What is Walk & Talk Therapy?
Traditional therapy in a non-traditional setting.
Traditional therapy usually involves the client and the therapist, sitting across from one another, conversing in an office setting. For some, this very intimate dynamic can feel overwhelming; it can be difficult to hold eye contact, sit still, and share very personal details with someone you’ve just met. Walk & Talk therapy takes the conversation out of the office and into nature. While walking side by side with your therapist, you are literally moving forward in life. The movement allows for a relaxed conversation while gazing out at the natural beauty of Maine. From the very first steps clients feel confident that they are doing something truly good for themselves.
Engaging in regular exercise has many proven health benefits including a reduction in depression, anxiety, and weight gain. When walking is combined with talk therapy there are additional mental health benefits; exposure to mood enhancing natural light, increased blood flow to the brain allowing for expanded creativity, self-awareness, and problem solving, and increased physical awareness and understanding of how stress manifests in the body.
Walk & Talk therapy stems from the same theoretical platform that is the basis for psychotherapy. It is client-centered, and collaborative in nature, involving the same interventions implemented in the office. It is ideal for treating a variety of issues including, but not limited to: life transitions, anxiety, depression, grief, identity issues, relationship building, and self-esteem. Clients who begin the habit of walking in session are much more likely to continue to use walking as a form of self-care after therapy has ended. And for clients stuck in the past or worrying about the future, the act of walking encourages a focus on the here and now.
There are numerous benefits from the therapist’s point of view as well. Therapists are energized from the exercise of walking and more likely to avoid the problem of clinical “burn-out”. They are also able to gather real time information about how clients relate to their surroundings. There’s much to be learned from a client’s gate and perspective on the natural world.
We live in an increasingly sedentary culture; shopping from home, watching movies from the couch, sitting in cars or in front of computers all day, and our bodies are built to move! A changing society merits a shift in how we approach both physical and mental health. Engaging in therapy while walking, keeps the work flowing from a position of wellness while building the confidence it takes to establish larger goals.
The most significant differences between traditional therapy and Walk & Talk therapy lie in the areas of confidentiality and… the weather. It is important to understand that strict confidentiality cannot be upheld the same way as it is in a private office setting. It is possible for the conversation to be overheard or to be recognized by someone either the client or the therapist knows. These are situations that will be explored ahead of time. Sometimes the weather does not cooperate, but I am not easily swayed from time spent outdoors! We always have the option to reschedule or to meet in the office instead.
If Walk & Talk therapy sounds like a good fit for you, please contact me and we will set up our initial meeting at my office. Together we can decide on goals for treatment and the venues for our walks. I have many favorite beaches and parks to suggest, but I’m always open to new ideas. Thanks for taking the time to learn about Walk & Talk Therapy. I hope to hear from you soon.