Walk & Talk Therapy in Toronto: How It Works and Is It Right for You?
Updated: Sep 5
Sometimes talking feels different when you're moving. Instead of sitting across from each other in a therapy room or meeting through a screen, Walk & Talk therapy takes the session outdoors. We walk together while having the same kinds of conversations we might have during an individual therapy session.
For some people, walking side by side feels more comfortable. You might like having somewhere to look besides directly at your therapist, find it easier to talk while moving, or simply prefer spending part of your day outside. For others, an office or virtual session feels better. Neither is more therapeutic than the other. It's about finding a setting that works for you.
What Is Walk & Talk Therapy?
Walk & Talk therapy is psychotherapy that takes place while the therapist and client walk together outdoors. The walking itself isn't the goal of the session, and this isn't a fitness program. We can walk slowly, change our pace, take breaks, or sit somewhere along the way.
The therapy part is still therapy.
We might talk about anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, relationships, identity, chronic illness, neurodivergence, or whatever else you're bringing into the session. The difference is simply that we're having that conversation while moving through an outdoor space rather than sitting in a therapy room.
Why Might Someone Prefer Walking During Therapy?
There are plenty of reasons someone might prefer Walk & Talk sessions.
You might:
find sitting still for an entire session uncomfortable
prefer talking while you're doing something
feel less pressure when you're walking beside someone rather than sitting face to face
enjoy spending time outside
appreciate movement as part of your day
want an alternative to virtual or office-based sessions
For some neurodivergent clients in particular, being able to move during a conversation can feel more natural than being expected to sit still and maintain eye contact. But there isn't one type of person Walk & Talk therapy is designed for. It's simply another way a therapy session can be structured.
What Does a Walk & Talk Session Look Like?
Before our first Walk & Talk session, we'll discuss where we're meeting, what the route is like, and anything you need to know beforehand. We'll meet at an agreed-upon outdoor location in Toronto or Etobicoke and walk together for the session.
You don't need to maintain a particular pace. If you want to slow down, stop, or sit for part of the session, we can. And if you'd rather have a regular in-person or virtual session another time, Walk & Talk doesn't have to become the only way we work together. I offer Walk & Talk sessions during the warmer months, depending on availability and conditions.
What About Privacy?
This is an important difference between Walk & Talk therapy and meeting in a private therapy room. Because we're outdoors in a public space, complete privacy can't be guaranteed in the same way it can in a private office or virtual session from a private location.
We may pass other people during our walk, and it's possible that someone could recognize either of us. Before choosing Walk & Talk therapy, we'll talk about these considerations so you can make an informed decision about whether the format feels comfortable for you.
We can also discuss ahead of time what you'd like us to do if we encounter someone you know.
If you're expecting to discuss something particularly private and decide you'd rather meet in the office or virtually that day, that's something we can talk about too.
What About Accessibility, Pain, or Changing Energy?
Walk & Talk therapy doesn't require you to walk quickly or cover a particular distance.
If you live with chronic illness, chronic pain, fatigue, disability, or changing energy, your capacity may be different from one day to another. That's worth discussing before deciding whether a particular outdoor location or session format works for you. And if walking isn't accessible or comfortable for you, that doesn't mean you need to push through it to participate in therapy. I also offer in-person and virtual individual psychotherapy.
What Happens if the Weather Changes?
Outdoor therapy means the weather gets a vote. Because I offer Walk & Talk during warmer months, we'll make plans around the conditions and discuss what happens if weather makes an outdoor session impractical. Depending on the circumstances and availability, that may mean changing the format rather than expecting you to walk through conditions that aren't workable.
You don't get bonus therapy points for getting soaked in the rain.
Is Walk & Talk Therapy Right for Me?
You don't need to know before trying it. You might be interested in Walk & Talk therapy if you already know that movement helps you feel more comfortable in conversation, you dislike sitting face to face for long periods, or you simply like the idea of having therapy outdoors.
You might prefer another format if privacy is a significant concern, walking isn't accessible for you, the outdoor environment creates sensory difficulties, or you simply feel more comfortable meeting indoors or virtually. The important part is having options. Therapy doesn't have to look one particular way to count.
Walk & Talk Therapy in Toronto & Etobicoke
I'm Savannah Dasilva, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and expressive arts therapist based in Toronto. I offer Walk & Talk sessions in Toronto and Etobicoke during the warmer months as one option within individual psychotherapy. Walk & Talk sessions are $155, the same rate as individual therapy.
If you're wondering whether Walk & Talk might fit what you're looking for, we can talk about the format, location, privacy considerations, accessibility, and any questions you have during a free 20-minute consultation.
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