Walk-and-Talk
Therapy that doesn't stay in the room.
Walk-and-Talk Therapy
❋ Who this is forYou're capable and quietly worn out, feeling increasingly dissatisfied in your relationships. You manage everyone well but you're less practiced at saying what you actually want, and it's starting to cost you.
You're figuring out who you are after something shifted — a new baby, a career turn, the end of something. The old version of your life doesn't fit.
You know what you're doing but not why. You're less interested in treating a diagnosis than in sorting out direction and what matters.
You've been doing therapy through a laptop and can feel that it stopped landing a while ago.
You want the hour to also be an hour outside, which is otherwise hard to come by.
❋ Who this is not forIf your concerns would best be worked through with your partner in the room, traditional Couples Therapy or a more creative Therapeutic Tabletop Roleplaying Therapy would be a better match than Walk-and-Talk.
If you're in crisis or your safety is at risk right now, a trail is the wrong setting.
If being seen carries real risk for you — you're recognizable in this city, or your work makes privacy non-negotiable — indoors or virtual is the safer call, and no explanation needed.
If walking isn't accessible to you right now, that doesn't rule this out. Sitting on a bench by the pond is still outside. Tell me what your body needs and we'll build around it.
If a provider hasn't cleared you for activity (for example, pregnancy or postpartum complications, a cardiac or respiratory condition, or an injury), it’s best to stay virtual.
❋ Why walk-and-talk?Motion is good for you across the board. Walking specifically has been shown to improve creative thinking, and physical activity has a well-established relationship with mental health on top of the physical benefits.
Walking outdoors adds something a treadmill doesn't. Research on outdoor exercise finds greater gains in mood and self-esteem than the same activity done inside, in part thanks to natural light, green space, and looking into the horizon.
It's still therapy. The same hour, the same depth, and the same professional and ethical obligations to your privacy. Just a different space.
We meet at a local park in Richmond. Sessions are 45-50 minutes at a conversational pace — this is not exercise, and we can stop and sit whenever you'd like. If the weather doesn't cooperate, we move to a virtual session at the same time. Confidentiality outdoors works differently than in an office, and we'll talk through exactly how I handle it before your first walk, including what I do if we pass someone you know. You'll always have the option to take any given week online instead, I just ask for an email at least 24 hours in advance to let me know.
Rates
20 minute consultation — Free
60 minute intake session (virtual) — $170
45 minute individual session — $150
Payment is due at the time of service, taken through Jane. I hold a small number of reduced-fee spots for people for whom the standard rate is a real barrier despite being a good fit for working with me. I am considered Out of Network for all insurers, but I can provide superbills that you can submit to insurance, noting that insurers require diagnoses for reimbursement, which might not be a good fit for every client.
Everything can be scheduled directly in Jane.
Cancellations
I ask for 24 hours' notice. Sessions canceled with less notice, and missed sessions, are billed at the full rate. Your appointment time is held for you, and I don't schedule over it.
Good Faith Estimate
Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to a written estimate of the expected cost of your care before we begin. I provide one to every client at intake. You can also request one at any time.
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FAQ
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Going through insurance means needing a clinical diagnosis, having a third party dictate what treatment works best and for how many sessions, and needing to provide detailed information about your situation to them. If you have out-of-network benefits and a diagnosis is appropriate for your situation, I can provide a superbill you can submit for possible reimbursement. That said, reimbursement rates vary and are not guaranteed. Couples therapy also has historically low rates of being reimbursed by insurance.
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Rates were chosen based on comparable clinicians in the state of Virginia, accounting for my level of training and experience, and taking into consideration the fact that this level of investment means you’re more serious about the work and eager to improve your life. Additionally, these rates allow for a few sliding scale spots.
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It entirely depends on your goals and the rate at which you want to work. For most people, six to ten sessions scheduled weekly is appropriate, then they scale back to every other week, and then terminate or switch to scheduling themselves “as needed” through Jane. I do ask that you start with weekly sessions for us to establish a good working relationship. Each situation is unique and we can discuss further during a consultation or intake.