Outdoor work
Hiking sessions
Hiking sessions in the Dayton area when the work belongs outside. Outdoor counseling is offered when it fits, paced to your fitness level. Indoor sessions stay available.
This is still counseling, not a rec program. We walk. We talk. The trail is chosen so you are not performing athleticism in order to get care. If a hill is too much, we take the flatter loop. If weather or your body says no, we go back inside.
Side-by-side walking can lower the glare of sitting face to face. It can also put a body in motion when anxiety has you pinned. It is not for every person or every week, and I will say so if it is a bad fit.
Call 937-299-9060 to ask about insurance or to book.
What the research actually says
Walk-and-talk and nature-based walking are not magic, and the literature is still growing. What exists is specific, and it is worth reading without the brochure language.
Sources
- Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation
Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A 90-minute walk in a natural setting lowered self-reported rumination and neural activity linked to that rumination, compared with an urban walk.
- Outdoor therapies meta-synthesis
Cooley, S. J., Jones, C. R., Kurtz, A., & Robertson, N. (2020). Clinical Psychology Review, 77.
A synthesis of outdoor therapies described more mutuality between therapist and client, and a closer tie between mind, body, and the setting.
- Nature-based walking interventions and adult mental health
Ma, J., Lin, P., & Williams, J. (2023). Current Psychology.
A systematic review of nature-based walking found improvements in mood and wellbeing, and reductions in stress, anxiety, and rumination, with some advantages over urban walking.
- Walking therapy in clinical practice
American Psychological Association Monitor (October 2025), summarizing recent feasibility and clinical studies.
Feasibility work has found walking therapy acceptable for several groups, with reported benefits for anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms. APA also notes the evidence is promising and not yet a finished argument.
FAQ
Questions about outdoor hiking sessions
Do I have to hike to be a client?
No. Indoor counseling is the default. Outdoor sessions are an option when they fit the work and you want them.
What if I am not in good hiking shape?
Sessions are tailored to your fitness level. We are not training for a summit. If walking is not right that day, we stay inside.
Is outdoor therapy proven?
There is peer-reviewed evidence that nature walking can reduce rumination and that outdoor and walking therapies can help with mood, anxiety, and the feel of the therapeutic relationship. It is not a cure-all, and I will not sell it as one.
Appointments
Call to get on the calendar
Most insurance plans are accepted. Call 937-299-9060 for details on your plan, or to book.
- Kettering, OH
- Telehealth in Ohio
- Adults
- located within Clearing Path's Therapeutic Services