Walk and Talk Therapy

For some people, sitting face-to-face while focusing on emotional or psychological difficulties can feel overwhelming or activating. Walking side-by-side may reduce this intensity and support a more relaxed therapeutic process.

Walk and talk therapy combines positive lifestyle habits with the benefits of therapy which can create new energy and motivation. Walk and talk therapy is particularly useful for people who feel they can become blocked or overwhelmed by the intimacy of therapy in an office setting. It can also be a good way to practice Mindfulness skills with your therapist.

Movement and shared attention to the external environment can also help shift psychological “stuckness” and support reflection and processing during sessions.

This approach integrates behavioural activation and mindfulness-based elements, and may be particularly helpful for people who find traditional office-based therapy environments too intense or constraining. It can also provide opportunities to practise mindfulness skills in vivo during sessions.

Benefits:

In addition to exercise’s ability to combat depression, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain and other health and mental health conditions, combining walking with therapy has benefits of its own:

• Being in natural environments helps our nervous systems unwind – we know that being in nature helps to quell anxiety and rumination and can soothe the mind.
• Exposure to natural light and fresh air combined with light exercise carries opportunities for mood benefits.
• Being in the outdoors with a therapist is also a fantastic place to practice refining your mindfulness skills, as there is ample opportunity to tune into sensory information from all of your senses.
• Walking may encourage and promote you engaging in additional walks on your own.
• Being outside and moving while talking about your difficulties can help create distance between yourself and your problems and this can help you relax
• You choose the location and our walking pace – the walking is secondary to our therapeutic conversation.

Walk and talk sessions may not suit every situation, but they can provide an opportunity to meet and speak comfortably, while being immersed in a natural surrounding that appeals to you.

Walk and talk sessions are available by appointment. Please contact me to arrange a session in an area that suits you – Medicare rebates are available (with a referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan).