PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS TRAINED IN NATURE-ASSISTED THERAPY IN EDMONTON
Nature-Assisted Therapy in Edmonton
TRUSTED EDMONTON THERAPISTS SPECIALIZING IN NATURE-ASSISTED THERAPY
About Nature-Assisted Therapy (Walk & Talk Therapy) in Edmonton & Area
Sometimes healing doesn’t happen best in a chair. At Solace Psychology & Wellness, we offer Walk & Talk Therapy / Nature-Assisted Therapy in Edmonton and St. Albert, to help you feel more grounded, relaxed, and connected (both to yourself and the world around you). Whether you’re managing anxiety, stress, low mood, or feeling stuck, walking alongside a compassionate therapist in a natural setting can open up new pathways for clarity, growth, and calm.
Walk & Talk Therapy / Nature-Assisted Therapy is a form of counselling that takes place outdoors rather than in a traditional office. Your therapist walks with you at your pace, creating a relaxed and non-intimidating environment to explore your thoughts, feelings, and goals.
Nature acts as a co-therapist offering calm surroundings, fresh air, and sensory regulation that can support emotional healing. Counselling interventions are used to enhance growth, development, learning, and healing. While the scope of nature-based practices is widely varied, common elements include mindfulness and sensory awareness practices, a focus on bonding and belonging, a somatic focus on the body, cognitive restoration, and emotional regulation. Nature-Assisted Therapy can also involve the use of animals/pets (e.g., Animal-Assisted Interventions) which can aid emotional regulation, boost self-confidence, and instill self-compassion.
What Can Nature-Assisted Therapy Help With?
Nature-Assisted Therapy continues to grow in popularity among people in our Edmonton community who are seeking both an evidence-based and holistic approach to their mental health, research has shown that connecting with nature in various ways can reduce:
- ADHD
- Emotional regulation
- Perfectionism and burnout
- Grief and loss
- Stress
- Anxiety and panic
- Depression and low mood
- Trauma-related symptoms and conditions, such as PTSD
- Dissociative disorders
Additionally, research has shown that there are many benefits associated with just looking at natural environments including improved concentration, enhanced awareness, gratitude, improved concentration levels, increased self-esteem, better memory recall, and improved problem-solving skills.
How Does Nature-Assisted Therapy Work at Solace?
The concept behind Nature-Assisted Therapy is that being in natural environments can provide a calming effect. People who routinely spend time in nature know that there is a special “x factor” that makes it particularly rewarding on a physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual level. Studies have found that spending time outdoors relieves stress by releasing hormones like serotonin and dopamine which boost our moods. Furthermore, being outside in nature can provide use with a mental and emotional sanctuary from our regular lives, allowing us to feel distracted and relaxed while being immersed in an environment free from any external demands. Walking in general can be a simple way to ground and regulate oneself, making it a little bit easier to unpack your experiences and process your emotions.
Being in nature allows one to disconnect from the busy world and reconnect with oneself, including one’s core values, sense of purpose, and well-being.
We also offer walk therapy for teens, which is especially helpful for youth who find the therapy office environment overwhelming or restrictive.
Why Do Clients Love Nature-Assisted Therapy?
At Solace Psychology & Wellness, our trauma-informed team includes therapists trained in both traditional evidence-based and holistic healing approaches. Our Walk & Talk Therapy sessions are held right behind our clinics. In Edmonton, we journey along the neighbourhood pond and green space/park in The Orchards. While in St. Albert, we stroll along the trails by the river or in the nearby park. We are fortunate to have these beautiful, serene areas to connect and heal.
Our clients choose Walk & Talk Therapy for many reasons:
Less Pressure, More Flow: Walking side-by-side (rather than sitting face-to-face) often makes it easier to talk about tough things.
Sensory Regulation: Nature helps regulate the nervous system, reduce cortisol, and calm overthinking.
Physical Movement Helps Mental Health: Movement boosts mood, increases endorphins, and helps process emotion.
Supports Mindfulness: Being outside naturally encourages present-moment awareness, an essential part of healing.
Better for Some Clients with ADHD, Anxiety, or Trauma: Movement helps reduce restlessness and enhances engagement.
Integrated support that blends Walk & Talk Therapy with CBT, EMDR, DBT, Somatic Experiencing or Mindfulness
A compassionate, relational approach to healing at your pace.
We follow all professional standards for privacy and confidentiality during Walk & Talk sessions, and we’ll always discuss weather plans or accommodations ahead of time.
Our clients often say that Walk & Talk Therapy makes them feel lighter, more clear-headed, and more emotionally regulated.
Is Walk & Talk Therapy Right for You?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a traditional therapy setting, walk therapy might be a breath of fresh air, literally. It’s ideal if you:
Feel more open when moving
Want to incorporate wellness and movement into your therapy
Feel more relaxed outside
Struggle to stay focused or grounded in indoor sessions
Are interested in a blend of evidence-based, traditional and holistic therapy approaches
Animal-Assisted Therapy in Edmonton
Connect with your pet as you heal. Bring your beloved pet to your therapy session. You, your pet and your therapist will spend time in the nature space behind the clinic while connecting with your pet. Having your pet join your session can be grounding and nurturing, helping you feel more comfortable to share your experiences. Natural elements and loving animals offer a calming and integrative aspect to therapy and healing.
“Taking the therapy office outdoors can provide immense healing and recovery, as you connect with nature and your own well-being.”
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Direct billing is available for select insurance companies.
Please note that therapy coverage varies by provider and policy. In the event that your plan does not allow for direct billing, you will be provided with a detailed receipt to submit for reimbursement.
Book your Nature-Assisted Therapy session in Edmonton or St. Albert.