outdoor therapy for anxiety, depression, grief & life transitions
Walk & Talk Therapy in Southington, CT
Maybe there’s a different way to do therapy that incorporates your mind-body connection.
If sitting face-to-face in an office feels intimidating. If you think better while moving. If nature helps you breathe a little deeper—then walking while in therapy might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Does this sound familiar? You’re carrying anxiety that won’t quiet down. You feel heavy with depression or stuck in a fog. You’re grieving a person, a relationship, or a version of your life. You’re navigating a life transition and questioning what’s next.
You need a change and you want support. But you also want something that feels more natural, more integrated, and more whole.
Maybe you’re craving:
A more holistic, integrated mind–body-spirit approach to self-care
The calming, soothing effect of being outside walking in nature
A different approach to process and cope without sitting across from someone in a quiet office
The mental health benefits of movement and talk therapy along with the built-in accountability to show up for both
You don’t have to choose between caring for your mental health and caring for your physical well-being.
why walk & talk therapy is effective
There’s something powerful about walking side by side instead of sitting face to face.
Movement supports emotional processing and fosters creativity. The steady rhythm of walking creates gentle bilateral stimulation which can help regulate your nervous system and reduce emotional intensity. Nature soothes the body and softens defenses. The open environment lowers pressure. Exercise itself has well-documented mental health benefits for anxiety, depression, and coping with grief and loss. Many people find it easier to open up while moving—conversations flow differently, emotions surface more organically, and silence feels less awkward.
Walk & Talk Therapy integrates mind and body, insight and action, reflection and forward momentum.
Walk & Talk Therapy can be used as your primary therapy format or incorporated occasionally alongside traditional sessions. During our outdoor sessions, I draw from evidence-based approaches such as EMDR—originally developed through observations made during a walk, Brainspotting, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), parts work, grief counseling, and structured coping and problem-solving strategies.
The setting may be different, but the therapeutic work remains focused, collaborative, and grounded in proven clinical frameworks. As we walk, we may:
Identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns
Build practical tools for managing anxiety or depression
Process grief and stressors with intention
Explore the internal “parts” that feel stuck or conflicted
Provide clarity on life transitions, self-identity, and connect with your values
By engaging in outdoor therapy with movement, you’re showing up for your entire self. The parts of you that fear opening up in a traditional office or at all. The parts of you that have been putting off taking care of yourself. The parts of you that feel stuck, sedentary, or disconnected from your body. These parts aren’t separate problems to solve—they’re interconnected aspects of your wellbeing.
When we move, process, and reflect at the same time, change becomes embodied—not just understood intellectually, but experienced emotionally and physically. And that kind of integration tends to last.
How Walk & Talk therapy works:
We’ll always move at a pace comfortable for you—emotionally and physically.
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Your first session is held in the office or online via secure telehealth. We’ll complete your intake, review your history, and clarify your goals so we have a strong foundation and plan before meeting outdoors.
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Follow-up sessions take place on the paved CT Linear Trail (“Rails to Trails”) at one of three locations:
Southington: Behind the YMCA (29 High Street)
Southington (Plainville line): Across from the Southington Police Department (90 Lazy Lane)
Plantsville (Cheshire line): At the Milldale Train Depot (447 Canal Street)
You choose the location most convenient for you. We will meet in the parking lot and then proceed to the trail together.
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We begin walking at a comfortable pace. We’ll talk and process as we move, pausing anytime you need to slow down, sit for a rest, stretch your muscles, or focus more deeply on something.
After approximately 20 minutes, we’ll turn around and walk back toward our meeting location. The return walk gives us space to integrate insights and identify practical takeaways before ending the session.
Sessions are typically 45-50 minutes total. In cases of severe weather or unsafe trail conditions, we’ll move your session to telehealth.
Walk & Talk therapy can help you…
Reduce anxiety and worry—feel more grounded
Lift the heaviness of depression and increase motivation
Process grief and loss in a supportive, natural environment
Build emotional resilience to combat stress and overwhelm
Increase clarity during major life transitions and identity shifts
Develop coping and problem-solving skills you can use daily
Strengthen the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and body
Frequently asked questions about walk & talk therapy
FAQs
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Yes. It follows the same clinical framework and therapeutic approach, simply in a different setting. Many clients find they open up more naturally while walking.
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While walking with a friend can be supportive, Walk & Talk Therapy is a structured, intentional clinical process guided by training and evidence-based approaches. Our sessions are focused on your goals, patterns, and emotional growth—not mutual sharing or casual conversation.
As your therapist, I help you identify unhelpful thought patterns, develop coping skills, process grief or life transitions with intention, and gently challenge cycles that may be keeping you stuck. I also maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and a therapeutic framework designed to support lasting change. The setting may feel more natural and relaxed, but the work remains purposeful and clinically grounded.
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Yes. Walk & Talk Therapy can be used as your primary therapy format or incorporated occasionally alongside traditional sessions. It is completely optional and can be adjusted at any time based on your needs and preferences.
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While the intake session is conducted online or in office, follow-up Walk & Talk Therapy sessions take place along the CT Linear Trail (“Rails to Trails”) in Southington, Connecticut. We meet at a designated parking area in Southington or Plantsville and walk together at a comfortable, conversational pace while we talk.
The trail is easily accessible for clients in Southington and surrounding towns including Cheshire, Plainville, Farmington, Berlin, and Bristol.
If you need a restroom during your session, rest assured there are portable restrooms and nearby businesses with public facilities along the trail—I will guide you to the closest available option. Your comfort and safety are always prioritized during our sessions.
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Your confidentiality is important to me. If we encounter someone you know, I will not initiate interaction and will not acknowledge that you are a client. I will follow your lead and you are free to introduce me in whatever way feels comfortable to you. For instance, some clients like to refer to me as a “walking partner.” We will try to keep the interaction brief so that we can get back to your session. This will all be discussed during your online intake session and we will follow the plan outlined in your Walk & Talk consent form to protect your privacy.
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You do not need to be in peak physical condition. We walk at a conversational pace and can pause anytime, there are benches and focal points along the trail. The focus is therapy—not exercise performance.
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Your intake session is always online. If weather is unsafe or uncomfortable, we’ll hold your session via secure telehealth. I will check the weather day prior to your Walk & Talk session and reach out to you if we need to move our session online. Ideally, we will make a decision at least 24 hours prior for planning purposes and up to 1 hour before the session should the weather deteriorate or differ from the forecast.
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You should wear comfortable clothing and supportive walking shoes. Dress appropriately for the weather. Bringing water is recommended and something to carry your keys and phone in such as a zipped pocket or crossbody bag.
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If you're interested in Walk & Talk Therapy, the first step is scheduling a brief consultation call here. This allows us to talk about what you're hoping to work through and whether this format feels like a good fit for your needs and comfort level. If we decide to move forward, we’ll schedule your intake session during that call. At that time, I will also collect a form of payment to hold your appointment.
Within about 24 hours after scheduling, you’ll receive your intake paperwork through your email. These forms help me understand your background, current concerns, and goals for therapy. I ask that the paperwork be completed at least 48 hours before your intake session so I have time to review everything thoughtfully before we meet.
The intake session is conducted in the office or online to set the foundation for your outdoor walking sessions. We’ll explore what has been bringing you to therapy, discuss patterns you’ve been noticing, and begin identifying goals for our work together. From there, we’ll develop a treatment plan and begin the therapy process. Walk & Talk sessions take place along the Linear Trail in Southington at a comfortable, conversational pace.