Walk and Talk

As an ex fitness instructor, I truly believe in ‘fit body, fit mind’. There are lots of advantages of being outside – you and the therapist are on common ground and you can literally set the pace. You can meet in the therapy room and later agree to introduce walking and talking. Walking is known to be calming as well as a stimulus to new thoughts and ideas. Finally, research shows that walking is not only good for your physical health, but it is also good for your mental health. See resources below.

Research on Exercise and Mental Health

• http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-and-depression-report-excerpt
• Neuropsychobiology 2009;59:191–198 DOI: 10.1159/000223730: Exercise and Mental Health: Many Reasons to Move
• Effects of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress: a unifying theory. P Salmon – Clinical psychology review, 2001 – Elsevier
• Physical activity, exercise, depression and anxiety disorders. A Ströhle – Journal of neural transmission, 2009 – Springer
• Effects of exercise on anxiety, depression and mood]. Guszkowska – Psychiatria polska, 2003 – europepmc.org

What will Happen

1. You’ll be moving – physically and probably figuratively too. Your therapist will match your pace.
2. You’ll be breathing and being in nature, which can be meditative.
3. You’ll be connected to the outside world in a gentle way. If you are going through a life transition, have anxiety or are experiencing some kind of loss   or grief this may be helpful in grounding you.
4. You’ll probably be energised physically and mentally by the end of the session and that may carry on into the rest of the day and the week.

Resources

• Breathing Space: http://breathingspace.scot/how-we-can-help/need-to-talk/. Need help now? Call free on 0800 83 85 87
• Samaritans: www.samaritans.org. Call FREE on:  116 123
• http://www.beatingtheblues.co.uk/patients/introduction/whatisit: CBT treatment for depression
• http://www.moodcafe.co.uk/ On line support
• Headspace App
• Blurtitout.org. – Blog for depression
• NHS 24. Call FREE on: 111