Samantha Marks

Terrapy= Terra(Earth) + Therapy It's therapy enhanced by nature! Has traditional therapy not worked for you? While sitting in an office might work for some people, there is no cookie cutter therapy that works for everyone. Terrapy is a mindfulness-based therapy that can make it easier for clients to relax, release physical tension, and connect the mind and body towards reaching their individual goals, all while enjoying the beauty of nature. All sessions will take place in a scenic location rather than sitting in a therapy office. Walking side by side rather than sitting face to face enables some clients to feel more comfortable when sharing the most intimate and sometimes traumatic details of their lives. Research has shown that movement, such as walking, helps boost serotonin (the happy chemical in the brain) significantly! Its a simple yet highly effective method of treatment. My goal is to help you get to your goal, in the most productive and fulfilling way possible. Terrapy is a two for one deal! You get an uninterrupted 45 minute session to focus on both your mental and physical health! Terrapy can be for everyone, no previous exercise experience is required. Our walking pace is set by you-this is not a race. If we only take 2 steps in 45 minutes, that’s 2 steps more than you would have gotten on a couch in an office. We are not here to work out. This is only to help enhance therapy and allow for movement to help facilitate the healing process. If you have any additional questions or feel that this type of therapy might work for you, let’s walk! Congratulations on taking the first step! FAQ's: Why walk and talk? Walking and exercise provides the body with serotonin (the happy brain chemical) which can help boost the healing and recovery process. Most of us spend our days inside, sitting at a desk or at home and not always able to take a moment to step outside. You will be able to focus on your mental AND physical health at the same time! You might even notice an immediate shift in your emotions after just one session. What style of therapy is this? This style of therapy is more modern and unique but based in traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We will also practice Mindfulness. I am a strength based- solution focused therapist who is not here to sugarcoat problems, but rather help you reach your goals in a timely manner. I think of mental health and physical health as a joint effort. Where will the sessions be located? Our sessions will always take place in an outdoor setting. Currently, my availability is at Rockland Lake State Park, Congers Lake, The Rail Trail, Nyack Beach or The Pier in Piermont. Where we meet will be up to you and your location. We can also switch up the location each session. Your call! Please note that some locations require payment for parking or for you to be a resident of that town. We can discuss this prior to meeting. What about inclement weather? The unpredictability and beauty of nature won’t stop us! If there is severe weather warnings such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, blizzards etc- we have the option to reschedule. Otherwise, I can provide an umbrella! Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather, including proper footwear. Terrapy is for all seasons and weather! What about seeing someone I know? Unfortunately, since these locations are public, I cannot guarantee that we won't run into someone you know or someone I know. However, I can assure you I will not discuss my relationship to you unless of course you decide to share that first. If we run into someone I know, I will not break confidentiality and/or state my reasoning for being there. If we run into someone you know, I will follow your lead. I don’t have much experience with exercise. Will these sessions be strenuous? Absolutely not! You set this pace! We are not here to work out. This is only to help enhance therapy and allow for movement to help facilitate the healing process. We can take as many breaks as needed which is another reason I strategically chose these locations. Each location has benches or places to rest if/when needed. Do I need to bring anything to our sessions? Just an open mind and comfortable clothing/appropriate footwear for walking. I will provide a bottle of water each session. Can I bring my dog? While I love dogs, not all parks do. Depending on where we walk will determine if dogs are allowed. This is your time, if you feel that your dog is appropriate to walk with us and won’t distract you from your goals, they are more than welcome to join! Do you accept insurance? I do not accept insurance at this time, but I am an out of network provider. I will supply you with a superbill each month to send to your insurance for reimbursement. I always recommend calling the number listed on the back of your card to confirm they accept out of network mental healthcare.