Walk and Talk Therapy
Walk and talk therapy is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates walking while addressing therapeutic goals and topics. Some of the activities we might participate in include walking on sidewalks/bike paths or exploring public parks and open spaces. The focus of the experience is therapy, not exercise.
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Walk and talk therapy is not for everyone and you and Dr. Heather will decide together if this is an an appropriate form of therapy for you.
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Walk and talk therapy is an appropriate mode of therapy for our work often for the following reason(s):
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enhancing mindfulness
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decreasing stress through engaging your body in a gentle way
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help you become unstuck
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improved mood and energy
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boost in creativity
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moving helps you express yourself
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In Session, what it looks like
We will meet at the office and the walking will occur for about 40 minutes of our session, we will conclude our session at the office location. The walking will occur in the neighborhood around the office, on the sidewalks around River Forest. We will generally go in one direction for 20 minutes and return in the other 20 minutes.
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Considerations and Risks of Walk and Talk Therapy:
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Please be aware there are possible risks associated with walk and talk therapy, including, but not limited to:
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Accidental injuries from tripping or falling while walking
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Physical dangers including insect stings; animal bites; falling branches or sticks; sunburn; exposure to heat/cold; and similar risks.
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Adverse weather conditions.
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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 to us, it is not possible to guarantee that conversations will not be heard by others.
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Coming into contact with someone you or I know. We will also discuss these possibilities prior to engaging in walk and talk therapy.
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Given the prevalence of cellphones, it is also possible that we may be photographed or videoed together without our knowledge and that we would have no control over the dissemination of those photos/video.
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