Walking therapy is simply that – you and your therapist walking and talking, rather than meeting in a counselling room or online. It is not exercise, but many people experience physical as well as psychological benefits from engaging in traditional talking therapies whilst walking in green surroundings.
Walking helps increase serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, two neurotransmitters responsible for happiness and contentment, which may help alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression.
Exposure to the natural wold has been shown to dramatically increase attention, subjective wellbeing and ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
I’m based in Ilfov in Bucarest and propose meeting on Strada Iancu Nicolae, either close to the zoo or near Lidl, and walking for an hour in Banaesa Forest. If it has been wet, it can be quite muddy, so please bring appropriate footwear.
References
Walking Psychotherapy As a Health Promotion Strategy to Improve Mental and Physical Health for Patients and Therapists – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8892051/
NHS England. NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression. [Online.] https://tinyurl.com/mpad47wv
Grassini S. A systematic review and meta-analysis of nature walk as an intervention for anxiety and depression. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2022; 11(6): 1731.
Walking and talking
Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, October 2024