Walk-and-Talk Therapy
Do you love being in nature?
Walk-and-Talk Therapy, a Nature-based Therapy, is a therapeutic approach that combines the low-impact exercise of walking outdoors with traditional talk therapy.
Restructuring the therapeutic interaction of typical face to face talk therapy, your therapist will walk side by side with you in nature. Creating a more conversational approach to a traditional therapy session, they will guide you to cultivate a mindful relationship with your thoughts and habits through movement.
Walk-and-Talk Therapy activates different parts of our brains, engaging our senses in the sights, sounds, smells, and tactile experience of walking. This includes bilateral stimulation – a mode of brain activity that calms us.
As client and therapist move through the world together, clients have the opportunity to derive meaning from what they see in nature, helping them resolve unhelpful patterns in their lives. Nature offers us metaphors that can help us reimagine our own lives.
What to Expect in Walk-and-Talk Therapy at Inside Passage Relationship Counseling
Inside Passage couples therapists are trained in Walk-and-Talk Therapy to support your journey toward a happier, healthier life.
Initial Consultation
& Assessment
During the initial consultation, your therapist will explain the concept of Walk and Talk Therapy, including its benefits and logistics. During this time your therapist will evaluate whether this approach is the recommended approach for you, taking into consideration factors such as physical health, mobility, comfort with outdoor settings, and therapeutic goals.
Planning and Preparation
Together, we will set clear therapeutic goals and discuss what you hope to achieve through Walk and Talk Therapy. We will then identify safe, accessible, and relatively private outdoor locations that are conducive to walking and talking. This could include parks, trails, or quiet neighborhoods. Finally, we will agree on practical details such as meeting points, weather contingencies, appropriate attire, and session duration.
Beginning
the Sessions
We will begin each session with a
brief warm-up discussion to
check in on your current state and
set the tone for the session.
We will then establish a comfortable walking pace that allows for conversation without
causing physical strain or
distraction.
Conducting Sessions
Your therapist will facilitate the session as they would in a traditional setting, using therapeutic techniques and interventions appropriate for your needs.Your therapist is prepared to adapt the session based on your responses and any environmental factors. Sometimes, the natural surroundings can be integrated into the therapy process. For example, discussing feelings while observing nature or using metaphors related to the environment.
Concluding a Session
Towards the end of the walk, we will gradually transition to a slower pace or a stationary discussion to reflect on the session’s insights and progress. Summarizing the key points discussed during the session, we will review any progress made, and set objectives or tasks for the next session.
Follow Up
Your therapist will reach out for feedback regarding your experience, including what you found helpful and what areas might need improvement so that they can adjust accordingly and based on the therapeutic goals.
“My experience with Inside Passage is life-changing and positively powerful! So much so that others are excited about the changes they are seeing.”
-Anonymous
Walk-and-Talk Therapy Successfully helps:
- Reduce anxiety and depression
- Connect with Yourself
- Regulate your Emotions
- Heal from Past Trauma
- Understand Habits of Mind
- Raise Self-Esteem
- Cultivate Self-Confidence
- Manage Stress
- Explore Identity
- Reduce Compuslive behaviors
Lasting change requires the right intervention with the right guide.
Find a Trained Walk-and-Talk Therapist
Choosing to seek therapy isn’t always easy, but finding the right therapist should be.
We are committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space that welcomes all individuals, regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or relationship structure.
Evan Holmstrom, MS, LMHCA
IFS Therapy Informed, Integrative Approach, Anxiety, Depression, Identity and Development,...
Read More“There is something about being out in nature that helps my nervous system relax enough to actually access what’s going on inside me.”
-Anonymous
We are here to help you!
Scheduling team: Meghan, Chris and Molly
Call Today
Our professional client care coordinators will answer your questions and help you find the right therapist.
Initial Session
We’ll schedule an initial session with your therapist so you can discuss your goals and how the therapist can help.
Recurring Sessions
If it’s a good fit, we’ll schedule recurring sessions weekly or biweekly to help you meet your goals.
Connect with yourself through Walk-and-Talk Therapy.
If you are ready to improve your emotional well-being and quality of life, contact Inside Passage Relationship Counseling today.