When you think of therapy, what do you imagine?
Many people imagine lying on a couch, sitting opposite to the therapist in a chair, or seeing their therapist through video. Of course each of these settings is just fine for participating in therapy. However, have you ever imagined taking part in a nature walk therapy session? Instead of sitting in an office or across from your therapist via video, imagine instead moving or sitting with your therapist in a beautiful green space or nature trail. What would be the benefits of this? I will give you four reasons to try this out:
1. Moving your body benefits your mental health: One in nine cases of depression could be prevented by 150 minutes of walking a week. Even doing half of the recommended amount of physical activity (150 min) can lower depression risk (1). Many people with anxiety or depression struggle to find the motivation to walk. Trying "walk and talk" therapy can help motivate individuals towards movement in the safe space of a therapeutic relationship.
2. Being in nature promotes mental health and well-being. Numerous studies have shown that the sights and sounds of nature reduce stress, increase happiness, promote feelings of connection, purpose, and meaning, and increase attention capacity (2).
3. Walking in nature can help you slow down and better connect with your thoughts and feelings. In our modern day and fast-paced society, it's challenging to fully disconnect from technology and our running to-do lists. Walking in nature helps you to reduce all distractions and really connect with what is on your mind. Individuals more easily get in touch with their thoughts and feelings when walking and this can facilitate the therapeutic process.
4. You may be more comfortable sharing. If you have ever felt nervous or "put on the spot" in therapy, this is very common! Being in the hot seat is no easy feat, whether you are in the office or online. It can take time to warm up and share more in therapy. Walking in nature can help you feel less "on the spot" and allow you to share what is on your mind more easily. Of course, talk to your therapist about how to increase privacy when walking in nature to help you share more.
Interested in trying out a nature walk for one of your therapy sessions? Contact me to discuss this option. If you are a current patient, I'm happy to talk with you about what a "walk and talk" session will look like and options for where we can meet. If you are not yet a patient, please schedule your 15-minute free consultation today and we can discuss this in our call.
Sources
1. Pearce, M., et al. (2022). Association between physical activity and risk of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(6), 550–559. This meta-analysis covers 15 prospective studies involving 191,130 participants.
2. Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B., De Vries, S., Flanders, J., ... & Daily, G. C. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5(7).
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