Walk & Talk Sessions

A couple of months a go, my therapist and I discussed possibly going on a walk for some of our sessions. I liked the idea as I felt it would take some of the intense pressure off of me that I feel sitting staring face to face and also help me to connect to him in a different way, which I think I need. We left it that he would look more in to it and once he had done so we would then talk about the logistics.
He hasn’t mentioned it since so I brought it up in today’s session. He said that it is something we might still be able to consider but he would need to complete a training course first and therefore it’s not something that would be happening anytime soon. I’m really disappointed. I’m aware lots of therapists do walking sessions and as far as I’m aware it’s not necessary for any training to be completed. We talked about what considerations needed to be thought about, such as confidentiality, route planning, health and safety, risk assessments etc but so much information on this can be found on the Internet. He said he needed to really understand how the sessions would be contained so that he can be sure I’m physically and psychologically safe, but I don’t see how that is much different to a session in a room.
For those of you who do walking or outdoor sessions did your therapist undertake specialist training to do so? I’m UK based so it might be different here to other places.

He'd need a training course first? That seems really odd to me. Maybe he's just uncomfortable with it for whatever reason and is using that as a sort of excuse?

I haven't done a formal walk and talk, but with ex-marriage counselor, a couple times when I was having a panic attack in session, we walked around the outdoor courtyard of the building for about 15 minutes, continuing talking about therapy stuff. I did that once with ex-T as well. Maybe that was a little different because it was an internal courtyard, but there are other (nontherapist) offices in the building, and some had their windows open, so we could have been overheard.

It wasn't walking, but I've also met with my current T at an outdoor table at the coffee shop downstairs from his office a few times (due to the pandemic), so we were essentially in public. Actually, I guess H and I met inside that coffee shop once with ex-MC, and he said he often met clients there.

I'm wondering for your T if it's more about being outside of the office, the actual walking (like, I don't know, what if you trip and injure yourself, though I imagine you could sign a waiver), or some combination of them? Though I'm thinking from a US perspective, so maybe it is different in the UK? I hope you'll be able to work out a way to walk with him at some point.

I haven't done a walk and talk session. I asked my T if he ever did sessions anywhere else but his room a few weeks ago, and he just said no. He didn't say that he couldn't or would need a training course, but it felt like he didn't want to do it anyway. I think it would be interesting to do as well, just to see each other in a different place would be nice. Maybe it would bring up some new stuff.

L said she would never do therapy outside. She said it would be too much of a distraction for her, and she wouldn't be able to just focus on me.

As far as a course...never heard of that before.

I don't know for sure, but I'm not sure you actually 'need' to have any specific training to do walk talks here in the UK, but if your T feels he would need to conduct some personal development in order to be able to provide this as a service, I think that's testament to his desire to do the right thing. I think it's commendable, despite being a real pain for you in the short term. I have done a couple of walk talk sessions with my Ex T, and I know it's something she did more of towards the end of our work, and it is very different. There is a lot more for a T to think about, in my opinion, than just going out for a walk, and I think they should understand all of the complexities that surround it. Maybe he only feels he can do this after taking a course, somewhere he can ask questions of others and talk scenarios through.

Wow. I think it’s interesting that he thinks he’s ensuring your psychological safety (or anyone’s) in his office. And that your sense of what would work and feel beneficial for you is necessarily less well-informed than his opinion of the same. As for physical safety I assume you manage Outdoor Walking unaccompanied with relative success on a regular basis? I assume you would manage to continue with the same success while in his company?

These people do think an awful lot of themselves.

Why in the world would they need a special training session? Talking and walking is not hard.
My therapist and I have been doing it for 12 years straight. Probably 90% of our talking is while we walk.
The other 10% is sitting while eat lunch/ dinner together.

Could it be something to do with BACP/other regulatory body guidance?

This is a good point that there are more complexities around it than simply going for a walk.

My T seemed a little uncertain when offering me an outdoor session at the coffee shop, as he said I tend to cry during therapy and he was concerned I'd be uncomfortable if I got emotional while in public (I managed to not cry each time, but also didn't go into certain topics that deeply).

He also warned me that it would likely feel different, that it was a sort of "social session." And it did feel like something in between having a therapy session and having coffee with a friend. In part because also disclosed more than usual the first session (I imagine it felt more social to him, too), though less so the other two.

For me, it felt nice having a more casual therapy session like that a few times (plus it enabled me to meet with him in person at a time when he wasn't allowing in-office visits--the first time we met outside, it had been over a year since I'd seen him in person). But I also see how it's potentially risky--for example, if we'd met outside frequently and it started feeling too friend-like. Or if I opted to meet outside regularly in a conscious or subconscious attempt to avoid deeper topics or letting myself get emotional.

So just a couple things to consider and that your T could be thinking about. Maybe he's concerned there are potential risks he's hasn't considered, and that's why he wants to take a course, just to be as careful as possible? Though I understand how the caution can be frustrating.

These are all good points.

I think it’s on the T (or anyone) to state their boundaries rather than say that they’re doing doing something for the good of (or because of) the client.

Consider:

“I am not comfortable practicing therapy outside my office.”

Vs.

“I cannot assure your psychological safety while walking.”

One is good communication and assuming responsibility for one’s preferences and the other is shifting responsibility, almost blaming the other person, saying the thing they want is somehow not appropriate. Therapists are obviously entitled to mess up, but mastery of the “I statement” strikes me as fairly elementary.

I met my T for one outdoor session during the pandemic. I didn't expect her to agree as she is very focused on maintaining the frame but she did. It was awkward at first and different. It did feel more relaxed but I was always aware that it was still therapy. We walked a little then sat on opposite ends of a bench. It was the closest I have ever been sitting to her which was strange and nice. The world didn't end and if anything help me see her as more of an actual person. Seeing someone sit on the same couch every week for years is a little bit 2 dimensional at times.

I understand the need for safety and boundaries and ethics. It's important to consider these things and good that your T is. Sometimes we can overthink these things to death and in doing so it loses something. Many therapists won't consider having therapy outside their normal office. I sometimes giggle inside at how I think some therapists must have felt in online therapy at the beginning when clients showed up in different rooms of their house and some even in the bedroom!. It surely must have bothered some of those who are stricter in sticking to the frame lol.