Walk and Talk Therapy Charlotte

Walk and Talk Therapy

Walk and talk therapy is just what it sounds like! We will take our therapy session out of the office and into the parks or streets of Charlotte. Walk and talk allows for a deeper connection between the mind and body and often makes clients more comfortable sharing compared to a traditional in-office therapy session.

The Benefit of Walk and Talk

Some clients are more comfortable side by side than sitting in an office setting and some find it easier to think on their feet. I have found walk and talk therapy to be extremely beneficial for adolescent males who may be hesitant to participate in traditional counseling. We can take a walk at Freedom Park, or a neighborhood and use movement as medicine. Regular movement can improve depression, anxiety, ADHD and more. Being out in the fresh air and sunshine also helps improve mood, helps you sleep better, improves memory and relieves stress. You can have the best of both worlds, experience the benefits of therapy while incorporating the benefits of movement and the outdoors.

The Process of Walk and Talk

The initial intake session will be held in my office. After that, we will be outdoors in a safe, public space - it could be Freedom Park, which is walking distance from my office, your neighborhood, a greenway, or any other outdoor space. You always have the option to move your sessions back indoors. It’s your choice whether we go outdoors or remain indoors! Ultimately, it’s about what feels best for you. I honor whichever setting that may be. If there is inclement weather, I will be in touch the day of our appointment. We can move our appointment to my office, or reschedule a different day. I will always be open for walking in the cooler, or rainy weather, but ultimately leave the decision up to you (unless I see it as a danger!)

Keep It Confidential

Although I cannot guarantee the same confidentiality with walk and talk therapy as I can with traditional therapy, it is highly unlikely that others will hear our conversation. I can promise that my support and focus will always remain on you. Clients who choose walk and talk therapy typically feel comfortable with taking our conversation to an outdoor public space. We will more completely address this when signing the consent form. We will also develop a plan would be if we run into someone you know. It is 100% your choice on how you’d like to handle it.

Walk and Talk Success

I have found that teens are very responsive to this approach. Having worked in a high school setting for almost a decade, I experienced great success in taking walks with students who were experiencing high anxiety, anger and other difficult emotions, or who just needed a break from their high-stress environment. I believe walk and talk shows the teen that I am committed to them and that I am figuratively and literally going to be by their side as we work towards reaching their goals.

Walking and talking in a park or in a neighborhood allows your child and I to build trust while in a familiar environment. If your teen has felt stuck in therapy in the past, this is a great option for them. Being physically active helps release some tensions and stimulates new thoughts and ideas, while also providing a change of scenery. This gives us the chance to put one foot in front of the other and become grounded in our journey of well-being.