Walk & Talk Counseling - Is it right for you?

Walk & talk counseling is a regular counseling session with one exception; instead of the traditional setting of the counselor’s office you and your therapist talk while walking in an outdoor setting. Prior to the session, you and the therapist will agree upon walking site like a park or trail, your neighborhood, or community center and then walk at a pace you are comfortable with while processing various aspects of your life.

Walk and Talk Counseling: 5 reasons it may be right for you

• Do you need encouragement and accountability and want to jump start physical activity 
• Do you want to get unstuck and feel free and relaxed
• Do you want to try a new way of thinking with more clarity or insight 
• Do you want to be outdoors instead of sitting inside an office 
• Or because research has shown positive effects of physical activity:
  • Walking for Your Mood, Mind, and Spirit
  • 10 Health Problems That The Outdoors Can Help Prevent and Treat
  • Walk and Talk Therapy 
  • How Exercise Can Calm Anxiety - Well - The New York Times
  • Exercise for Depression - BrainBlogger 

Additional information to know before starting walk and talk counseling: 

• The first initial session will take place in office to evaluate your needs and review therapeutic goals 
• You will set the walking pace and your therapist will walk with you side by side
• Walk and talk counseling is not exercise or a workout training, and while movement may be a benefit, the focus is not about exercise
• You are allowed to bring a child in a stroller or a pet if you wish as long as they do not disrupt the focus of the therapy session 
• The walk and talk therapy session may be rescheduled if the weather does not allow for you and your therapist be outdoors
• If you or your therapist are approached by someone familiar your therapist will not identify you as a “client” or the walk and talk session as a counseling session to preserve confidentiality. However, if the client is approached by a person they know, the client has the right to disclose if they are or are not in a therapy session. 
• If appropriate, the client is responsible for seeking doctor’s approval before beginning and ensuring there are no medical conditions that would be detrimental to participating in walk and talk counseling 
• If walk and talk counseling or being outdoors does not work you can request with your therapist to move your sessions back indoors or rotate the settings of your therapy sessions.

If you believe this would be the right fit for you or have any questions contact me. 

~Virginia

Walk & Talk Counseling

During my time as a clinician at a children and adolescents shelter, finding a place to provide counseling was limited. We did not have assigned offices, so we had to get creative regarding where we could provide a safe and confidential space. One space that was always available was outside. The children seemed to love it and began to request walk and talk counseling outdoors as they worked towards their therapeutic goals. The ability to be outside allowed them to feel more connected to themselves, and at the same time, with nature. Clients reported that being outdoors helped reduce their feelings of anxiety, sadness/depression, anger, and grief. So this is where my experience with walk and talk counseling began and where I saw the benefits of it. 

Though I offer counseling in an office setting, this is not the ideal environment for everyone. Some like to be outside in different activities like hiking, walking, jogging/running, or bike riding. Walk and talk gives us the opportunity to keep on moving! Walk and talk counseling is simply a therapy session that takes place outside. You and your therapist choose a walking site like a park or trail, your neighborhood or community center and then walk at a pace you are comfortable with while processing various aspects of your life.

If you have further questions or would like to schedule a walk and talk counseling appointment let’s talk!  Call me at 210.960.5728 or send me a message here. 

Practice Update

I am happy to announce that I have moved office locations and will have more evening availability. The new office is located at Blanco Rd. and Anderson Loop 1604 inside the loop and minutes away from Stone Oak.

Physical Address:
17890 Blanco Rd. 
Suite 306
San Antonio, TX 78232

 

The new office is in the Canyon Creek Garden Offices inside building 3 (last building on the right). 

There is also a new office phone number: 210.960.5728. 

The new office location does not affect the acceptance of insurances listed here.

Please don't hesitate to contact me at 210.960.5728 or by e-mail with any questions. 

~ Virginia

Welcome!

Welcome to my new site and to Life in Balance Counseling. Recently, I had a friend ask me how I decided on the name of my practice. So I thought I'd briefly share the reason behind the name. During an interview, I was asked how I measure personal success. I had never taken the time to fully think about it. When working you are evaluated by your caseload, number of sessions, completion of assessments and other documentation, and meeting deadlines. As I evaluated what personal success meant to me I thought of the reasons I decided to pursue higher education and my career - for a balanced life. A balance of my personal and professional life while living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying time with family and friends. As a therapist, my goal is for clients to identify and strengthen the tools needed to build a life in balance. 

Thank you for stopping by and reading a bit about my practice.

~Virginia