Exploring the Difference: Walk n Talk Therapy vs. Guided Forest Therapy
Both Walk and Talk Therapy and Guided Forest Therapy are therapeutic approaches that incorporate movement and nature into the healing process.
However, they differ in their methods, focus, and intended outcomes.
Walk and Talk Therapy
Walk and Talk Therapy involves traditional psychotherapy conducted while walking. With a Nurtured Minds Therapist, this happens at Telford Lake, Leduc or on our private retreat property (Nurtured Minds Retreat) near Wizard Lake. This approach integrates walking with mental health treatment.
Focus: The primary focus is on psychological therapy, utilizing the benefits of physical movement to enhance the therapeutic process. Walking can help clients feel more relaxed and open, potentially making it easier to discuss difficult topics.
Method: A licensed therapist conducts sessions in an outdoor setting. The therapy follows traditional psychotherapeutic techniques, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, or other modalities, while walking side by side with the client.
Benefits:
Encourages physical exercise, which is known to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
Creates a less formal setting that can ease the pressure of a typical therapy office.
Bilateral processing: walking can assist with processing complex emotions.
The natural environment can provide a calming backdrop leading to a more regulated nervous system, stress reduction and fostering creativity.
Guided Forest Therapy
Guided Forest Therapy, often referred to as "forest bathing" or "Shinrin-yoku" in Japan, is a practice that involves immersing oneself in a forest environment, guided by a trained guide, to promote physical and mental well-being.
Focus: The emphasis is on mindfulness, sensory immersion, and connecting with nature. It is less about traditional psychotherapy and more about experiential healing and stress reduction.
Method: A guide leads participants through a series of slow, deliberate activities designed to engage the senses and deepen their connection with the natural environment. Activities include mindful walking, breathing exercises, quiet reflection, and invitations to create awareness and presence. Our walks also include tea.
Benefits:
Reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood through immersion in nature.
Enhances mindfulness and sensory awareness.
Provides a holistic approach to well-being, focusing on the interconnection between mind, body, and environment.
Key Differences
Approach: Walk and talk therapy is grounded in conventional mental health techniques, whereas forest therapy is more about mindfulness and sensory experiences.
Guidance: Walk and talk therapy is led by a licensed therapist with a focus on addressing specific mental health issues. Forest therapy is guided by a facilitator who helps participants connect with nature.
Goals: The goal of walk and talk therapy is primarily psychological healing and personal insight, while forest therapy aims to promote overall well-being, reduce stress, and enhance one's connection to nature.
Insurance: Most insurance packages cover Clinical Walk and Talk Therapy under the umbrella of therapy/ mental health. Guided Forest Therapy will not be claimable on most plans but may be submitted to an HSA (Health Spending Account)
Cost: Guided Forest Therapy is also significantly lower than walk and talk counselling/therapy.
Both therapies recognize the therapeutic potential of nature and physical movement but apply them in different ways to achieve their respective goals.
Nurtured Minds Wellness has offices in Leduc and Calmar, Alberta. We have in person therapy, walk and talk and telehealth therapy appointments for people in Alberta.
We are a holistic team of therapists and guides. We specialize in helping people navigate the tricky parts of life so that they can live to their full potential.
