Walk-and-Talk Therapy
Walking in a non-threatening environment, such as a forest can reduce anxiety and depression, and promotes awareness through the meditative act of walking and presence.
What is Walk-and-Talk Therapy?
Nature walk-and-talk sessions offer the benefits of forest bathing with talk therapy. ‘Shinrin Yoku’ or forest bathing is a practice in Japan that supports mental-physical-spiritual wellbeing by decreasing cortisol and balancing the parasympathetic nervous system. Vitamin D is an essential element we also need for regulating our moods (ie. combating depression). It also supports our cardiovascular system, immune system, and respiratory system. Walking in a non-threatening environment, such as a forest can reduce anxiety and depression, and promotes awareness through the meditative act of walking and presence.
Likewise, have you heard of Dr. Francine Shapiro’s (psychologist and founder of EMDR therapy) Walk in the Forest story? In 1987 Dr. Shapiro went on a walk in the forest and took note that as her eyes moved side to side, her negative thoughts reduced. She assumed that eye movements had a desensitizing effect, and through exploration and adding in a cognitive component, forged Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD), which eventually came to be known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The connection with Dr. Shapiro’s story and experience of walking in the forest which resulted in a decrease in symptoms, supports the theories and research that are ongoing with both nature and forest therapy and bilateral stimulation (ie. eye movement, or walking).
If you’re someone who struggles with sitting still (ADHD), or already sits all day and wants a more active psychotherapy session, then walk-and-talk may be for you!
Options
- Dundas Driving Park (Dundas ON): An easy, and accessible walk with flat paved surfaces, trees and views of the escarpment.
- RBG Arboretum (Burlington ON, Old Guelph Road): A beautiful setting with dirt and stone paths, grass fields, and stairs. This route has more inclines and hills and may get your heart up at some points. These paths provide opportunities to see wildlife such as deer, swans, muskrats, and maybe even a bald eagle! There’s a lake and bubbling creeks, and in the summer choruses of frogs and chickadees. The RBG is on the lands of the Anishinaabe peoples, and the Arboretum offers a unique experience of learning about the plants Anishinaabe peoples used for medicine and how they connected to the land.
- Distance Walk-and-talk (ANYWHERE): This opportunity allows you to choose your own path to walk on, with the therapist also walking ‘virtually’ side-by-side on their path.
Resources for Walk-and-Talk Therapy
The Japanese Art of Shin-rin Yoku by Yoshifumi Miyazaki
Forest Bathing Dr Qing Li
The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
Eco Therapy Healing with Nature in Mind edited by Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquist
Land Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge that we meet on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement.