Walk-and-Talk Therapy
Feeling a bit confined… maybe a bit stir crazy?
Let’s be honest… doing the “at home” thing has been exhausting: living at home, working from home, parenting from home, using the home gym, doing home projects… everything is at home.
You finally wrap up that last Zoom meeting for the day. Leave your “office,” aka, your living room, and see all the dishes, dust, and tasks you’ve been working around all day.
Your watch reminds you that you’ve logged a total of 800 steps. The last thing you want to do is sign on to ANOTHER online meeting.
Just need to get out? Walk-and-talk therapy is for you!
It combines therapy with being outdoors, moving the body, and taking in fresh, Colorado air.
Walk-and-talk sessions take place on walking paths surrounded by ponds, trees, grass, and flowers. Meeting places to start walks include Coalton Trail Head, Purple Park, Waneka Lake, or Interlocken East Park.
If you want the benefits of getting outside but don’t want to walk for a whole session, there are plenty of spaces that allow for sitting and relaxing outdoors along the way.
Considerations for Walkers
Walk and talk is a form of therapy that involves walking or sitting outdoors in public places. This is an optional treatment modality for those that may enjoy the experience of moving while talking side by side.
Because walk and talk sessions occur outdoors, there is some risk to confidentiality, including our conversation being overheard by someone, encountering a person one of us knows, or someone recognizing me as a mental health professional. Before our first session, we would discuss how to manage any of these situations best to maximize confidentiality and comfort.
Would I have to wear special clothes for walk and talk therapy?
Wear what you’d feel most comfortable walking in, including layers to account for fluctuations in weather. Walks are held at a leisurely pace to ensure the conversation flows comfortably. All walks are wheelchair accessible. If you have an injury that would prevent you from walking comfortably and put you at risk of further damage, please plan to engage in a walk-and-sit outside session instead.
What if there’s bad weather, and we are supposed to have a walk and talk session?
It’s Colorado – bad weather is bound to happen on occasion. My personal cut off is negative temperatures, extreme wind, and heavy rain or snow. These are elements that can impact the ability to carry on a conversation and walk safely without distraction. We would discuss your comfort level with weather elements and determine your preferences before the meeting. Should the weather be an impeding factor on a session day, the session would be held via teletherapy or phone instead. Walk and talk sessions are not canceled due to the weather.
For walk and talk sessions, do we have to wear masks?
Right now, yes. To ensure your health and safety, I follow the CDC and local governance from the Department of Regulatory Agencies regarding social distancing and wearing masks. Ensuring the health and safety of ourselves and others is my top priority.
Get moving and take it in…
One of the most significant benefits of walk-and-talk therapy is that physical movement encourages psychological movement and can speed up breakthroughs. As we talk through difficult emotions, the body is in motion, enabling the emotions to run their course and release.
You not only get a break from technology. You get a change of scenery and a chance to take in the fresh air.
You also get some exercise. It has been proven walking strengthens the heart, improves your mood, and even extends your life. There’s beauty all around us, but our houses don’t always give us access to that beauty.
Put down the screen, and let’s get outside.
If you’re tired of sitting indoors for appointments, logging on day after day, call me today to schedule your walk-and-talk session.
All walk-and-talk sessions are currently offered in the Boulder County area. If you’re intrigued but unsure if it’s right for you, let’s schedule your free 15-minute consultation: (720) 755-7524. Unfortunately, insurance companies will not cover walk and talk therapy, so using insurance for this modality is not an option.
I look forward to walking with you soon.