Walking Therapy
In-person walk-and-talk therapy in Central Park and Prospect Park for high-achievers who think better on the move
Some conversations are easier side by side than face to face.
You spend most of your day sitting: at a desk, on calls, in meetings, on your phone.
Then you sit on a couch, or in front of a screen, and try to talk about what’s weighing on you. For a lot of people, especially those who are used to being “on,” that setup can feel like one more performance.
Walking therapy takes the session outside. We walk side by side through Central Park or Prospect Park, and the conversation unfolds at the pace of your steps.
What would change if therapy felt less like an appointment and more like a breath of fresh air?
You’ve tried sitting with it. What if you tried walking with it?
Movement helps the mind loosen its grip.
If you’re someone who thinks best on a run, in the shower, or on a long walk home, you already know that movement unlocks something. Walking therapy builds on that. It’s still real therapy, just in a setting that helps your body and mind work together.
Walking can make it easier to open up because:
There’s less pressure to make eye contact when you’re talking about something hard
Movement helps settle a nervous system that’s been on high alert
Nature and fresh air give your attention somewhere to rest
Silences feel natural instead of awkward
Our walking sessions use the same approaches I use in virtual sessions, including ACT, narrative therapy, IFS, and somatic work, with the added support of movement and green space.
The goal is the same as any therapy: real change. The setting just makes it a little easier to get there.
Why walking therapy works.
A 2015 Stanford-led study found that people who took a 90-minute walk in a natural area reported less rumination, the repetitive negative thinking linked to anxiety and depression, than people who walked along a busy road. Brain scans also showed reduced activity in a region tied to rumination. Many of the high-achievers I work with tell me they think more clearly outdoors, and the research supports what they’re feeling.
Walking therapy doesn’t replace the work. It gives the work more room to breathe.
Walking therapy may be a good fit if you:
Feel restless or fidgety sitting still for an hour
Process your thoughts best while moving
Spend most of your workday indoors and on screens
Find traditional therapy a little too formal or clinical
Want your session to double as a reset for your body
If any of this sounds like you, walking therapy might help you open up in ways a couch never could.
Why Movement Helps When Your Mind Won’t Slow Down
For the high-achievers I work with, sitting still with difficult feelings can be the hardest part of therapy. In a traditional session, you might find yourself:
Performing composure instead of saying what you really feel
Analyzing your feelings instead of actually feeling them
Watching the clock, or checking your phone the moment you leave
Feeling stuck in your head, unable to get to what’s underneath
When your body is moving, your mind often follows. Walking side by side can lower defenses, make space for honesty, and help you notice what’s happening in your body as it happens. It’s harder to stay in performance mode when you’re outside, breathing, and in motion.
Therapy doesn’t have to happen in a chair.
Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to literally get moving.
You May Benefit From Walking Therapy If…
You’ve tried therapy before and felt like you were sitting across from an interviewer.
Your best ideas come to you on walks, runs, or commutes.
You’re dealing with anxiety, burnout, or overthinking and want to get out of your head.
You live or work near Central Park or Prospect Park and want therapy that fits into your week.
Sitting still for too long makes you restless, and restlessness makes it hard to open up.
You want to spend less time on screens, including for therapy.
You want therapy that supports your body as much as your mind.
Does this sound familiar?
You feel calmer the moment you step outside
You talk more freely when you’re walking with a friend
You’re craving more time in nature and less time indoors
You feel like you’ve been sitting still for years
You want a break from the expected
You’re ready for therapy that feels like a breath of fresh air
Walking Therapy Can Help You:
Get out of your head and into your body
Feel more relaxed and open in session
Reduce stress while you talk through what’s hard
Build a regular habit of movement and reflection
Connect with nature in the middle of a busy city
Leave every session feeling clearer than when you arrived
Meet Your Walking Therapist
Katie Schloss, AM, LCSW
Hi, I’m Katie, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist in New York City. I work with high-achievers, executives, and entrepreneurs who spend their days on the go and their nights still thinking. I offer walking sessions because I’ve seen how much easier it is for people to open up once they’re outside and moving.
My approach draws on ACT, EMDR, IFS, narrative therapy, and somatic work. Most of the people I see already understand their patterns, often in detail. What they need is for something to actually shift. Together, we work with the body and the stories you tell about yourself, not just the thoughts, to get underneath what you’ve already tried to think your way out of.
I also bring a personal lens to this work. Before I became a therapist, I built a career in New York publishing. Then, at 30, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to rebuild my life from the ground up. That taught me what it costs to keep pushing past your limits, and what becomes possible when you stop measuring your worth by what you produce. Since then, I’ve built my own practice, and I know firsthand the pressure of carrying a business, a reputation, and everyone’s expectations.
That experience shapes how I show up for every client.
This is a space where you don’t have to be impressive, have the answers, or keep it all together. You can just show up as you are.
How Does Walking Therapy Work?
Step 1:
We Meet and Settle In
We meet at a set spot in Central Park on Thursdays or Prospect Park on Wednesdays. We start each session by slowing down, noticing your breath and your surroundings, so your nervous system can come down from the day.
Step 2:
We walk and talk
As we walk, we talk about what’s on your mind, the same way we would in any session. Along the way, we map your trap doors, the triggers that drop you into old patterns, and notice what your body is telling you in real time.
Step 3:
We build change that lasts
We set goals for what you want to be different and work toward them week by week. If the weather turns or you’d rather meet virtually, we can switch to a video session so the work keeps going.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Walking therapy is regular therapy, outside. We walk side by side at a comfortable pace and talk about what’s on your mind. I use the same approaches I use in virtual sessions, including ACT, narrative therapy, IFS, and somatic work, with the added benefits of movement and nature. Sessions take place Wednesdays in Prospect Park and Thursdays in Central Park.
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Individual sessions are $230 for 53 minutes. Couples sessions are $275. I’m a private-pay provider, so I don’t bill insurance directly, but many clients get partial reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits. I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance. If you’re not sure what your plan covers, call your insurer and ask about out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits. I also offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can see if we’re a good fit before you commit.
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Walking sessions take place in a public park, so there’s a small chance we’ll pass someone you know. We’ll talk about how you’d like to handle that before we start, and we’ll keep our voices low and choose quieter paths. If you ever want more privacy, we can switch to a virtual session.
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If it’s raining, extremely hot or cold, or you just don’t feel like walking that day, we’ll switch to a virtual session at the same time. You’ll never lose a session because of the weather.
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No. We walk at a relaxed, conversational pace, and we can stop and sit on a bench whenever you want. The goal isn’t exercise; it’s giving your mind and body more room to move. If you have mobility concerns, let me know, and we’ll find a route that works for you.
Walking Therapy in Central Park and Prospect Park
I offer in-person walking therapy in New York City: Thursdays in Central Park in Manhattan and Wednesdays in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. If you live outside the city, or prefer to meet from home, virtual sessions are available for clients in New York, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, and Virginia.
Most of the people I work with are executives, founders, and high-performing professionals who are carrying more than anyone can see. They expect a lot of themselves; they deliver while wondering how much longer they can keep it up. As someone who has built businesses and rebuilt my own life after a brain tumor at 30, I understand what it’s like when the way you’ve always operated stops working.
You don’t have to keep running on adrenaline and obligation. The version of you who can slow down, trust yourself, and actually enjoy what you’ve built is still there. Let’s find them together.
Reach Out and Schedule a Consultation Call Today
