Walk-and-Talk Therapy
Healing happens when we move forward, together.
There's something profoundly human about walking side by side with someone while sharing what weighs on your heart. At Roots to Branches Soul Studio in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, Therese Daniels, LPC, CNIT, invites you to experience therapy in a completely different way, one that honors the connection between your body, mind, and the natural world.
Walk-and-talk therapy is Therese's invitation to step out of traditional office spaces and into the gentle embrace of nature. As you walk together along peaceful trails, something shifts. The movement of your body, the rhythm of your steps, and the fresh air on your face all create a space where healing can unfold naturally, in your own time.
If sitting still in a therapist's office doesn't quite fit who you are, or if you feel more alive when you're outdoors, walking therapy might be the path you've been seeking.
What is walk-and-talk therapy?
Walk-and-talk therapy beautifully integrates movement, nature, and traditional therapeutic practice. Rather than meeting in an office, you'll meet Therese at the Nature Trail at Haverford College Arboretum for a 60-90 minute session where your healing journey happens one step at a time, quite literally.
Therese developed this approach because she recognizes a simple truth: we are not meant to be still all the time. Our bodies hold our stories, our emotions, our stress. When we move, we create space for these held experiences to release and transform. Walking therapy with Therese isn't about getting exercise; it's about being present with yourself and the natural world as you navigate whatever life has placed on your path.
The transformative power of movement and nature
Your body knows things your mind has forgotten
When we walk, we're activating something deeper than just physical movement. Therese understands that walking increases blood flow, releases feel-good endorphins, and helps discharge the stuck energy that anxiety and stress create in our systems. Many of her clients discover that as their feet find rhythm on the trail, their thoughts begin to untangle. Emotions that felt impossible to name suddenly become clearer.
The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other mirrors the journey through difficult times. Forward movement, even when it's slow, is still progress. Therese honors this parallel and helps you recognize the metaphor in your own experience.
Nature creates space for healing
Therese chose to offer walk-and-talk therapy because she believes nature is an active participant in healing, not just a pretty backdrop. The trees, changing seasons, birdsong, and light filtering through leaves remind you that growth is natural, that change is inevitable, that beauty exists even in the midst of difficulty.
She's seen how the natural environment has a remarkable ability to calm nervous systems and quiet anxious minds, making it easier for her clients to drop into the present moment and feel grounded. This creates the perfect container for the therapeutic work you'll do together.
A therapeutic relationship that feels like a connection, not clinical care
Therese knows that traditional therapy offices can feel intimidating. The clinical atmosphere, face-to-face seating, and the sense that you need "fixing" may not work for everyone. She utilizes walk-and-talk therapy to dissolve these barriers. Instead of feeling like a doctor's appointment, your sessions with Therese feel more like spending time with a trusted guide who walks beside you.
Walking side by side changes the dynamic in subtle but profound ways. There's less intensity from constant eye contact, which makes it easier to open up about vulnerable topics. You're moving together through a shared experience, which naturally creates partnership and collaboration. Additionally, nature is full of metaphors that can apply to your own growth journey. Are you looking to find sturdiness and stability like that of the rocks or to become more free-flowing like the water in a babbling brook? Therese can help you make these connections and apply them to your daily life.
Therese believes that just as meditation doesn't always mean sitting cross-legged with your eyes closed, therapy doesn't have to mean sitting on a couch. Her walk-and-talk approach honors different paths to healing and creates space for it to happen in the way that feels most authentic to you.
Anxiety that won't quiet down
If anxiety has you feeling trapped, Therese offers a different way through with walking therapy. As you move along the trail together, that anxious energy has somewhere to go. She helps regulate your nervous system through the natural environment while guiding you in understanding the roots of your anxiety and developing tools to find peace.
Depression's heavy weight
Depression makes everything feel heavy, even going to therapy. Therese's walk-and-talk approach meets you where you are, gently encouraging movement without demanding intensity. She creates a space where getting outdoors, breathing fresh air, and connecting with nature and a compassionate guide can help lift some of that heaviness.
Life's inevitable transitions
Whether you're navigating career shifts, relationship changes, loss, or identity questions, Therese provides a beautiful container for processing change through walking therapy. She helps you recognize the power of literally moving forward on a path while exploring where your life is going.
Burnout and soul exhaustion
When you've given too much for too long, Therese's walk-and-talk therapy offers a weekly permission slip to step away from the noise and reconnect with yourself in a peaceful, restorative setting. She understands burnout deeply and helps you remember who you are beneath all the roles you play.
