I specialise in helping people to lead their own recovery from mental illness from Anxiety, Depression, Mania, Psychosis and Bipolar disorder.
These conditions and their symptoms can be extremely difficult to experience. We often can’t see or find our own way through them and need the help, support and beacon of hope that can be provided by those who know what it’s like first hand to experience these things.
I know how hard it can be to believe that you can help yourself, that you can regain some control of how you feel and how your illness affects you both day to day and in the long term.
I believe we each know deep down what it is we need, I work as a coach to walk side by side with you as you discover what you need to regain the authorship of your own outcomes.
How can I help you?
We all have things we can do to feel better, manage symptoms and alleviate suffering. We don’t always see what we can do for ourselves, and we don’t always do the things we know we could to feel better.
As a certified personal medicine coach I’m part of a conspiracy of hope! together with 4000 others I work with people to help them move toward mental good health. This can support you after a recent diagnosis, or during a time of difficulty. Personal medicine is the things we DO to improve our mental health. And working together, using tools I can share we will identify things you want to try to do and develop a way to help you do them.
I know from experience of managing my mental health for 20 years that recovery is possible. In my early 20s I suffered from anxiety, depression and psychosis. I wondered if I’d ever have the kind of life I had envisioned before mental illness arrived in my life. I learnt slowly that I couldn’t simply rely on pill medicine to keep me well. Some medication helped a lot. Other medication caused serious side effects or reduced my humanity. With support and CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) I found that I could take an active role in managing my symptoms, and preventing relapse.
Regaining a sense of control over my life and destiny was wonderful. And as I continued to learn about helping myself I came across Pat Deegan, a diagnosed schizophrenic who is also a research Psychiatrist who has developed a language for what i had experienced. Pats personal experience echoed my own and that of many others who found their inner wisdom almost in spite of the health care provided.
Working with me is no substitute for talking to your GP and NHS mental health services. But I can help in ways they cannot to help you connect with hope, and ways to support and care for yourself.
Whilst these days there’s more talking therapy available for mental health we have a health service resourced for crisis only, and mental recovery support can have very long wait lists.
I offer 1:1 walking and talking support. Based in stroud and surrounding areas.
My story
Following my own recovery from mental illness as a student and in my early 20s, I am passionate about helping others to lead themselves towards feeling better. Running and getting out into the hills and mountains are important tools for me in managing my own mental health. Step Outside started in 2019 after I moved away from leading teams to deliver commercial projects and started working as a mountain leader and marathon coach.
I practice yoga and mindfulness which have helped considerably in managing my own mental health and allow me to live more intentionally. I have partnered with yoga teachers to hold retreats that include mountain walking.
I work with Mind over mountains, a mental health charity that “wants want nature- & activity-based mental health interventions to be the norm, commissioned & prescribed by the NHS, & accessible to all.” We use an evidence based approach to deliver day walks and retreats.
This has led to me offer 1:1 support.
In 2024 I qualified as a Certified Personal Medicine Coach. In 2026 I have started to train as a Psychotherapist.
What is personal medicine?
Medicine is not just a pill. Medicine can also be what we DO. Personal Medicine is what we DO to get well and stay well. Personal Medicines are the small things we do to manage our distress and feel better.
Personal Medicines are the big things in life we do that bring us joy and meaning. Every single human being has Personal Medicine. Personal Medicine is part of our human resilience and inner wisdom.
What is a CPMC?
A Certified Personal Medicine Coach (CPMC) is an expert in supporting people as they discover and use Personal Medicine in their recovery.
CPMCs are dedicated to helping you discover your own power to get well and stay well.
CPMCs help spread the message far and wide that recovery is real and there are things we can do to help ourselves.
CPMCs can help you discover new Personal Medicine over time.
What does it cost?
I charge £40 for a 1 hour session outdoors. Longer sessions are available
Where will we walk? (Will we meet people I know)
we select a meeting point that works for you, I like to make sure we’re far enough from your home location to have the privacy this work needs.
Step Outside 