A supportive outdoor wellbeing group for people navigating sickness absence, burnout, anxiety, life transitions, or returning to work. Common Ground is a gentle, facilitated outdoor group designed for people who feel disconnected, overwhelmed, isolated, or uncertain about their next steps. Whether you're recovering from burnout, managing anxiety, navigating a significant life change, or returning to work after a period of sickness absence, this group offers a calm and supportive space to reconnect with yourself, others, and the natural world. Held in a private garden therapy space in South Hiendley, Wakefield, Common Ground helps participants rebuild confidence, restore routine, improve wellbeing, and gently increase their capacity for everyday life. This is not therapy and it is not employability training.It is a bridging space between where you are now and where you want to be.A place to slow down, land, reconnect, and move forward at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
This group is suitable for individuals who may be:
This group may be helpful if you are:
No diagnosis, disclosure, or work-readiness is required.
Each 2-hour session is lightly structured and facilitated, with flexibility to join around existing return to work plans. Sessions blend evidence based practice from the 5 Ways to Wellbeing framework (New Economics Foundation) and the 5 Pathways to Nature Connection (University of Derby) and include gentle movement, mindful walks, reflective practices, group sharing, and quiet time in nature. The focus is not on performance or productivity and there is no expectation to “fix” or “push”; instead, participants are supported to listen, notice, and respond with compassion towards themselves. Activities may include:
The sessions are trauma-informed, accessible, and paced to support nervous system regulation. Participants are invited, never required, to take part. Observation and quiet presence are always welcome. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to spend time outdoors and explore what wellbeing means personally.
Periods of absence or major life change often come with:
Nature-based, relational group spaces support mental health by:
For many people, Common Ground becomes a gentle first step towards reconnecting with everyday life.
Common Ground can sit alongside:
While this is not a productivity intervention, organisations often see benefits such as:
The group can sit alongside Occupational Health, EAPs, or return-to-work plans as a proactive, low-pressure wellbeing support option.
Outcomes organisations value
Common Ground is facilitated by Zoë, an Occupational Therapist and Nature Therapist based in Wakefield. Zoë specialises in supporting adults experiencing anxiety, burnout, nervous system dysregulation, life transitions, neurodivergence, and difficulties with everyday functioning. Her approach combines Occupational Therapy, nature-based practice, and trauma-informed wellbeing support to help people rebuild confidence, regulation, and connection in everyday life. Read more
Referrals are welcome from
It can be offered as:
