What is Walk and Talk therapy?
Walk and Talk therapy is a way of doing therapy that gets you out of the therapy room and is conducted whilst walking around in the fresh air. It can be called many things, and to some people might not even seem like a distinct form of therapy but is just how they like to do things!
Why do Walk and Talk therapy?
For lots of people getting out in nature is calming and soothing. My article on Ecotherapy talks about some of the benefits nature has for our wellbeing.
Alongside the helpful impact of being out in nature, the gentle movement on walking is also good for our mental health. Evidence suggests that walking helps with emotional processing. If you want to get technical, it’s called bilateral stimulation as the action of moving the left side of your body then the right side stimulates the right and left sides of our brain (bi - lateral = two - sides).
Where can it be done?
Walk and Talk therapy can be done any where there is space for two people to comfortably walk side by side, talking.
It doesn’t need to be done in picturesque surroundings. It can be a lovely way to find hidden spots of beauty in your local area.
You might find it useful to have the same route each time, or to vary where you walk. It might also be helpful to pick somewhere where you know there will be a handy bench or two to have a rest if walking continuously is difficult for you.
You can discuss where you want to go and how long you want to walk for with your therapist. Sometime it’s possible to do a short walk and then return to the therapy room and continue the session there.
How do you keep what you discuss private?
One of the most important parts of therapy is that what you say stays private between you and your therapist (there are a few exceptions to this that your therapist will explain). If you’re out in a park it can be harder to maintain privacy.
It might be that you choose to go to greenspaces that are quieter, or only do a Walk and Talk appointment at quiet times of the day. Or you might decide that if people walk too close to you then you can stop talking and wait until they have passed. What matters is making sure you feel comfortable during the session.
It’s also important to consider what you would want to do if you saw someone you knew. You might agree with your therapist that you will smile and say hello but not introduce your therapist. Or you might decide you will avoid eye contact and that if you suddenly change direction when you see someone your therapist will follow your lead.
All these arrangements should be discussed before you start out on a walk. If there are any issues, it’s also a good idea to talk about them at the end to problem solve for next time.
The most important thing is that walking with your therapist still feels like a supportive, safe, judgement-free experience, regardless of where it happens.
BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) has done a short introduction to Walk and Talk therapy which you can watch here
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