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Walk and talk therapy is an alternative to traditional in office therapy that offers folks a new way to explore and improve their mental health.

This type of therapy integrates nature and bilateral movement with standard clinical interventions to help reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression.

Walk & Talk Therapy

Bilateral movement (repetitive, rhythmic movement that alternates between the right and left side of the body) encourages communication between both sides of the brain and can help you to process situations and challenges in new ways. EMDR, tapping and even some forms of art therapy rely on this intervention to help folks move through painful experiences, find greater emotional regulation and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Walk and talk therapy integrates bilateral movement with the added benefits of gentle movement and nature. Physical activity such as walking increases ‘feel good’ endorphins, improves focus and can elevate emotional resilience, and nature has been proven to be an effective regulation tool for nervous systems. When combined with traditional clinical treatments, these interventions can be an effective method to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and cultivate greater presence.

Bilateral Movement & Healing in Nature

  • Find direct or sustained eye contact too intense or distracting

  • Want therapy to feel more natural and less clinical

  • Would like to incorporate more movement and mindfulness in their lives

  • Find sitting still challenging or uncomfortable

  • Enjoy spending time in nature

  • Want to cultivate more presence

  • Are interested in holistic healing

Walk and talk therapy offers folks a novel way to explore their inner world, solve problems in new ways, and create healthier habits. This type of therapy can be especially helpful for folks who:

Walk and talk therapy isn’t for everyone, and there are important things to consider when deciding if this type of therapy is right for you. Below you will find some general points to help you evaluate if walk and talk therapy is a good fit. We will also go over any concerns or questions you have in both the discovery call and intake session if you decide to move forward.

Benefits & Considerations

  • Bilateral movement aids in emotional processing

  • Stress management and cultivation of presence

  • Can provide or broaden a sense of connection with nature and others

  • Helps to activate healthy behaviors and choices

  • Boosts mood

Benefits

  • Confidentially/lack of privacy

  • Uneven terrain

  • Physical limitations

  • Environmental stressors (distractions, inclement weather etc.)

  • Not applicable for deep trauma processing

Considerations

How it works

We will start out with a virtual or in person intake session to assess fit and go over the risks and benefits to ensure this style of therapy is applicable for your needs. Once approved we will mutually decide upon the location, taking into consideration physical limitations and high traffic areas/times.

These sessions are currently being offered in the following parks:

  • Nosehill park

  • Griffith park

  • Edworthy park

  • Oakridge

  • South Glenmore park

  • Select parts of the Bow river pathway

  • Select neighborhoods in the NW and SW

Learn more

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, you can book a discovery call using the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Definitely not, sessions are for you and led by you. We can walk for the full 55 minutes, stand around, sit, do some light stretching - whatever works for you in that moment.

  • Yes absolutely! Working with me is a fluid process, and we can always make changes whenever needed. Weather and other unforeseen circumstances may also impact which session type we will engage with.

  • With outdoor sessions full confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, however I will always do my best to maintain the highest level of privacy I can. If any outside interactions occur with others I will keep it minimal and we will chat about your preferences for managing these before we head out.

  • Alternative options can always be discussed during our discovery call. There are a few considerations to keep in mind and we can go over these to make sure it’s a good fit.

Booking