Psychotherapy works best in the open air

La walk-and-talk therapy, literally “walk and talk”, is a form of psychotherapy, codified by theAmerican Psychological Association,  in which sessions do not take place sitting in an office, but walking outdoors with the therapist, usually in a park or in a quiet natural setting. It is part of broader approaches related to Ecotherapy, that is, psychological interventions that integrate the natural environment into the therapeutic process.

A session of Psychotherapy In “walk-and-talk” mode it is similar to a traditional session, but with some practical differences:

• a walking route is established (park, path, urban green area)
• therapist and patient walk side by side, instead of facing each other
• we talk freely about therapeutic topics while walking
• moments of dialogue and natural silence often alternate

It is considered, by some scientific studies, more effective because:

• physical movement reduces tension, stress. and anxiety
• the natural context promotes calm and emotional openness
• Speaking “without direct eye contact” can make it easier to address sensitive topics
• walking side by side, rather than sitting on the psychotherapist's couch, can reduce the perception of hierarchy
• the rhythm of the walk It can help thoughts flow better.

A study of 2025, entitled  Walk-and-Talk Therapy Versus Conventional Indoor Therapy for Men With Low Mood: A Randomized Pilot Study, published in the scientific journal  Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy it went like this:

• 37 men with mild-moderate depressed mood
• 6 weeks of therapy (1 session per week)
• Two groups:
  • walk-and-talk therapy (walking outdoors)
  • traditional therapy in the office

And in the end it gave these results: