Walk and Talk
Counselling
Montreal
Beautiful days do not come to you, you must walk towards them. -Rumi
About
Tamara Achtman, Registered Social Worker
Centered on the inherent strengths of each individual, a walk and talk counselling session with me is an opportunity to reconnect with your values, find clarity and move forward with serenity all while integrating the positive effects of movement and nature into a counselling session.
Imagine that instead of meeting your therapist or counsellor in an office, you could go outside and walk with your counsellor. You feel your feet move along a path, your arms swing. You breathe in the fresh air and feel the sun on your face. You watch the sky and clouds and see the trees living through the seasons. You share with your counsellor and problem-solve together.
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Walk and talk counselling is part of a larger movement (nature-based interventions, nature therapy, ecotherapy, green therapy, adventure therapy, and forest therapy, etc.) that seeks to connect a person’s wellbeing to the natural environment and to the benefits of physical exercise. Walk and talk counselling takes the therapeutic relationship out of the office and into the active outdoors, relying on movement, a connection with the natural environment and clinical support to build wellbeing and resilience.
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Countless studies have shown what most people already know instinctively. Being active outdoors has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.
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‘Contact with nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress’ (Science Advances, Vol. 5, No. 7, 2019) as quoted in American Psychological Association
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Psychology Today - Contact with Nature
The Guardian - The Nature Cure
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It has long been known that exercise has a positive impact on mental health. ‘Physical activity is an important aspect of maintaining good mental health. Regular exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, boost self-esteem, enhance cognitive function, and reduce symptoms of depression.’ Mental Health Commission of Canada.
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Full article on the impact of exercise on mental health (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
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Psychology Today - Experience Walking Therapy
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Walk and talk therapeutic support has been found to be supportive for many issues:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Life transitions
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Stress
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Anger
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Bereavement
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What to expect in a walk and talk counselling session
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After an initial discussion over the phone, I will scout out the best walking location to meet your needs. We will then meet together at this location and take a moment to sit together before beginning our walk and talk to discuss the goals of the session.
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Engaging in a 55-min. counselling session while walking side-by-side in a park. You set the pace.
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I work from a goal-directed, strengths-based model. Each session is complete in and of itself - you will leave with strategies, insights and clarity around reaching your goals.
