Walk and Talk Counseling in Gilbert, AZ

Therapy may take place outdoors to provide various benefits or align with personal preferences of the client. If you are interested in outdoor therapy, we can talk about the possibility after an initial virtual intake session.

Potential Benefits

Outdoor therapy has a variety of potential benefits that may help us determine if this an appropriate mode of therapy for you:

● Meeting outside of the typical office environment can provide a change of scenery and help in getting “unstuck” in the therapeutic process.

● Meeting in person instead of virtually can enhance presence and connection.

● Evidence that bilateral rhythmic movement (i.e. walking) can evoke potentially helpful changes in brain chemistry and enhance processing difficult therapy material.

● New in-session options for grounding, relaxation, or mindfulness strategies.

● Less formal/clinical setting can increase accessibility and comfort.

● Empirical evidence that contact with nature decreases rumination and challenging mood states and positively impacts attention and concentration.

● Greater connection to the natural world and the environment has been shown to improve well-being.

● Other specific benefits related to the treatment plan (gradual exposure for phobias, social anxiety, etc.).

Potential Risks

There are possible risks of outdoor therapy, including, but not limited to:

● Accidental injuries from tripping or falling while walking or potentially being struck by a bicyclist or vehicle.

● Physical dangers including insect stings, animal bites, falling branches or sticks, sunburn, exposure to heat/cold, and similar risks.

● Adverse weather conditions including heat, rain, and storms; exposure to poor air quality (see section below).

● Decreased focus on surroundings, including hazards, conditions, and individuals who might present potential safety risks.

● Potential limitations on exploring uncomfortable therapy content (thoughts, feelings, memories) that might be dealt with more openly in a closed private setting.

Confidentiality Issues

● Complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Though every attempt will be made to not engage in private conversations when others are in close proximity, it is not possible to guarantee that our conversations will not be heard by others.

● Coming into contact with a known person: if we encounter someone I know, I will not disclose that you are a client or disclose any other confidential information. If you encounter a known person, I will not initiate interaction with that person, but will follow your lead in guiding any interactions, with the limitation that I will not continue engaging in any psychotherapy-related discussions with the third person present.