Walk & Talk
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Atlantic Beach, meet at public access on 7th Street (near Adele Grage Community Center) walk north on the sand towards Hannah Park in the quiet residential section. Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club, meet at the marina by the yacht club and walk north on the pavement past the residences towards the boat lock and lagoon. Dogs are welcome.
UNF Hiking Trails - meet in the parking lot and walk/hike around the lake on the wooded dirt trail. No dogs allowed on campus except service animals.
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, meet at the entrance gate, admission is included with your session fee. Masks are required here, and they are operating at a reduced capacity. No dogs except service animals.
What else do I need to know?
What else do I need to know?
There is no commitment to walk and talk, if you try it once you can opt back to Teletherapy or alternate at your preference and availability.
Keep in mind the temperatures, weather and time of day. It may be cooler to walk in the mornings. In case of rain, we simply switch back to Teletherapy or phone session.
Pick your location from one of the options above.
Bring water, closed toe walking or hiking shoes, bug spray (for trails) and a hat. Dress comfortably. We stop and sit to enjoy the pretty settings at your pace.
Offering the same sliding scale cash rate as Teletherapy, no insurance.
Sign the Walk and Talk informed consent form below, with additional details and information.
Payments are due by the day of service and can be conveniently made below via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Cash App.
If you prefer a BBA/HIPPA compliant option the bank account info will be provided, or cash/check may be accepted at the office during office hours in advance of the session.
Walk & Talk Session 45-55min
$100.00
Walk & Talk Session 60-75min
$125.00
Parent Update Session 20-30min
$50.00
For sliding scale cash rate amounts please see above.
Ready to get started for yourself or for your child?
For new patients, email me [email protected] or call (904) 234-574
All new patient and consent forms to complete are linked on this page.
Walk and Talk Therapy is treatment oriented and not intended for forensic or court involved cases. Due to the nature of the approach and reduced note taking ability it is not intended to be used in divorce cases or custody evaluations, for court involved cases see rates page.
Walk and Talk Therapy
Walk and Talk Therapy
A creative and proactive alternative to online Teletherapy, Walk and Talk Therapy allows for a fresh air, mask free, in-person therapy option.
In Ireland and the UK (my native home) walking is a must when the weather permits. In fact Walk and Talk Therapy also known as Hiking Therapy is now a popular option there (especially since Co-vid) and is growing in popularity and availability here in the states.
Movement, whether it’s a leisurely walk or a brisk hike, can make it easier for some people to discuss their feelings. Many clients may prefer to move or walk as opposed to sitting across from their therapist in an office or looking through a screen.
It is particularly helpful in teenagers and younger clients. Some clients are more at ease in nature, which improves their ability to open up. Sitting down for a one-on-one conversation in close quarters can be uncomfortable for some, so taking the conversation outside can help relieve some of that pressure.
Oceanside Family Therapy and Assessments is named for its location just 2 blocks from the ocean, so the beach is a natural choice, but for a woods option the trails at UNF and Dutton Island are also an options. Or if you prefer a flat sidewalk and pretty views the lagoon walk at Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club offers miles of partly shaded, residential walking as does the Zoo & Gardens.
Why combine walking and therapy?
Why combine walking and therapy?
The hypothesis is that rhythmic exercise, such as walking, can be conducive to the process of self-discovery and offers a mind-body experience:
- It encourages a patient to be more physically active for mental and physical reasons.
- It provides less direct eye contact which is more comfortable for some clients during self-disclosure.
- It helps a patient get "unstuck" when confronting difficult issues.
- It spurs creative, deeper ways of thinking often released by mood-improving physical activity.
- It grounds the client to nature, the rhythm of their breath, steps and the ecosystem around them.
- It provides endorphins, dopamine and serotonin during sessions to help with anxiety and depressive symptoms.
- Side by side walking can offer more physical distance than face to face office therapy, in an open, fresh air environment allowing for a mask free experience and less germs/viruses than a closed office setting.
- It is great for all ages - I started using walk/talk and playground therapy as a school based therapist many years ago and saw amazing results with otherwise resistant children, in this modality.
- It offers the client a chance to work towards their minimum of 60 minutes of steps/day while doing talk therapy.
- Great option also for restless kids and teens and an opportunity to get them out and moving while working on themselves.
- You can combine pet assisted therapy - bring your dog or ask the therapist to bring one of hers.
Walk and Talk Therapy is still psychotherapy.
It may incorporate psychodynamic, family systems, cognitive/behavioral, mindfulness, and/or humanistic psychology approaches, etc., just like in office/clinic or Teletherapy settings.
Be prepared to work on yourself while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
Being surrounded by nature during psychotherapy also provides an optimal environment for mindfulness and meditation techniques which can promote more positive and rational thinking by improving neurotransmitter levels in your brain, reducing anxiety, lifting your mood, helping resolve deeper emotional issues and connecting you to being a part of the natural world around you.
Walking can provide a symbolic and metaphoric representation of the various issues, conflicts and resolutions that a client might face. The physical act of moving forward while doing therapy can act as a powerful catalyst to personal change. It can help them to process emotions that have been keeping them stuck in one place, and help them no longer feel "stuck."
In the process of this type of therapy both the therapist and the client are looking forward in the same direction - ahead - and are both present in the moment. This is a powerful metaphor for the client who can feel, quite literally, that he or she has a partner to walk by his/her side and face challenges "head on."
Also offering experiential onsite therapy for clients overcoming anxiety, agoraphobia, phobias, and covid isolation induced social anxiety, etc. Inquire for details.
“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking” -Nietzsche
"The mind reflects the body reflects the mind." -Carl Jung