Hiking Therapy

Welcome, Hiker.

​

If you're looking for a different approach to therapy, you have found it. Hiking Therapy takes place outdoors on the trail and involves partnering with nature in supporting mental wellness. Rather than meet at the office and sit, we meet at the trail where we walk and talk side by side. I describe my approach to hiking therapy as:

 

traditional therapy + ecotherapy + the walk and talk format. 

​

In a Hiking Therapy session we often focus on personal goals, similar to what we might do in the office or via telehealth, and we get the added benefits of time in nature and movement. Some individuals find that walking while talking makes the therapy process feel more approachable and less intimidating. If going to a clinic or office feels uncomfortable, hiking sessions may be a helpful alternative. Others do their best processing while in motion. 

 

Hiking Therapy is also offered in the group format. Check out the Hiking Therapy Group for Mental Wellness here. *please note, this group is not always active- inquire to find out the status*

​​

Who is it For?

Hiking sessions are for everybody. All fitness and ability levels, body types, backgrounds, are welcome and respected. We have access to a variety of trails, including wheelchair accessible routes. In the screening process we discuss any medical concerns that might interact with hiking or special considerations.

​

Nature-Based Support

For those who feel comfortable outdoors, time in nature offers opportunities for grounding, nervous system regulation, stress reduction, emotional regulation, and restoration of cognitive resources (meaning: recharges the mind and refreshes focus and executive functioning). 

 

When relevant to your goals for therapy, we may opt to include nature-based exercises that help support mental health, such as:

​

• practicing grounding skills through nature connection

  • [helpful for trauma recovery, stress, anxiety, regulation]

• embodied decision making & communication

  • [helpful for trauma recovery, practicing voicing preferences, increasing social confidence]

• nature as metaphor expressive exercises

  • [helpful for connecting with the self, identifying and expressing needs]

• adventure therapy exercises, such as navigating with a map and compass, or hiking with a burden

  • [helpful for building confidence, expanding awareness of internal dialogue, processing]​

• mindfulness practices

  • [helpful for reducing anxiety, depression, and staying present]​

• somatic practices

  • [helpful for restoring connection to the body following trauma, reducing body tension associated with trauma or stress]​

​​

Trauma Informed

You always have a say in what the session looks like: the trails we take: hilly or flat, paved or muddy, the pace we set, the exercises that you find helpful or wish to bypass. Before we set out on the trail, we complete a screening to ensure outdoors feels safe enough to be comfortable. Before doing any type of trauma processing in therapy, we make sure you have a supportive scaffolding to uphold your wellbeing outside of sessions. 

 

Why Take a Session on the Trail?

Research shows that time in nature benefits our mental well-being by:

• decreasing anxiety and stress

• reducing ruminating thoughts

• calming the nervous system

• improving mood

• increasing self esteem

• improving a sense of connection to the natural world

​

Before We Go...

Are you excited about this format of therapy? Before we meet outdoors, we will complete a brief screening (completed within an intake or regular therapy session) to ensure that this format is a good match. In the screening we will go over your comfort level in the outdoors, any relevant medical concerns, and have a conversation about the pros and cons to this type of therapy so that you can choose to give informed consent after receiving all of the details. See more FAQ's below.​​​​​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​