“And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir
How Therese guides your journey
At Roots to Branches Soul Studio, Therese brings both professional expertise and genuine warmth to every step of your journey. She weaves evidence-based therapeutic approaches into the walk-and-talk experience, creating support that's tailored to your unique needs.
Identifying and transforming unhelpful patterns
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Therese helps you identify negative self-talk, mistaken beliefs, and altered thinking patterns that may be keeping you stuck. But awareness is just the beginning. Together, you'll work to replace these old patterns with new positive thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that actually serve your wellbeing.
Therese thinks of it as tending a garden with you, first identifying the weeds (unhelpful thoughts), then gently removing them and planting something nurturing in their place. This process happens naturally as you walk, talk, and explore your inner landscape with her compassionate guidance.
Building your toolkit for difficult moments
Life will always have storms, and Therese knows this intimately. Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), she introduces distress tolerance techniques and new coping skills that help you weather those storms with more grace. These aren't abstract concepts when you work with Therese; they're practical tools you can use when anxiety spikes or emotions feel overwhelming.
As you walk together, Therese might guide you to practice these techniques in real-time, discovering how to regulate your emotions as they arise. The walk itself becomes a living laboratory for building these essential life skills under her guidance.
Discovering the beauty of right now
So much suffering comes from living anywhere but the present moment, and Therese gently guides you back to the here and now. She uses Mindfulness techniques to help you figure out how to be truly present. Using your senses, smell, touch, taste, sound, and vision, Therese helps you discover the beauty that lives in the here and now.
On the trail with Therese, this becomes tangible and immediate. She might invite you to notice the scent of earth after rain, the texture of tree bark under your fingertips, the taste of the air as seasons change, the bird calls surrounding you, and the light filtering through leaves. These sensory experiences that Therese guides you through anchor you in the present moment, where peace can actually be found.
This mindful presence doesn't just happen during sessions with Therese; it's a skill she helps you carry into your everyday life, transforming your moment-to-moment experience.
What your sessions with Therese look like
Each walk-and-talk therapy session with Therese lasts about an hour. You'll meet her at the Nature Trail at Haverford College Arboretum. The frequency of sessions is individual; some clients prefer weekly sessions with Therese, others thrive with bi-weekly or monthly appointments. You and Therese will find the rhythm that best supports your healing.
During your walk together, conversation flows naturally. Some sessions involve more talking as you process challenges or explore patterns with Therese. Other sessions might include comfortable silences, simply being present with each other and nature. Therese values both, as both can bring healing.
Coming prepared for your walk
Wear comfortable shoes suitable for natural trails, sneakers, or supportive walking shoes. Dress in layers and choose clothing that allows free movement. Therese reminds clients that this isn't a workout. You're allowing your body to move at a comfortable pace while doing the important work of therapy together. Worried about inclement weather, the colder months of winter, or the hot and humid summer days? Do not stress, in these circumstances, Therese has the skills to bring elements of nature indoors to the warmth of the Soul Studio, and you won’t miss a beat.
Not up for much walking, but still enjoy the outdoors? There are tables and benches along the trails and within a couple of blocks from the studio, where you can still reap the benefits of the great outdoors.
Beginning your journey with Therese
Walk-and-talk therapy is available for a flat fee, with sliding scale options available for those who need financial flexibility. If you think you might benefit from adjusted pricing, simply reach out and apply.
Begin your journey with Roots to Branches Soul Studio
The name "Roots to Branches" holds the essence of what happens in Therese's work. Just as trees need deep roots to support branches reaching skyward, you need a solid foundation to grow into your fullest expression. Therese's walk-and-talk therapy at Roots to Branches Soul Studio honors both, helping you establish roots while encouraging your branches to stretch toward new possibilities. Grounding for growth.
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, moving through depression, navigating transitions, or recovering from burnout, Therese's walk-and-talk therapy offers a gentle, powerful path forward.
Ready to learn more about how walking & outdoor therapy in Ardmore, PA can support your journey? Fill out the contact form on our website to schedule your initial consultation and discover how walk-and-talk therapy can help you move forward, one mindful step at a time. (Please note: initial consultations will take place at the studio for paperwork and creating individualized plans, and will have a slightly higher fee than the flat rate on-going sessions.)
Walk-and-talk therapy sessions with Therese Daniels are held at the Nature Trail at Haverford College Arboretum, serving clients throughout Ardmore, Montgomery County, and the greater Philadelphia region. Option to meet at the trail or at the studio, which is 4 blocks/ 5-minute walk from the studio.