This week, I was interviewed by The Beach Reporter about Walk & Talk therapy. It was a brief interview so there wasn’t enough time to go into much depth. However, I feel passionately about Walk & Talk Therapy and how it benefits so many of my clients. I wanted to share more and so I am.
The big question with Walk & Talk therapy is why? Why walk? And that’s a question that really excites me. There are a lot of obvious answers, some of which you can read on the page dedicated to ‘Walk & Talk’ Therapy on my website. Moving forward physically helps us feel pushed to move forward psychologically. Fresh air. The ocean is a therapeutic environment unlike any other. Movement has positive psychological benefits and forces us to connect with our felt experience as we process emotionally. But there’s another reason, a less obvious one.
Bilateral stimulation. I am trained in something called EMDR which you can also read about on this website. I don’t use it with all of my clients, but at its core is something called bilateral stimulation which just means that we stimulate both sides of the brain using eye movements, tappers that alternate tapping in each hand, or auditory cues that alternate ears. EMDR is very effective and it is thought that the bilateral stimulation is part of the reason why. When I do EMDR, I follow a rigid protocol that goes along with it. When I do Walk & Talk therapy, it is not EMDR. And yet, it does benefit by this principle of bilateral stimulation that is at the core of EMDR.
Walking provides bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation helps the brain process psychologically. And that is one of the biggest reasons that I believe Walk & Talk Therapy benefits many of my clients.
The Team Behind the Message:
At Beach Cities Psychotherapy, our team of dedicated therapists truly care about your well-being. We are passionate about sharing valuable information to support and guide you on your journey. Whether you’re facing life’s challenges or seeking personal growth, our team is here to ensure you receive the compassionate care and support you deserve. We’re committed to helping you navigate through your concerns and are always here to take care of you every step of the way.
More From Us:
Is My Relationship Toxic? How to Tell the Difference Between Normal Conflict and an Unhealthy Relationship
Maybe you've started Googling things your partner does. You tell a friend about an argument and hear yourself saying, “I know this sounds bad, but…” You have wonderful days together—and then fights that leave you questioning the entire relationship. Maybe you've even...
How to Know If You Need Trauma Therapy
You don't have to be having flashbacks. You don't have to have experienced a catastrophic event. And you don't need to be able to point to one moment in your life and say, That's the thing that traumatized me. Sometimes trauma is obvious. You survive an assault,...
Why Do I Care So Much About What Everyone Thinks of Me?
You send a text and don't get a response. You immediately reread what you wrote. Did that sound weird? Was I too much? Are they annoyed with me? Your boss gives you one piece of constructive feedback, and somehow the ten positive things they said disappear. You walk...