What is Walk & Talk Therapy?

Walk & Talk therapy is a combination of traditional talk-psychotherapy with the added therapeutic benefit of being and walking in nature. It has been clinically found to provide positive improvements in mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, general stress, and grief.

Together with your therapist, you will decide a pre-set path or trail within the community
to walk along together during the duration of the session. There will be opportunities to slow down, pause, take in the environment, reflect, and draw from the surroundings when discussing specific therapeutic strategies or interventions such as mindfulness observations.

While there are physical benefits to walking, Walk & Talk therapy is not considered an exercise class or a strenuous form of walking but rather a steady pace that feels comfortable to you.

What Are the Benefits of This Approach?

• Being in an outdoor setting can help you feel more at ease to open up and discuss concerns versus a traditional office setting;
• It allows our bodies to be in a relaxed stat, to feel grounded and also encourages the adoption of new healthier perspectives versus old negative ruminating thoughts. It can help regulate intense emotions such as anger or frustration and release feelings of ‘stuck-ness’;
• Getting outside reduces our blood-pressure and our stress-hormones whilst increasing our feel-good hormones such as serotonin subsequently increasing positive affect, mood, and overall well-being;
• It improves our ability to be focused, attentive and present;
• It helps us be present and gets us out of our minds and allows us to process and ‘feel’ our feelings.

Important Note:

Compared to a therapy session in an office, therapy in an outdoor setting means there are limits to confidentiality. While your therapist will do their best to ensure that your confidentiality remains protected during the session, there is the added risk that disclosure and physical responses such as crying during the session may be overheard and witnessed by others that are in close proximity.

Is Walk & Talk Therapy Right for Me?

The first session will be an office setting to build rapport and an intake to discuss presenting issues, consent and to discuss what Walk & Talk therapy could look like and to determine if it could be a right fit for you.