Let’s walk... let’s talk if you want to
- Alison Pepper
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
For as long as I can remember I have been interested in the healing that happens in nature; when we swim in a lake, put our feet in sand, climb on rocks or dig in the dirt. Mother Earth is indeed called mother for a reason. She holds us, feeds us, and nurtures us in many ways throughout all our lives.
Each spring, when we come to and pass the anniversary of the COVID lockdowns I reflect with clients and friends about that time when we all stayed home. Lockdown and the months and years of COVID related stress impacted all of us differently. Today that time is on some peoples’ minds and hearts more than others but I do believe it is a shared memory that we all have. And that collective anniversary of lockdown also corresponds with the annual coming of spring. Spring tends to feel like a breath of fresh air after a long and cold winter. People tend to talk about spring, smile about the extra sunshine, and bask in the warmth. It is also a time to be outside more. To be outside with more comfort, ease and delight.
Winter and COVID lockdown might not be the same but they do share some characteristics. Winter tends to be a time to be indoors, it’s a time of year when people get sick easily, are tired, and crave rest. Winter is also a time when people feel depressed and may be home more and experience feelings of isolation and loneliness. In my experience, personally and professionally, stepping outside to be with nature can help us feel more connected and supported. Research of course supports this claim but I think something very ancient lives in most of us that knows this to be true. But if you or someone you love digs research I can point you towards a few inspiring books and articles and podcasts on the topic:
A walking session has been something that I have always offered to clients.
Walking sessions felt especially important during the height of the pandemic because so many of us were afraid, home social distancing, and feeling very alone. I see now that life in this modern world continues to leave many of us home, alone and feeling afraid. It is also hard to talk about some things; collective and personal grief can be very hard to discuss in words. Our existential fears around climate change and death are also hard to look directly at and talk about at times. This is where the walking session comes in.
Anyone can go for a walk and spend time outside thus inviting in the many benefits of nature on one’s body and nervous system. A walking therapy session combines both the healing power of nature with the one on one support of meeting with a therapist. The person to person support is amplified in a natural setting and perhaps things that can’t happen in the therapy office can happen more spontaneously in nature.
Where and how?
For clients in NYC I tend to walk in Central Park, Madison Square Park or near the East River. There are a number of places outside the city, about 45 minutes north of Manhattan, that I also walk with clients, like the Untermyer Gardens. I’m also open to exploring places that are meaningful to others and being creative with where we walk, as long as all people involved can get there safely. If you are interested in a walking session please get in touch. New, old and current clients are welcome to try this out. Perhaps it’s something you do once or something you want to do regularly. Most importantly, these sessions are for you. Walking together is a chance to simply be; to be together in nature and connecting in perhaps a different way than we would in my office or in our daily lives.
Written by Alison Pepper, LCSW Alison Pepper is a Therapist and Meditation Instructor working with adults dealing with mental health and life struggles in a trauma information practice in New York City.
“I believe all people have the tools to heal ourselves; grow, learn, and reach our full potential. No matter what your age or life circumstances therapy is a safe space to do that work.”
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