Therapy, outdoors: Now Offering Walk & Talk Therapy
“I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least — and it is commonly more than that — sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.”
— Henry David Thoreau, Walking (1862)
Introducing Walk & Talk Therapy at Still Motion Therapeutic Services, LLC
Thoreau walked the woods around Concord to get his thinking clear. We’re bringing the same idea into therapy.
Still Motion Therapeutic Services, LLC now offers Walk & Talk Therapy: full, therapy sessions held outdoors while walking. You walk at your own pace, side by side with your therapist, instead of sitting face to face in an office.
Why walk?
Many people find it easier to open up while moving. Walking side by side can make hard conversations feel less intense. The rhythm of walking helps the body settle, and being in nature changes how the mind works. This isn’t only a feeling. The research supports it:
Nature quiets rumination. In a Stanford study published in PNAS, thirty-eight adults were randomly assigned to a 90-minute walk in either a natural or an urban environment, and before and after the walk they were assessed for rumination (repetitive, negative self-focused thinking). The people who walked in nature showed less self-reported rumination and less activity in the subgenus prefrontal cortex. The people who walked in the city showed no such change. That brain region shows increased activity during sadness and during the withdrawal and negative self-reflection that come with rumination. Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation.
Nature sharpens the mind, even during depression. A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders followed adults with clinical depression. Participants showed a 16 percent increase in attention and working memory after a nature walk compared with an urban walk. The lead researcher concluded that walking in nature may supplement or enhance existing treatments for depression. sciencedailyiol
Two hours a week makes a difference. In a study of nearly 20,000 people published in Scientific Reports, people who spent two hours in nature during the past week had 23% higher odds of reporting high wellbeing and 59% higher odds of reporting good health than people with no nature contact. It didn’t matter whether those 120 minutes came in one visit or several shorter ones. Weekly Walk & Talk sessions count toward that total. physiciansweeklyonmanorama
Clients describe it as real therapy. A study of clients’ experiences found that walk and talk is a viable alternative to indoor counseling, and it helped clients who would not consider indoor counselling. A more recent study measured adult mood and well-being before, after, and at follow-up across about 6–8 walk and talk sessions. Clients reported a broader perspective, greater self-awareness, and more acceptance of themselves, others, and life’s challenges. ray.yorksj.ac.uk +2
Who it’s for
Walk & Talk can be a good fit if you:
Feel restless or “stuck” sitting in an office or on a screen
Are working through anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or a major life transition
Process best while moving
Have been hesitant to start traditional therapy
Want to bring body, breath, and nature into your healing
Where we walk
Sessions are held on accessible, mostly level routes along the Emerald Necklace and nearby green spaces in Newton, Brookline, and Boston MA. You choose the pace. We can slow down, pause on a quiet bench, or stop whenever you need to. Confidentiality and comfort come first. We’ll talk through privacy, weather, and what to do if we meet someone you know before your first session.
Getting started
Walk & Talk sessions are available for individuals ages 14+. They are offered by clinicians with the same clinical care as in-office or virtual sessions. Seasonal options are available, and sessions can switch to virtual on bad-weather days.
[Schedule a free 15-minute consultation →] email: contactus@stillmotionllc.com to get started and see if walk and talk therapy is a the right fit for you.
Warmly,
Founder, Still Motion Therapeutic Services, LLC
