Walk & Talk Therapy in the Twin Cities, Minnesota
Therapy does not have to happen while sitting across from someone in an office. Walk & Talk Therapy gives you the opportunity to meet with a therapist outdoors, walk side by side, and talk at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Walk & Talk Therapy - Meets You Where You Are
You may know that you could benefit from therapy but feel uncomfortable with the idea of sitting in an office and being expected to talk.
Maybe you feel restless when you are anxious. You might think more clearly when you are moving, feel calmer outside, or find it easier to talk when you are not sitting directly across from another person.
You may also be navigating a medical diagnosis, cancer treatment, chronic illness, grief, trauma, or another experience that has changed your relationship with your body. Being outdoors can provide more room to breathe, move, pause, and notice what you need.
Walk & Talk Therapy combines the support of traditional talk therapy with gentle movement and time outside. You and your therapist walk side by side while talking about what has been happening in your life, what feels difficult, and what you would like to change.
You do not need to be athletic, walk quickly, or cover a certain distance. Sessions can include walking, sitting on a bench, stopping along the trail, or choosing a shorter and more accessible route.
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Walk & Talk Therapy may be a good fit for adults who feel more comfortable moving than sitting still or who want therapy to feel less confined and formal.
At WanderWell Therapy, I commonly work with adults navigating medical trauma, cancer, chronic illness, grief, anxiety, trauma, relationship stress, and major changes in identity.
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We will meet at the planned location and briefly check in before we begin walking.
Sessions are generally 50 minutes. We may walk for the full appointment or combine walking with time sitting or standing. You can ask to slow down, change direction, stop, or sit at any point.
You are not expected to make eye contact while talking or maintain a continuous conversation. We can allow the session to unfold naturally while still keeping your goals in mind.
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WanderWell Therapy provides outdoor Walk & Talk Therapy in Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minneapolis, and the West Metro. Common service areas include; Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Clifton E. French Park in Plymouth, and Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis.
The exact location is chosen together based on accessibility, convenience, trail conditions, privacy, weather, and your preferences.
The practice does not have a traditional office location.
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Individual Walk & Talk Therapy sessions are $155 for 50 minutes.
WanderWell Therapy does not bill insurance directly. You may use an HSA or FSA card, and a superbill can be provided for you to submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Coverage varies by insurance plan, so you should contact your insurance provider directly to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits.
A limited number of sliding-scale appointments may be available.
What to Expect
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![Adult scheduling a Walk & Talk Therapy consultation online]()
Step 1
Reach Out
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation or your first appointment so we can briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and answer your initial questions.
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![Client meeting with a therapist by telehealth for an intake appointment]()
Step 2
Meet for Your Intake
Your first full appointment takes place through telehealth, giving us a private space to review your history, discuss your goals, and prepare for meeting outdoors.
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![Therapist and client meeting at a wooded Minnesota trailhead]()
Step 3
Begin Walk and Talk Therapy
For your first outdoor session, we will meet at the agreed-upon location, check in, and begin walking at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
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![Therapist and client walking side by side on a Minnesota trail]()
Step 4
Talk on the Trail
During each session, we may walk, pause, sit, or notice what is happening around us as we talk about what you are experiencing and work toward your therapy goals.
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![Therapist and client scheduling a follow-up appointment at the trailhead]()
Step 5
Plan Your Next Session
At the end of the appointment, we will schedule your next session and decide whether it will take place outdoors, through telehealth, or a combination of both.
Is Walk & Talk Therapy Right for You?
Medical Trauma, Cancer & Chronic Illness
A serious diagnosis, painful procedure, hospitalization, or ongoing health condition can change how safe you feel in your body. You may feel anxious before appointments, watch every physical sensation, fear receiving bad news, or struggle to trust your body after treatment.
Walk & Talk Therapy offers space to process these experiences without feeling trapped in a clinical setting. Gentle movement can help release some of the tension that builds around medical fears, while being outdoors may help you feel more grounded as we work through grief, uncertainty, and the emotional impact of illness.
Anxiety & Feeling Constantly on Guard
Anxiety can leave you restless, tense, distracted, irritable, or caught in repetitive thoughts about what might go wrong. You may overprepare, avoid uncertain situations, seek reassurance, or feel unable to relax even when there is no immediate danger.
Walk & Talk Therapy gives that restless energy somewhere to go. Moving while we talk can make it easier to organize your thoughts, notice what is happening in your body, and explore what your anxiety is trying to protect you from. The outdoor setting may also help you slow down and reconnect with the present moment.
Grief, Loss & Identity Changes
Grief can follow the death of someone you love, but it can also come from losing your health, independence, relationship, career, future plans, or the person you were before a life-changing experience. You may feel disconnected from others or unsure of who you are now.
Walk & Talk Therapy creates room for grief without asking you to rush through it. Walking side by side can make difficult conversations feel less intense, while changes in the natural environment can offer gentle reminders that grief, growth, and change can exist together. Therapy can help you carry what was lost while rebuilding a meaningful life.
Trauma & Difficult Life Experiences
Trauma can leave your body responding as though danger is still present, even after the experience has ended. You may feel constantly alert, emotionally numb, easily overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or afraid of reminders connected to what happened.
Walk & Talk Therapy can provide a more open and less confined setting for approaching trauma at a manageable pace. Gentle movement may help your body release some of its protective energy, while nature can offer a steady point of focus when emotions become intense. We will work carefully, helping you understand your reactions and rebuild a greater sense of safety and control.
Relationship Stress & Life Transitions
Changes in relationships, parenting, caregiving, work, health, or family roles can leave you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what comes next. You may notice recurring conflict, difficulty communicating, resentment, loneliness, or pressure to make decisions before you feel ready.
Walk & Talk Therapy gives you space to step away from daily distractions and look at the situation from a different perspective. Moving side by side can make it easier to talk honestly about relationship patterns, personal needs, and difficult choices. Therapy can help you communicate more clearly, set healthier boundaries, and move forward in a way that reflects your values.
You do not necessarily have to choose one type of therapy forever.
Some WanderWell Therapy clients prefer Walk and Talk for every appointment. Others enjoy meeting outdoors when the weather works and switching to telehealth during winter, difficult weather, health challenges, or weeks when getting to a trail is not realistic.
We can talk about what works best for you and adjust along the way.
Walk & Talk and Telehealth Therapy Can Work Together
Meet Heather Brown, LMFT
Heather Brown is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder of WanderWell Therapy. She helps adults navigate medical trauma, cancer, chronic illness, grief, anxiety, trauma, relationship stress, and major life changes through a collaborative, trauma-informed approach.
Therapy does not have to happen in an office. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn whether Walk & Talk Therapy feels like the right fit for you.
Have more questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
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