Nature-based Therapy /Walk and Talk
It is a nature-based healing approach that utilizes activities like walking to reduce stress, boost mood, and build purpose by reconnecting people with the natural world, leading to better mental and physical well-being.
Walking and talking in nature, known as nature therapy, ecotherapy, or walk-and-talk therapy, powerfully supports mental health by reducing stress, boosting mood, and offering new perspectives, blending the benefits of exercise, fresh air, and natural environments to lower anxiety, promote social cohesion and improve focus with studies showing improvements in mood and anxiety in as little as 12 weeks.
Studies
- Isham, A., Jefferies, L., Blackburn, J., Fisher, Z., & Kemp, A. H. (2025). Green healing: Ecotherapy as a transformative model of health and social care. Current Opinion in Psychology, 62, 102005.
- Paredes-Céspedes, D. M., Vélez, N., Parada-López, A., Toloza-Pérez, Y. G., Téllez, E. M., Portilla, C., ... & Malagón-Rojas, (2024). The effects of nature exposure therapies on stress, depression, and anxiety levels: A systematic review. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 14(3), 609-622.
- Westwood, S., Edmunds-Jones, G., Maguire, T., Hawley, S., Avent, H., Griffiths, J., ... & Gradinger, F. (2025). Pilot Testing an Ecotherapy Program for Adolescence: Initial Findings and Methodological Reflections. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(5), 720.
Social Skills Training and Development
While walk-and-talk is often informal, it can be structured to improve social skills, particularly for individuals struggling with anxiety or those who feel socially isolated.- Reduced Anxiety in Social Situations: Walking in a group serves as a gentle, low-pressure introduction to community interaction, allowing individuals to get comfortable being around others without the pressure of constant, forced conversation.
- Improved Conversational Skills: Walking allows for a natural flow of conversation, often described as "parallel play," where people are connected by the shared activity but not compelled to make constant eye contact, which reduces social anxiety.
- Nature as a Social Facilitator: The environment itself provides natural, easy, and non-threatening topics for conversation—birds, weather, trees—helping to break the ice among participants.
- Modeling and Peer Support: In group settings, participants often mirror the positive interactions of others, developing better communication skills and, as studies indicate, an improved sense of empathy and cooperation.
- Empowerment and Confidence: Participants frequently report improved confidence and social skills after taking part in these groups, enabling them to better engage with others and feel less alone.
Our Sessions /Locations where we work:
- Rushcliffe Country Park, Mere Way, Ruddington, NG11 6JS
- Skylarks Nature Reserve, 2LU, Adbolton Ln, West Bridgford
- Colwick Park Adventure Centre, Nottingham NG2 4BH
- Burton Joyce Riverside, Stoke Bardolph, Burton Joyce, NG14 5HX
- Canalside Heritage Center, Weir Cottages, Canal Side, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1L
Πρόκειται για μια θεραπευτική προσέγγιση βασισμένη στη φύση που χρησιμοποιεί δραστηριότητες όπως το περπάτημα για τη μείωση του στρες, την ενίσχυση της διάθεσης και την δημιουργία σκοπού, επανασυνδέοντας τους ανθρώπους με το φυσικό περιβάλλον, οδηγώντας σε καλύτερη ψυχική και σωματική ευεξία.
Το περπάτημα και η συζήτηση στη φύση, γνωστό ως φυσοθεραπεία, οικοθεραπεία ή θεραπεία με περπάτημα και συζήτηση, υποστηρίζει δυναμικά την ψυχική υγεία μειώνοντας το άγχος, βελτιώνοντας τη διάθεση και προσφέροντας νέες προοπτικές, συνδυάζοντας τα οφέλη της άσκησης, του καθαρού αέρα και του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος για τη μείωση του άγχους, την προώθηση της κοινωνικής συνοχής και τη βελτίωση της προσοχής, με μελέτες να δείχνουν βελτιώσεις στη διάθεση και το άγχος σε μόλις 12 εβδομάδες.