Walk and Talk Therapy in Austin
What is Walk and Talk Therapy?
Movement also helps when we get stuck. If you have ever solved something on a walk that you could not solve at your desk, you already know this. When you are physically moving forward, thinking tends to loosen, and things you have circled many times can look different.
And then there is nature itself. We walk in a park full of trees and a pond with turtles. The research treats the outdoors as an active ingredient rather than a nice backdrop, and early studies on walk and talk therapy point to benefits for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms, with clients reporting more self-awareness, more self-acceptance, and more freedom to say what they actually mean.
Walk and Talk Therapy is exactly what it sounds like. We walk and talk.
You get the benefits of therapy, movement, and nature in one 50 minute session. As a somatic therapist I am thoughtful about the impact your experiences have on your body, so we also spend time checking in with your nervous system. That might mean taking a break from walking to sit under a tree, or just pausing where we are.
One of my favorite things about this work is what movement does for a nervous system that has been holding something for a long time. Walking is rhythmic and repetitive, and that rhythm gives your body somewhere to put what comes up. Instead of activation building with nowhere to go, it has an outlet. Many people find they can stay with a hard feeling longer while they are moving than they can sitting still.
It can also make the work itself feel more manageable. Sitting across from someone while you dig into hard things is not easy for everyone. Walking side by side, both of us looking ahead instead of at each other, takes the pressure of eye contact out of the room entirely. It is easier to say the true thing when you are not being watched while you say it.
There is something else that happens when we do walk and talk therapy outside. Outside, we are two people on a path. Research on outdoor therapy consistently finds that this shift flattens the sense of hierarchy and gives clients more freedom in how they move and express themselves. For women who grew up having to read the room and manage the person in charge of it, that shift is not a small thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. It is the same 50 minutes, same license and ethical standards as any session in an office or on telehealth. Moving while doing therapy can feel different, but if walk and talk is a good fit for you it may feel better than sitting still.
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Yes. Walk and talk sessions are in person in Austin only. I also see clients virtually in Austin and throughout Texas. Many people move between the two depending on the season, their schedule, or what they need that week.
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This is an important question and I cannot guarantee the same level of privacy when we do walk and talk because we could be overheard. If are walking near someone else we may step off the path until they have passed. If we ever run into someone you know, I will follow your lead. We talk through all of this before your first walk and talk session, and you sign a specific agreement covering the ways confidentiality works differently outdoors.
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We walk in a shaded park in North Central Austin with beautiful trees and a pond with turtles. I share the exact location after we have met by video and confirmed that walk and talk is a good fit, rather than posting it publicly. That is a safety practice for both of us.
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Then we don't do walk and talk. Some clients will alternate between virtual and walk and talk. You are never locked in but I do need at least 24 hours notice so that I can I plan the sessions for my day.
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We move to a virtual session for that day. Texas summers are intense, so we will go to virtual sessions for the summers.
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We will go at the walking pace that works for you. Clients are at all different levels of fitness. If mobility, pain, postpartum, pregnancy, or energy is a factor, tell me and we adjust what needs to be adjusted.
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If you would like him along just ask and if he is feeling up for it he will join us! He is also happy to stay home if dogs are not your thing.
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This is a private pay practice. Sessions are $150, due at the time of service.
If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill each month, which is an itemized statement including a diagnosis code and service codes. You submit it to your insurance company and they reimburse you directly if your plan covers out-of-network outpatient mental health. Coverage varies a lot, so it is worth calling your insurer and asking what percentage they reimburse and whether you have a separate out-of-network deductible to meet first. I cannot guarantee reimbursement.
Some clients choose not to use a superbill at all, and pay privately instead. Insurance reimbursement requires a diagnosis, which becomes part of your medical record. Some people want that and some people would rather their therapy stay outside the insurance system entirely. Either is fine with me, and we can talk it through.