Walk and Talk Therapy: What It Is and How It Works

Walk and talk therapy is a therapeutic approach where sessions take place while walking rather than sitting face-to-face in a room.

The conversation unfolds alongside gentle movement, often outdoors, allowing therapy to feel more natural, less intense, and less formal for many people.

What Is Walk and Talk Therapy?

In walk and talk therapy, the therapist and client walk side by side while engaging in therapeutic conversation. Sessions may take place in parks, along trails, urban outdoor spaces, or other suitable walking environments.

The focus remains on therapy — walking simply provides the setting.

How Movement Is Integrated

Walking provides a steady rhythm that can support emotional regulation and cognitive flow.

For some people, this makes it easier to:

• speak openly

• reflect without feeling overwhelmed

• avoid the intensity of direct eye contact

Movement is not used as exercise, but as a supportive element within the therapeutic process.

Who Might Walk and Talk Therapy Suit?

This approach may suit people who:

• feel anxious or self-conscious in traditional therapy rooms

• think more clearly while moving

• prefer a less formal therapeutic environment

• enjoy being outdoors

It may not suit everyone, particularly those with mobility limitations or who prefer a stationary setting.

What a Session Might Involve

A typical session includes:

• walking at a comfortable pace

• pausing when needed

• therapeutic conversation guided by the practitioner

• flexibility depending on weather, environment, and client needs

Sessions can be adapted to suit individual comfort and accessibility.

Exploring Walk and Talk Therapy Practitioners

Many practitioners integrate walk and talk therapy alongside other approaches.

You can explore practitioners offering walk and talk therapy in this directory by location, session format, and therapeutic approach.

👉 View walk and talk therapy practitioners →