Let’s Go Outside!
Now Offering Outdoor Therapy
Hi, y’all!
I’m excited to share that I will now be offering outdoor therapy sessions, sometimes known as “walk and talk” therapy. Being outdoors and connected to nature has played a really beautiful role in my own healing and embodiment, so I’m looking forward to experiencing that with you! And why not take advantage of living in beautiful Southern Utah?!
FAQ about Outdoor Therapy
What is the purpose? What are the benefits?
Embodiment is a form of healing, including from childhood trauma, sexual trauma, religious trauma, or stress from oppression and discrimination. The outdoors can be a container to feel safe enough to tune into your body sensations and process stored stress or trauma. This approach is not about getting a workout or doing physical exertion, but to help increase connection to your mindbody with potential benefits of providing clarity, boosting creativity, and increasing connection to yourself. The positive effects of being outdoors are numerous.
Where will we be going?
Any outdoor environment such as local parks, local hiking trails, or even urban street settings can be good places for outdoor therapy. Some potential options in St. George include Vernon Worthen Park, Red Hills Desert Garden, Tonaquint Park, or Chuckwalla Trail. The location may differ based on your preference, activity level, and ability level (e.g., we may choose a paved path, a seated spot in a park, or a hike on more uneven terrain). We’ll also consider the season, weather, and temperature.
What do I need to bring?
Water, comfortable shoes and clothing, and sun protection. You can also bring a pack to hold snacks and/or a journal.
How long is a session and what is the cost?
Outdoor therapy sessions will typically be 55 minutes, similar to the in-office rate. We can walk or hike the whole duration or take breaks by sitting and resting. Many of the locations we’ll go to have benches or other areas to sit. The cost for outdoor therapy will be the same as your in-office rate.
Can I bring my dog with me?
I’m a huge dog lover and I know the benefit of having your doggo with you, so the answer is yes, they’re welcome in most cases! Where we meet, the length of our session, and your dog’s personality will all be considered in determining if it’s appropriate for your dog to join. We expect you to keep your dog leashed according to local laws. If having your dog with us in the session will be too much of a distraction to the process of therapy, it may be best for them not to join.
What will my session look like?
Similar to how we would in my office, as we walk or sit in nature, we’ll discuss thoughts and feelings you’re experiencing. We may practice a mindfulness or nervous system regulation activity together during the session, sit in silence, or do some light stretching. In some cases, we may go deeper toward trauma processing facilitated by EMDR and/or IFS (AKA “parts work” or “inner child work”.)
What about confidentiality? What if I see someone I know?
Outdoor therapy inherently has less privacy and therefore more risk for lack of confidentiality. Prior to beginning our outdoor therapy sessions, we will talk about boundaries you’d like to have in place if you do see someone you know. I will never introduce myself as a therapist to anyone we encounter. It’s your preference whether or not you’d like to engage with someone you know and whether you’d like to share who I am. How we handle this situation is completely up to your own comfort level. Due to the lack of privacy in outdoor spaces, additional consent forms will need to be signed before participating, acknowledging and agreeing that confidentiality may be more difficult to maintain in public outdoor settings, in addition to the inherent safety risks of being active in the outdoors.
What if I need to use the bathroom during our outdoor therapy session?
In most cases, we will try to do outdoor sessions in locations that have accessible restrooms. If the location for that day’s session does not have a restroom, this will be communicated to you beforehand.
Will we always meet at the same location?
No, we may rotate locations and I will let you know beforehand.
What happens if there is bad weather?
In the event of inclement weather such as rain, we may hold our session indoors at the office. However, there may be days where rain is unexpected and we may agree to continue our outdoor session if it is deemed safe.
How do I schedule?
Outdoor sessions can supplement your existing in-office sessions, or replace them depending on my availability. Currently, I’m planning to offer outdoor therapy on a limited basis and will evolve as needed. Please contact me for my upcoming availability and let me know if you’d like to schedule any of them, and if you’d prefer to replace your in-office sessions or supplement them with outdoor sessions.