Walk and Talk Therapy
in Westlake, OH
You have thought about trying therapy several times but the idea of sitting and talking about your feelings or problems seems overwhelming and uncomfortable. Or you know your child and the idea of them sitting and talking to a stranger just doesn’t seem like it will work.
If these descriptions sounds like you or your child then walk and talk therapy might be able to help.
What is walk and talk therapy?
Walk and talk therapy is similar to traditional therapy, except that instead of sitting in an office, the patient and therapist are walking outside while talking. Walk and talk therapy often incorporates mindfulness and emotional regulation skills in a natural environment.
There are several reasons why walk and talk therapy can be helpful:
Some people have excess energy and find sitting still for periods of time difficult. Some people find it easier to start talking about their problems when they are walking side by side with a therapist, rather than sitting face to face (making eye contact).
Walking outside in the fresh air and engaging with the environment around you can be calming, mindful, and grounding.
It can help patients get “unstuck” when confronting difficult issues.
It’s hard to get overwhelmed with emotions because your body and mind balance each other while you are walking!
We all know that physical activity is really great for you, not only for your body, but for your brain and your emotional well-being. It reduces unpleasant feelings and helps you feel more of the pleasant ones. Also as an added bonus, you can do both physical activity and a therapy session!
How does it work?
The first 1-3 sessions are conducted in the office or via Telehealth in order to assess the issues, goals, and assess the fit for walk and talk therapy. Following this assessment phase, walk and talk sessions can begin. The sessions start and end at my office, and the therapy happens while walking around the surrounding streets/nearby park. The final 10 minutes of each session are spent back at the office discussing next steps. Walk and talk sessions are weather dependent. If the weather is bad we can either do our session in the office or via Telehealth.
FAQ for Walk and Talk Therapy
-
Walk and Talk Therapy starts and ends at my office at 815 Crocker Rd, Westlake, OH.
-
You don’t need anything fancy! Comfortable shoes and clothing for the weather/season.
-
While movement may be a benefit to patients physically, the focus is not about exercise. Prior to engaging in Walk and Talk Therapy, patients need to be in good physical condition and have checked with their doctor that they do not have any condition which would prevent or limit their participation in Walk and Talk Therapy.
-
Participating in Walk and Talk Therapy and being out in public involves some limits to confidentiality, including the possibility that other people may hear parts of our conversation. I will do everything I can to protect your confidentiality (privacy) and we will discuss concerns and how you prefer to handle them prior to starting walk and talk therapy. You can change your mind at any point in the session and can return to the office.
-
Although this is not specifically exercise or a workout, Walk and Talk therapy involves physical activity including, but not limited to, cardiovascular activity. Aside from the limits to confidentiality outlined above, outdoor environments also contain a variety of hazards which include traffic, exposure to the elements (sun, rain, etc), insects, and slippery walking surfaces.