Dr. Schreiber-Pan is one of a growing number of therapists who are taking their therapy sessions outdoors and, in some cases, training other counselors to do the same.

Year-round, they lead area residents into woods, fields and along streams to listen to birds, notice the shapes of leaves, watch clouds, smell the breeze—perhaps even “listen” to a tree.

A growing practice. Walk-and-talk therapy wasn’t as common in Seattle before the COVID-19 pandemic forced therapists to abruptly switch to holding sessions on Zoom or other video platforms.

Here’s what I do when I’m afraid to go outdoors. My therapist gave me coping tips to handle the shame and anxiety I feel when my agoraphobia relapses. May 2, 2025 ...