Walk & Talk Counselling Sessions

Step Out of the office and into a different kind of healing journey

Walk & Talk Counselling moves therapy beyond the traditional four walls and into the quiet, supportive spaces of the natural world. By combining counselling with gentle physical movement outdoors, you can process complex emotions while literally moving forward. Nature-based counselling offers a gentle, refreshing alternative. It is not an exercise class—it is simply counselling at your pace, supported by the natural grounding rhythm of the outdoors.

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks”

~John Muir

The Science-Backed Benefits of Walk & Talk Counselling

When we step outside together, we are activating a powerful combination of movement, nature, and therapeutic support. Research shows this unique modality offers profound mental and physiological benefits:

  • Reduces Clinical Anxiety and Stress: According to a clinical study published in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, walking therapy is a highly effective, feasible treatment that significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma.

  • Lowers Stress Hormones Faster: You do not need to hike for hours to feel a difference. A study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that just 20 minutes of immersion in nature significantly drops cortisol (stress hormone) levels, helping to soothe a frayed nervous system.

  • Improves Well-Being and Connection: A study in Counselling and Psychotherapy Research highlighted that clients utilizing walk-and-talk therapy experienced marked increases in self-awareness, self-acceptance, and overall emotional well-being compared to standard indoor sessions.

  • Increased Comfort: Walking side-by-side removes the intense pressure of direct, face-to-face contact. Therapists noted in Wiley's Counselling and Psychotherapy Research that this layout makes clients feel less clinical, significantly lowering the barrier for engaging in vulnerable conversations.

“Plants, animals, mountains, rivers, the sea — they are not interested in our productivity and performance, our appearance, our pay-check, or our mental state. We can be among them and participate in the network of life, even if we are momentarily weak, lost, or bubbling over with ideas and hyperactivity… Nature does not criticize us.”

~Clemens Arvay

Your Questions, Answered

  • Walk & Talk sessions are available to existing clients or new clients after an initial session, either in person or virtual.

  • Walks take place on local accessible forest trails that are mostly flat. There may be sections of uneven ground or muddy areas after rain, but generally the trails are very gentle.

    Walk & Talk Counselling sessions are offered in Vancouver and on the Sunshine Coast. Connect with Jes about scheduling.

  • Walk & Talk appointments will be confirmed the day before by email. If it is forecast to rain heavily or be very windy, we may switch our session to online, instead of a walk.

  • As we walk on public trails, there is a chance we could pass someone we know. During our first session, before a walk & talk, we will discuss how to approach this in a way that is comfortable for you.

  • The trails we will walk on are familiar routes, and I will keep us on track, ensuring we return to the trailhead on time.
    I have training in Wilderness First Aid, and carry a basic first aid kit.
    Additionally, we will never be out of cell service, in the unlikely event we require more support.

We believe in reciprocity and as we receive so much from the land and work in partnership with the natural world, 2% of every Walk & Talk Counselling session will be donated to the organization Indigenous Women Outdoors. IWO bring Indigenous women together, cultivating strong connections with one another and the environment. To learn more about IWO and the work they do, click the button below.

IWO