Walk and Talk Therapy in Los Angeles
Therapy sessions on foot around the Silver Lake Reservoir.
Hi, I'm Jeff. I'm a licensed therapist (MS, LPCC) in Los Feliz, and along with office and video sessions, I offer walk and talk therapy. It's the same therapy, just outdoors: instead of sitting across from each other, we walk side by side around the Silver Lake Reservoir while we talk.
Book a free 15-minute callNo pressure, no commitment. We'll talk about what's going on and whether walking sessions make sense for you.
What is walk and talk therapy?
Walk and talk therapy is traditional talk therapy, held outdoors while walking. Instead of sitting in an office or on Zoom, we cover the same ground we would in any session: what's going on, what's keeping you stuck, and what to do about it. You get the benefits of movement and fresh air alongside the therapy itself.
Why I started offering it
I introduced walk and talk sessions during the pandemic. Clients were Zoomed out and wanted to meet in person, but didn't feel comfortable meeting indoors. Walking gave us a way to connect in person while getting some exercise, fresh air, and good scenery.
I kept offering it because of what I noticed. My clients with anxiety often focus better on our conversation when they're moving. Walking burns off some of the nervous energy that would otherwise pull their attention away.
How walking can help
- Movement settles anxious energy. Walking gives restless, keyed-up feelings somewhere to go, which helps when your mind tends to race.
- Side by side can be easier than face to face. Sitting across from a therapist can feel like being studied. Walking next to each other, with less eye contact, takes some of that pressure off.
- Mindfulness comes more easily outdoors. Your footsteps, the breeze, the birds, the light on the water: the walk gives us something real to come back to when your mind jumps ahead to what-ifs.
- Exercise and time in nature. Both are linked to lower stress and anxiety, and time outdoors is linked to lower blood pressure and stress hormones. You get both as part of the session.
- The research is early but encouraging. In a small randomized pilot study, men who did walking therapy reported larger improvements in stress and anxiety than men who did therapy indoors.
Walk and talk for anxiety, panic, and OCD
Anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD are what I specialize in. Walking sessions use the same approach I use in the office: mindfulness-based CBT, and ERP for OCD. Only the setting changes. For social anxiety, being out among other people can become part of the work, at a pace you set. Plenty of people mix formats, walking most weeks and meeting in the office or on video when the weather turns or the topic calls for more privacy.
Learn more about how I treat panic attacks, anxiety, social anxiety, and OCD.
What a session looks like
- Where: Around the Silver Lake Reservoir, a short drive from my Los Feliz office. We'll pick the exact meeting spot together after you book.
- How long: 50 minutes, the same as an office session. One loop around the reservoir is about 2.2 miles and takes 45 to 50 minutes at an easy pace.
- The pace: Conversational. It's a walk, not a workout, and we can slow down, stop, or sit on a bench anytime. If you're too hot or tired, say so and we'll adjust. Asking for what you need is part of the work too.
- Weather: LA is mild and dry most of the year. If it's too hot, too cold, or raining, we switch that session to the office or video.
- What to bring: Comfortable shoes, water, a hat, and sunscreen.
Is walk and talk therapy right for me?
Walk and talk therapy has a lot going for it, but it isn't right for everyone, and there's no guarantee it will work better for you than meeting in the office. We'll talk about fit on our first call. If I don't think it's clinically appropriate for you, physically or mentally, I'll say so and we'll meet in the office or by video instead. In some cases I may ask you to check with your doctor first.
You can also change your mind. If after a session or two walking isn't working for you, we switch formats. And if none of my formats is the right fit, I'll refer you to another therapist.
The tradeoffs
I want you to know the limitations up front.
- Privacy. We're walking in a public place, so I can't offer the same confidentiality as my office. You may see people you know, and people nearby may hear parts of our conversation. We keep our voices low, and I'm careful about what we discuss when others are close.
- Weather. Some days are too hot, cold, or wet for a good session. On those days we meet in the office or on video.
- Outdoor risks. As with any walk, there's some chance of slips, falls, cuts, bruises, and animal bites or stings.
The Silver Lake Reservoir
I hold walk and talk sessions around the Silver Lake Reservoir. It's close to Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and the rest of the Eastside, the views of the water and the hills are beautiful, and the loop is mostly flat with a couple of short hills.
Fees
Walk and talk sessions cost the same as office sessions: 50 minutes, $250, with a sliding scale based on financial need. If cost is the thing stopping you, ask me about it on the call.
Questions people ask about walk and talk therapy
Is walk and talk therapy confidential?
Not to the same degree as my office. We're in a public space, so others may pass by or overhear. We keep our voices low and pause or change topics when people are close. If privacy matters most for a particular session, we can meet in the office or on video.
What if I run into someone I know?
It can happen. We'll agree ahead of time on what to do, like pausing the conversation or just saying hello and moving on, so it isn't awkward in the moment.
What if it's raining or really hot?
We move that session to the office or to video. It's hard to hear each other under umbrellas, and a long walk in a heat wave isn't good for anyone. I'll check in with you beforehand if the forecast looks bad.
Do I need to be in good shape?
No. The pace is easy and conversational, and we can stop or sit whenever you need to. If you have a health condition that makes walking 2 miles difficult, mention it on the call and we'll figure out whether this format works for you.
Can I switch between walking, office, and video sessions?
Yes. Many people mix all three depending on the week, the weather, and what we're working on.
Is walk and talk therapy a real form of therapy?
Yes. It's the same licensed therapy, held outdoors. It falls under a broader category called ecotherapy, or nature-based therapy. Therapists have walked with clients since Freud, and the practice grew during the pandemic, when many therapists, me included, started meeting clients outside.
Do you take insurance?
I'm a private-pay practice, which is what lets me keep a small caseload and offer a sliding scale. Many clients get part of the cost back through their plan's out-of-network benefits. I provide the paperwork for that each month and I'm happy to walk you through it on the call.
Book a free 15-minute call
Pick a time below. We'll talk for 15 minutes about what's going on and whether walk and talk sessions are a good fit. No obligation.
Prefer to call or email? (323) 362-6555 · jeff@jeffreybornstein.com