keen attention to managing this appropriately.

We ask that everyone accepts some basic principles in how we’ll be together such as respecting one another, respecting the world we are walking through etc. We will actively work with anyone using inconsiderate or offensive behaviour or language and may ask them to leave the group.

We will walk on firetrails of fairly well compacted, even earth; some sections may even have blacktop; there will be stepped sections; some rocky bits with tree roots to be mindful of and, if it rains, we may even have some mud to tromp through. If walking on mixed terrain like this is new to you, Jo has a bunch of helpful tips and techniques to help us walk safely, efficiently and enjoyably in the bush.

If you enjoy these simple bushwalks and find the walk n talk helpful there may be a possibility of taking some longer hikes out later in the year.

This current series is a pilot, a chance to test out what works, what people want and what is possible. The Cancer Council ACT team will review as we go and at the end of September to work out what next. We base these decisions on many factors, not least your feedback, so please do let us know your experience and hopes.