Hi All,
I’m David and a newbie MHM walk leader from the village of Banham in Norfolk. I am in the process of retiring as a psychotherapeutic counsellor at the moment and feel the need for some continued involvement with the support of those like me that struggle with their emotions. I have had life-long episodes with depression which came to a head around the turn of the millennium. I lost a really good job through it and fell into a deep abyss for a coupe of years. I am in a much better place now thanks to some counselling and then studying to be a counsellor with all of the personal therapy that goes with that.
My personal therapy really helped but it is much too hard to access on the NHS and prohibitively expensive privately. My hope is that in being a walk leader I can help others discover how much power they have in their own hands to come though it. By learning to listen to others we learn to listen to ourselves and befriend ourselves. For me, this is what has kept the deep disabling depression at bay for 15+ years. Sure, I still have tough days and probably always will but getting out under the big Norfolk skies and into nature is by far the best medication I have discovered and I’m keen to share in that.
My walks will be around Breckland and South Norfolk among trees, fields and fens. It’s nice easy walking where the focus can be on being together and not how good at walking we are. It won’t be counselling but I hope it will be a very warm, welcoming, and person-centred group.
