Therapists, patients embrace outdoor therapy in Covid-19 pandemic
By Matt Villano, CNN. Updated 3:20 AM ET, Tue December 8, 2020
Mental health therapist Allison Page (far right) of Park City, Utah, shown with Meryl Sonan (far left) and Mark Lehman (center), holds Trailtalk sessions with patients in nature.
(CNN)Therapy looks a lot different these days for Alexandra Talty.
Bringing the inside out
Another challenge: the elements. Rain or snow would force a therapist to reschedule, and Talty noted that she had to rebook her appointment because the original session was slated to take place on a blazing hot day.
Walking and talking
In the United States, eco-therapists practice eco-therapy in a variety of ways. Allison Page, a mental health therapist in Park City, Utah, has built her entire practice around meeting patients at trailheads and holding sessions in the wild. She calls it Trailtalk, and she likens sessions to emotional tune-ups for active individuals.
In another session, Talamo said a patient was having trouble expressing himself at precisely the same moment that a crow flew over and started vocalizing loudly.
“You really should know first aid and CPR, in the event that something were to happen,” Scaliatine said. “What do you do if your client gets stung by a bee or steps in poison oak? You definitely want to be prepared.”
Matt Villano is a writer and editor in Northern California. He expects to FaceTime with family during holidays this year.