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Clients who feel intimidated sitting on a couch in the therapist's office may now opt for "walk and talk" therapy sessions instead.

Some mental health practitioners in big cities offer this type of therapy where they walk in the park with the clients while talking with them about their life's issues.

People who avail of this type of counseling services may be the ones who do not feel comfortable in a therapist's office or simply love the outdoors. The act of walking makes a strong impression of being able to move forward in a literal and figurative way, and they sometimes feel that the park is integral to this process.

It allows the session to feel less formal and more relaxed-- elements that are conducive for clients to be more open. The patient sets the pace of walking and the therapist follows it.

A walk and talk therapy session is not a personal training but a client may benefit from the favorable impact it has on physical and mental health. Walking itself is known to help improve mood, as do other forms of exercise. In general, physical activities increase one's mental alertness and energy, and helps people cope with stress and anxiety.

Studies have shown how they are beneficial to a person's self-esteem and self-worth. It is also a less expensive way of treating clinical anxiety, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

Denice Clark, a therapist in Atlanta, admitted there are downsides to the walk and talk therapy but there are ways to deal with them. She cautions her clients to be aware when there is a chance that they could be overheard. They try not to be too close to other people in the park in order to keep the confidentiality.

And there are also patients who feel more secure within a therapist's office, the CNN reported.