20 Sept – written by Katrin Kemmerzehl – Blog
A Fresh Approach to Counselling
There’s a growing approach to therapy that’s as simple as it is powerful: Walk-and-Talk therapy.
Just like the name suggests, these sessions take place outdoors while walking side by side. It’s an approach that combines counselling, gentle movement, and the restorative effect of nature.
Why choose Walk and Talk Therapy?
Walk-and-Talk therapy can be a refreshing complement to traditional counselling. Many clients and therapists find it helps conversations feel more natural and less formal.
Therapists from humanistic and eclectic backgrounds often enjoy this approach, as it encourages creativity, flexibility, and growth.
Walking as a symbol for moving forward
Walking is more than just exercise. It can represent moving forward in life, step by step, toward new possibilities.
For clients who feel “stuck,” the rhythm of walking often helps release emotions, shift perspectives, and make sense of challenges.
Carl Jung once said, “The mind reflects the body reflects the mind.” In other words, body and mind are deeply connected. Combining movement, fresh air, and meaningful conversation can be a powerful catalyst for emotional healing and personal change.
An inclusive approach for everyone
Research shows that men are less likely than women to engage in psychotherapy and are more likely to drop out early.
Encouragingly, studies suggest that delivering therapy outdoors may help improve engagement and outcomes for men in particular.
One reason for this may be the unique setting of Walk-and-Talk therapy. Walking side by side, rather than sitting face to face, often feels less intense and more comfortable.
Reduced eye contact, a gentle rhythm of movement, and the benefits of being outdoors all contribute to a more relaxed environment. Walk-and-Talk therapy is both practical and effective for engaging a broader range of individuals in therapy, including those with neurodiverse traits, men, and individuals who feel stuck in traditional counselling settings.
Why Walking Helps the Body and Mind
Research shows that regular exercise can boost your mood, reduce stress, and even ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Walking outdoors, in particular, helps lift self-esteem and encourages more positive feelings.
Staying active can also improve your sleep, which plays a big role in overall wellbeing. For people recovering from alcohol dependence, combining medical treatment with regular exercise has been shown to reduce cravings and support recovery.
Overall, exercise is a powerful tool for improving mental health, and bringing it into therapy can make a real difference. When this is combined with counselling, clients often find that they feel lighter, clearer, and more open.
Facing Forward, Together
Unlike traditional therapy, where client and therapist sit face-to-face, Walk-and-Talk therapy places them side by side, both looking ahead.
This can make sharing feel easier and less intimidating. For many, it feels like having a supportive partner walking beside them, literally and emotionally, as they face life’s challenges.
Blending with Traditional Counselling
Walk-and-Talk therapy doesn’t need to replace traditional counselling. For some, it’s helpful as an occasional session when things feel stuck. For others, it becomes a regular way of working.
Changing the environment by stepping outside and walking together, can make therapy feel energised, fresh, and less formal.
The simple act of moving forward, physically and emotionally, becomes part of the healing process.The act of moving forward, both physically and emotionally, becomes a natural extension of therapy.
Clients often find that this shift in environment helps therapy feel less formal, energised and fresh.
References
- Andrea Dickmeyer (2025).Walk‐and‐Talk Therapy Versus Conventional Indoor Therapy for Men With Low Mood: A Randomised Pilot Study Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11795730
- NHS exercise for depression https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/exercise-for-depression/
- Doucette, P. A. (2004). Walk and talk: An intervention for behaviorally challenged youths. Adolescence, 39, 373-388.
- Hays, Kate (1999); Working it Out: Using Exercise in Psychotherapy, American Psychological Association
- Pretty, J and Barton, J. What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2010,44(10), pp 3947–3955
- Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review.
Katrin Kemmerzehl
I am a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Please get in touch if you’re interested in arranging a consultation.