Psychology consultation in movement
Walk and Talk Therapy in Lisbon.
Walking psychology sessions, held side by side in suitable outdoor spaces, when this format makes sense for the person and for the clinical moment.
Gulbenkian · Green Corridor · Monsanto
Fotografia via Unsplash.
Walking does not replace psychological work. In some situations, it can create a different way of being in session: less frontal, more embodied and closer to the person's rhythm.
What it is
Walk and Talk Therapy is a format in which the session takes place while walking, rather than sitting in a consulting room. The focus remains the psychological process, clinical listening and the therapeutic relationship.
Movement can help some people think, regulate emotional activation, speak with less pressure from direct eye contact and feel freer to organise what they are experiencing.
It is not physical training, performance coaching or an informal walk. The pace is gentle, adapted to the person, and walking is only the setting for clinical work.
When it may make sense
For some people
It may be useful when sitting face to face in a room feels too intense, when the body needs movement, or when walking supports reflection.
At some moments in the process
It can be integrated occasionally or regularly, after a first appointment in a private setting, in person or online.
With clear limits
It needs careful consideration when topics are highly sensitive, clinical risk is elevated, there are physical limitations, privacy difficulties or unfavourable weather conditions.
With consent and flexibility
The location, pace, privacy limits and possibility of returning to the consulting room or online format are agreed beforehand.
Locations under consideration
The route should balance accessibility, possible privacy, safety, shade, noise and the ease of pausing or adapting the session.
- Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden
- A contained, green and central urban option, with gentle paths and places to pause. Regular use for sessions should be checked against the space's rules.
- Lisbon Green Corridor
- Allows urban routes connecting green areas, including spaces near Praça de Espanha. It may work well when routes are predictable, not too noisy and easy to adapt.
- Monsanto
- More nature, a stronger feeling of distance from the city and many trails. It may be very suitable, but requires more attention to meeting point, duration, access, lighting, safety and an alternative plan.
Practical information
This format is being integrated gradually into clinical practice. The first appointment takes place in a consulting room or online, to assess whether Walk and Talk is suitable for the clinical situation, the person's preferences and the safety and privacy conditions.
Ask about this format- Duration
- ~50 min
- Fee
- €60
- Initial assessment
- Always in a private setting
- Consent
- Agreed before the first walking session
- Medicare
- Not applicable to this format
- Bad weather
- Rescheduling or online format
Confidentiality remains central, but an outdoor space never offers the same privacy control as a consulting room. Before the first walking session, the risks of being seen or partly overheard by others are discussed, as well as what to do if someone familiar appears during the session.
We can explore together whether this format makes sense.
If you are curious about walking sessions, you can send a message. The decision is clinical, gradual and adapted to each person's situation.