Booking your first therapy session can feel like a big step. Booking your first therapy session that happens outside, on a trail, with someone you've never met? That can bring up a whole new set of questions. 

What do I wear? What if it pours? What if we run into someone I know?

All fair questions. Here's everything you need to know before meeting us on trail. And don’t worry if you have questions not answered, the rest will be covered in our intake session. 

A walk-and-talk session looks a lot like traditional counselling, just in motion. We'll meet at an agreed-upon trailhead in Squamish or Whistler, sending a pin the day before, and then set off at a relaxed, conversational pace. There's no destination to rush toward and no fitness test happening, the walking is simply the container for the conversation, not the point of it.The added bonus of being outdoors, is that if movement is feeling.

Many clients find that moving side by side, rather than sitting face-to-face, actually makes it easier to open up. There's something about forward motion, fresh air, and not having to hold eye contact the entire time that takes the pressure off. Your nervous system tends to settle when your body is moving and your eyes have somewhere to land besides another person's face.

Dress for the trail, not for the office. That means:

• Layers. Temperatures shift on shaded trails, by the water, or once you start moving. A light jacket you can tie around your waist can be helpful. 
• Real footwear. Trail runners, hiking shoes, or sturdy sandales, anything with grip and ankle support. Squamish and Whistler trails can be root-covered, rocky, or muddy even on a sunny day.
• A water bottle or coffee. We'll keep the pace easy, so water, tea or coffee may be extra cozy. 
• Whatever helps you feel grounded. A hat, sunglasses, hand warmers in winter, anything that lets you focus on the session instead of the discomfort.
• Your therapist always has bear spray, a fully charged cell phone, and a small first aid kit, in the event of any mishaps!

If you're ever unsure what a specific trail calls for, ask us ahead of time. We know these paths well and would rather you show up prepared than uncomfortable.

Short answer: we still walk. This is the Pacific Northwest, if we cancelled every session for rain, we'd barely meet at all.

A steady drizzle under tree cover is often one of the most peaceful settings for a session. Bring a rain jacket or a small umbrella, and we'll choose a route with good canopy coverage when we can.

That said, we use judgment around genuinely unsafe conditions, lightning, high winds, icy trails, or extreme weather warnings. In those cases, we'll offer to move the session indoors, switch to a phone or video call. Please note that all walking sessions can be converted to online sessions!

This is one of the questions we hear most.

Yes, we walk on public trails, and yes, other people are sometimes around. Here's how we protect your privacy within that:

• We choose quieter trails and times whenever possible, and we adjust our pace and walking distance from others to keep conversations private.
• We don't acknowledge clients in public unless you initiate it first. If we cross paths with someone else we know, or if you happen to see someone you know, we follow your lead on how (or whether) to engage. Your confidentiality is yours to manage, and we'll never put you in an awkward position by greeting you first.
• We keep our voices low and our spacing intentional, especially near other trail users, so conversations aren't overheard.
• The same clinical confidentiality rules apply outdoors as indoors. What you share with us is held to the same standards of privacy as any office-based counselling session, the walls are just further apart.

If at any point you'd feel more comfortable with a quieter, more secluded route, or you'd rather meet somewhere with less foot traffic, just tell us. This is your therapy. We'll shape the how around what helps you feel safest.

You don't need hiking experience, a fitness routine, or any particular love of the outdoors to do this. You just need to be willing to walk at a normal pace and talk while you do it. Some people find it easier to open up when they're moving and not sitting across from someone, that's really the main reason this format works for a lot of clients.

If you're not sure whether walk-and-talk therapy is a good fit for you, we offer a free 15-minute consultation to talk it through before you commit to anything.

Ready to give it a try? Book your free consultation with True Nature Wilderness Therapy.