Walk & Talk Therapy + Outdoor Sessions in Great Barrington, MA & the Berkshires
Some Therapy Happens Best Outside
Sitting face to face with a therapist can feel uncomfortable, stiff, or just a little too vulnerable.
Sometimes being inside an office feels too restrictive.
Many people find they feel less on the spot, can relax more and have a different experience with therapy when they can get outside.
Walk & Talk therapy and outdoor sessions let you move freely, breathe easier, connect with nature, and make therapy feel more natural.
Walk & Talk Therapy or Outdoor Sessions Might Be Helpful If You:
Find it easier to open up when you’re not face to face
Feel more like yourself or more comfortable when you’re outside
Feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in your head
Think better or feel more free to express yourself when you’re moving
Find that nature helps you feel calmer, more alive, or more connected to what matters
How It Works
The Berkshires provide a restorative setting for nature-based therapy. The environment is part of the work.
We bring the same integrative somatic approach to outdoor sessions that we use in the office.
We pay attention to the mind, body, and nervous system; the patterns underneath the stories; and the opportunities for embodied change. We let nature inspire creativity, become a resource for healing, and provide pathways for meaningful change.
You and your therapist will collaborate to create an experience that supports your therapy needs and interests.
Sessions might include:
Walking and talking
Sitting together for therapy in nature
Mindful movement
Somatic or experiential therapy in nature
Movement Matters is surrounded by paths, trails, and quiet spots. You and your therapist will meet for sessions at the office or at a location near the office that you choose together.
Outdoor sessions can alternate with in-office sessions. We can continue to draw on nature as a resource and incorporate movement as part of your therapy when we are in the office.
Walk & Talk and nature-based sessions can be part of therapy for many of the concerns we help people with, including trauma, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem & self-worth, chronic pain, burnout, and a desire to reconnect to creativity.
Being outdoors can bring a different quality to therapy, opening up new ways to reflect, connect, and create change.
“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.”
Wallace Stevens
Curious if outdoor therapy is right for you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Walk & Talk and outdoor therapy sessions take place?
Outdoor sessions take place in Great Barrington, near the Movement Matters office at a location that you and your therapist choose. Depending on what works best for you, that might be a nearby walking path, an easy trail, or a quiet place to sit outdoors.
Our Great Barrington location is convenient for clients coming from Lenox, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, and communities throughout the Berkshires.
We also work with clients from throughout Western Massachusetts and the Hudson Valley. If you live a little farther away, you may choose to combine occasional in-person or Walk & Talk sessions with telehealth.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If weather conditions are not suitable or desirable for walk & talk or outdoor sessions, we’ll simply meet in the office.
What if I don't feel like being outside for therapy?
That’s completely okay. You always have the choice to move to an indoor session.
Do I have to walk? What if I have physical limitations?
Outdoor sessions don’t require sustained walking or even walking at all. You and your therapist might walk, find a nice spot to sit, or mix moving and sitting throughout the session.
The pace, distance, and format are always guided by your comfort, your body, and what makes sense for your therapy. You can slow down, pause, or rest at any time.
Is walk and talk therapy a way to get exercise? What is the pace of walking sessions?
While many people enjoy and benefit from movement and being outdoors, the purpose of walk & talk sessions isn’t exercise.
Walking, movement, and the natural environment simply become part of the therapeutic process.
Walk & Talk sessions are typically done at a slow to moderate pace. If walking, there may be times when you stop to explore and issues without walking or with other movement.
How private are walk & talk and outdoor sessions?
We choose locations with privacy in mind, but no outdoor setting can guarantee complete confidentiality. If we pass someone you know, we’ll simply keep walking, and your therapist will follow your lead about whether to acknowledge them. Otherwise, you’ll simply look like two people out for a walk.
Your privacy is always important, and we’ll talk through any concerns before meeting outdoors or as they come up.
Should I wear or bring anything special?
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suited for the location you and your therapist have chosen. Bring extra layers that fit the weather. Feel free to bring a blanket, water bottle, or other items that will make you comfortable.
Can I incorporate outdoor sessions into a Somatic Therapy Intensive?
Outdoor sessions can absolutely be a part of Somatic Therapy Intensives. Depending on the focus of the intensive, time outdoors may become one part of a personalized, immersive therapy experience.