Promoting Active Therapy: Path to Wellness

Conditions studied

Depression, Anxiety, Physical Activity, Time in Nature, Self-Efficacy, Feasibility Pilot Study

About this study

This project will examine changes in depression and anxiety following a 10-week intervention promoting nature-based physical activity in mental health settings. We will recruit ten licensed therapists whose caseload includes adults with depression and anxiety. Following a training by our team, each participating therapist will recruit six clients, who will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. Clients in the intervention condition will engage in walk-and-talk therapy outdoors during weekly sessions and discuss strategies for being active outdoors on their own. We will assess changes in depression, anxiety, and nature-based physical activity in both groups.

Interventions

• Behavioral: Walk-and-talk therapy — During the 10-week intervention, clients and therapists will engage in walk-and-talk therapy outdoors in natural settings during weekly therapy sessions. In addition, therapists will work with clients to set realistic goals for increased nature-based physical activity outside of the therapy setting. Therapists will check in with clients weekly regarding their progress and assist with goal revision, barrier planning, and self-monitoring.

Primary outcomes

• Participation in walk-and-talk therapy (Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention)
• Perceived therapist support for nature-based physical activity (End of intervention (after 10 weeks))
• Acceptability (End of intervention (after 10 weeks))