Walk and talk therapy is what it says on the tin: instead of sitting in front of your counsellor in a traditional therapy room, the counselling session takes place outdoors, walking side by side.
It is counselling in motion, and although it is not a fitness session, it is often more dynamic than a traditional indoor session. If you have felt stuck in therapy in the past, being physically active helps release some tensions and stimulates new thoughts and ideas. It is a metaphor for moving forward.
During a walk and talk session, you lead the pace, just as in a traditional counselling session — yet the dynamic is fairly different. You and your counsellor are on the same footing, literally. Walking side by side can be much less intimidating and helps release inhibition. It can be taken as an introduction to counselling, followed up by a more formal type of therapy, if you’re apprehensive about being alone in a room with a therapist looking directly at you.
For people who sit in an office all day — for whom the idea of sitting yet again for a counselling session can be off-putting — walk and talk therapy might be an option worth considering. And even if you’re confident talking face to face with a counsellor, you might become apprehensive when confronting issues that are particularly tricky for you. The combination of walking and fresh air allows for easier engagement and process, and you can feel more grounded as you move forward while walking.
How about the weather?
Usually the first session takes place at your counsellor’s practice, where you agree what you will do if the weather is bad. Most therapists practising walk and talk therapy are not deterred by a few drops of rain, but it is the client’s call, and many therapists offer the possibility of either calling off a session due to bad weather or conducting the session indoors.
During your first session you also discuss issues of confidentiality and how you will negotiate encountering other people when out walking. Whether it’s in a park, by a beach or in town, seeing people walking and talking side by side is a very common sight — a client and therapist walking side by side don’t look any different.
For some people, walking outside might itself confront issues they would like to address, such as a fear of open spaces or a fear of feeling judged for their appearance. Having a therapist by your side might ease a return to engaging in social situations. The focus of walk and talk therapy is not on how fast or far you can walk, but on you, your process, and what you are comfortable with.
Walk and talk therapy is also particularly helpful for people who feel trapped in a life or in roles that don’t fit them anymore. Being outdoors and talking about their issues enhances the renewal of a sense of freedom. Walking helps increase blood flow to the brain, and new ideas to tackle our issues are more likely to come up.
Why not give it a try? Get in touch →
Article first published on the Counselling Directory website, 7 January 2016. Please allow 15 minutes extra for walk and talk sessions — healthy individuals only; see fees.