Individual Therapy Services
What is Neurodiversity / Trauma / Addiction / Walking Therapy / Hoarding 

You can make great strides with your mental health while being active. Movement can help you reconnect with the outdoors, and it will provide calming effects from nature. Feeling feelings and allowing them to be with you can be healing. We find many ways to cope with emotions, walking can become another skill to help you feel empowered to overcome more then you thought possible.

 

“The mental benefits of aerobic exercise have a neurochemical basis. Exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators. Endorphins are responsible for the "runner's high" and for the feelings of relaxation and optimism that accompany many hard workouts — or, at least, the hot shower after your exercise is over.”

 

– Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health publishing, From the website: Harvard Men's Health Watch

 

You may feel nervous about moving therapy out of the office, but this change in environment can actually create a healing environment for many individuals that struggle to open up or feel comfortable in a therapy office or via telehealth. Walking therapy can be a wonderful alternative for individuals with anxiety, depression, Neurodiversity, trauma, stress, grief, loss, etc.

 

Walking therapy is a unique avenue to practice psychotherapy while walking outdoors in nature. The elements of movement and the environment enhance the therapeutic process. During walking sessions mindfulness, trauma informed practices, CBT, and play are included to process the topic of focus. Walking supports bringing physical awareness to the emotion. The act of engaging the body can increase the sense of awareness for individuals. It can help to decrease any fear of judgement and decrease insecurities because it does not require constant eye contact. Neurodivergent individuals often navigate therapy differently, often listening better when engaging in behaviors like parallel activity, fidgeting, or avoiding eye contact which can make walking an effective form of therapy. Exercise helps to improve self-esteem, mood, our feelings towards our body, and reduces overall stress.