Therapy Outdoors

[desiderata310]

Today was my first session trying therapy outside. It was quite different from the triggering sessions we had in his office with me grasping anxiously to a coffee cup or wringing my hands. Instead we walked a shaded trail and talked. He was telling me about the idea that trauma therapy was moving in this direction Instead of just having a anxiety disorder or depression disorder, they are part of treating the whole and part of treating the whole was to address the environment as well as the person's disorder.

Ok. I'll bite.

We probably walked a couple of miles, exploring single track and wide fire roads and talked very carefully about the weekend, which included my suicidal feelings over the last couple of days. While I think I dissociated a bit I was able to stay 'present'- more or less- the whole session.

The whole thing was a bit odd and cumbersome. I found it difficult to walk in front of him because I would get creeped out and there were plenty of moments when we had to walk single file. At one point he finally picked up on the fact that I was uncomfortable with it and adjusted.

We were walking up a very scenic area that lent itself to very scenic views and allowed him to point out really great mountain bike riding points across town from where we were. He used those points to allow me to regroup and to distract me from where I was in my head. Which worked.

When we got to a difficult place in the conversation and I started to dissociate, I seemed to slow down.Maybe it's my imagination but it really did become harder to pick my way over the tree roots and I couldn't seem to talk.

At the end, when we got back to our cars, he said he would shoot me a text to see how I felt about it and to see if we would do the same later on this week.

How do I feel about it? The jury is still out. There is much to be said for not being triggered by my therapist's office and more to be said for the movement and the stillness of being in nature to help keep me grounded instead of getting lost in the noisy confusion of my triggered head. I think that trying to do real trauma work in this place would be difficult but it is good to be able to talk to my therapist without my heart going 90 to nothing.

 

[Chava]

I think it would be very helpful to go on a walk with my therapist. Such a different context. I might actually talk. Maybe just once. I get sort of stuck, curled up in a ball on the floor (my choice)...but a walk outdoors sounds great.

 

[ellienad]

There is much to be said for not being triggered by my therapist's office and more to be said for the movement and the stillness of being in nature to help keep me grounded instead of getting lost in the noisy confusion of my triggered head.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

I think "walking therapy" is fantastic. When I get stuck in my T's office, or become very triggered I tend to tense up and not be able to move, talk, or do much of anything. This is where the idea of going for a walk came up per my T's suggestion. Now if she sees me get to that tense/stuck place, she'll suggest we take a 10-15 minute walk, just down the street or something, and it really helps!

 

[Jane.l]

I find most of the time I am better outside walking and talking as I have begun to get triggered just by going in my T's office - I have had so many flashbacks and difficult sessions there just the feel of the place can set me off . I spend almost our entire last session mute and dissociated this week - it was so depressing .

We sometimes do a mix of inside and out . We have done some really difficult stuff walking but if I get too dissociated it can be tricky getting back safely - for me I find I am more comfortable outside and it also means talking can be 'side on' rather than face to face which can help .

I kind of like that we walk the same park through the seasons , through the sun, through the snow it's sort of comforting seeing nature doing it's thing carrying on - no matter how upside down my world is .

Hope you find it helps you too

 

[Sarahberrycakes]

That sounds interesting. Sitting in the small office with the door and blinds closed makes me feel trapped and, of course, anxious. I may even consider seeing if my therapist would consider something like this. She's pretty wonderful, and I actually feel a connection with her. Just maybe this would work.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I like the idea of a walking session, but I think it would be scary, too. My therapist's new office has windows to the outside world and she had them wide open. It kind of freaked me out. I can only imagine what being outside would do. But at the same time, I like walking in nature and would probably feel more comfortable. I can see why "the jury is still out".

 

[anthony]

The best therapies are typically outside. I've always been a huge advocate of therapists going for a walk with their clients, talking and walking. It is private, you get exercise, and you remove a lot of stigma issues with sitting in a stale room, chair to chair. You can cry and walk still, if needed.

Sounds awesome.

 

[Chosen]

That's great! I think walking outside would be wonderful for counseling. Sure wish my T was willing! (haven't asked, but I betcha I know what his answer would be.)

 

[digger]

Where do you walk? Is it like private grounds or something? I kinda like the idea but I'd be really concerned about privacy, and the possibility of other people being around. I can only picture it for my location though where any walking would have to be in public spaces, which even when quiet still wouldn't have a guarantee of privacy. The unpredictability of that would make me too anxious I think.

 

[PollyScotland]

I haven't heard of any UK therapists doing this, but then I don't know many! Like Digger suggested, there would be the issue of privacy which would concern me greatly.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Even with a therapist there I would worry about being raped outdoors, first thing I thought of when reading your description. Probably by the (male) therapist.

There is only one group therapy in my area I have heard of, where you walk and talk along with a group of people. I thought that sounded stupid. For one how would everyone be able to talk, it would just get crowed. And then I have asthma so sometimes talking and walking is hard couple that with anxiety and yeah...that wont work.

 

[Suzetig]

I'm really pleased it seems to have been helpful to you. It's so good when your therapist is willing to try things out to see what might make things more manageable.