Jennifer Roblin, Better Your Life
Walk and talk therapy, often known as outdoor therapy or eco-therapy, is an alternative approach to traditional therapy. It offers multiple benefits for people who struggle with anxiety, stress and panic attacks.
Walk and talk therapy offers all the same advantages of traditional talking therapy alongside the additional healing power of nature and exercise. Therefore it provides a unique and effective way to support people in improving their mental well-being.
For those who are anxious about traditional therapy settings, walk and talk therapy can be less intimidating. The natural environment creates a more relaxed atmosphere, making people feel less pressured or self-conscious.
So what are the benefits?
No direct eye contact
One of the biggest advantages for someone struggling with anxiety is that there is no need for direct eye contact. This immediately puts clients at ease and enables them to open up about their challenges sooner.
From experience I have found that walking side by side in a natural environment enables clients to reflect faster and deeper on their challenge.
This results in us uncovering the real root cause of their anxiety quicker, and leads them to their solution or breakthrough sooner.
Physical Activity
Many people also find it easier to open up and express themselves while engaging in a physical activity, which can be particularly valuable for clients who may feel apprehensive or guarded in a traditional therapy setting.
Regular exercise is known to release endorphins, they are the body’s natural mood elevators. By engaging in a walk and talk therapy session, clients not only have the opportunity to discuss their concerns but also benefit from the mood-enhancing effects of physical activity. This can lead to a more positive and optimistic outlook on life.
During exercise it is proven that your breathing deepens and the increased oxygen crates a calmer state of mind, therefore making the client more relaxed, and presents the ability to think more clearly.
Another key benefit of walk and talk therapy is that when clients are walking, their posture is more upright and this allows them to look at their challenges from a different perspective. It is no secret that someone who is depressed tends to walk with their head down and shoulders rounded. Their pace is slow.
With walk and talk therapy, your therapist can lead you to change your body posture to a more upright position and pace. This doesn’t mean that you are walking fast, just more confident and purposeful.
Natural Environment
Instead of sitting in a traditional therapy office, clients have their sessions while walking outdoors, often in a park, forest, beside water or across fields. They are immersed in nature.
This change in environment can have a profound positive impact on the therapy session, as they are immediately in a calming place which reduces their anxiety and stress levels.
It is far easier to be mindful and present in the moment when you can hear the wind in the trees or listen to the birds sing. Mindfulness is scientifically proven to calm the mind, and enables clients to look at their challenges with a different perspective.
There is also the opportunity to increase exposure to Vitamin D, known as the “sunshine vitamin”. In as little as 10 minutes, spending time outdoors can improve your mood and mental wellbeing, alongside supporting bone health and increasing immunity, helping your body fight off infection and illnesses.
Flexibility
Clients can choose a location that is convenient and resonates with them, whether it’s a local park, a woodland area, or a riverside path. This personalisation allows clients to feel more in control of their therapy experience, which can be empowering and motivating.
Clients can also return to that place at anytime they choose, knowing it has been a safe and comforting place for them. This opportunity, of course, is not possible when they have visited a traditional therapy setting. With traditional therapy, they have to wait until their next session before they can immerse themselves back into that safe space.
Walk and talk therapy encourages a work-life balance. Many individuals find it challenging to make time for therapy in their busy schedules. By incorporating therapy into a walk, clients can seamlessly integrate self-care into their daily routine, making it a more sustainable practice.
Deeper Connection and Trust
Walking side by side with a therapist encourages a stronger sense of connection and trust, as walking with a friend is far more comfortable and familiar for most people than being in a traditional therapy setting.
This heightened sense of connection and trust can lead to a more productive therapy session and increased progress with managing their anxiety.
A New Therapeutic Experience
Walk and talk therapy provides a change from the usual therapy routine. It breaks the monotony of sitting in an office and offers an active and refreshing experience.
Clients that have found therapy not working for them in the past often look forward to their walk and talk sessions, knowing that they will be able to enjoy the outdoors while working on their mental health.
Walk and talk therapy offers a unique and valuable approach to addressing anxiety and other mental health concerns. It combines the benefits of nature, physical activity, and therapy to create a holistic and effective treatment option.
The ability to tailor sessions to individual preferences and the positive impact of the natural environment makes this therapy an excellent choice for those seeking a more relaxed and innovative path to mental well-being.
