I’m Ruth Allen (PhD, MNCS) and I’m an outdoor and online counselling psychotherapist, professional development coach, and experienced consultant, trainer and facilitator. I offer weekly sessions through to multi-day journeys, for individuals, pairs and groups.

I specialise in outdoor practice, nature connection and working with mind and body in harmony. I’m interested in how we do relationships with others, nature and ourselves, how we make meaning of our lives, the stories we tell, how we live in our bodies, and post-traumatic growth.

I am also a writer, adventurer and occasional art-maker – exploring the intersections between nature connection, adventure, human and planetary health and wellbeing, movement and story. I occasionally work with brands to deliver important ‘people + planet’ health messages.

In 2008 I completed my PhD in Himalayan Geology with fieldwork seasons in India and Bangladesh. I have spent my adult life travelling the mountains of the world by foot. Highlights include, the South American Andes, The Romanian Carpathian, The Slovakian High Tatra, the Moroccan High Atlas, the Western Alps of France, Switzerland and Austria, and the Japan Alps.

I also have a special love for the cold north: give me half a chance and I will return to the Scottish Highlands or the arctic north of Finland. That said, I can easily pass several weeks running around the many lovely islands of the Atlantic.

In autumn 2018, I ran solo and unsupported across the Bosnian Dinaric Alps, an assumed world first, and I continue to enjoy inspiring people through new adventures that combine my love for place, people and purpose. In 2020, I will return to the Balkans to run the Dinaric Alps again from Montenegro to Albania.

Day-to-day I enjoy small adventures close to home and can be found biking, swimming, running and kayaking in the beautiful UK uplands with The Little Blue Camper Van.

When there is time left I like to read. A lot. I also take too many photographs. I am based on the edge of the Peak District, Derbyshire, UK, working out how to live a place-based life.