Walk-and-Talk Therapy

A form of therapy while walking outdoors in public places. I offer walk-and-talk sessions as an optional treatment modality. Walking sessions typically take place along a park with groomed trails or in a neighborhood. Some clients enjoy the experience of movement while talking or feel more comfortable talking side by side. Just being outside in the fresh air and sunshine which we get a lot of in Colorado can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and stress. We walk at your pace with plenty of benches with scenic views when needed. It's also effective when teaching you more Mind-Body Medicine or mindfulness based skills. "Relaxation strategies, which are central to evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), affect your physiology-the physical and biochemical processes that underlie health, pain, and functioning. These strategies can be used to decrease stress, anxiety, muscle tension and blood pressure; increase blood flow for faster healing, slow heart rate; change hormone and neurotransmitter levels; improve sleep; help you feel more in control of your body; and lower your pain volume." Rachel Zoffness.

If you're interested, we'll decide beforehand if it's clinically appropriate for your situation. Walk-and-talk sessions can be used intermittently or regularly and may be discontinued at any time.

Our blog post about Walk & Talk Therapy

Walk and Talk Therapy: Nature’s Healing Power

For as long as there have been human beings on this planet, there have been people who took a walk when they were feeling a strong negative emotion. There is just something so beneficial about walking. It seems to calm us down and clear our head so we can think from a calm and logical state instead of an emotional one.

So it makes complete sense that some people would be drawn to walk and talk therapy.

What is Walk and Talk Therapy Exactly?

Walk and talk therapy is a type of outdoor therapy and it is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of sitting in an office environment with your therapist, the two of you get out into the great outdoors and have your session during a lovely walk in nature.

Why Try It?

There are a variety of reasons to give this form of talk therapy a try. To start, it can be hard for some people to process their emotions while sitting still. Our bodies seemed to be designed to move while processing emotions.

Second, many people find the traditional talk therapy format awkward. Sitting in a tiny space with your therapist staring at you as you try and open up and bare your heart and soul is not an easy thing to do. But walking side by side while looking at beautiful nature helps make someone feel calm and open. There’s no doubt nature can be very healing, which makes it the perfect space for therapy.

What Can Walk and Talk Therapy Help With?

Walk and talk therapy can be very effective at treating numerous mental health issues such as:

Anxiety
Depression
Self-Esteem Issues
Life Transitions
Stress
Anger
Bereavement

Is Walk and Talk Therapy Right for Me?

If you enjoy being out in nature and are interested in a holistic approach to mental health, then walk and talk therapy may be a great fit for you. If you are struggling with depression or anxiety or are having a hard time processing your emotions and are interested in giving this form of therapy a try, please get in touch with me. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.

SOURCES:

https://welldoing.org/article/what-is-walk-and-talk-therapy

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/walk-and-talk-therapy-new-york-ny/52552

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