Recruiting
Phase 2

Active Therapy

Sponsor:

Kansas State University

Code:

NCT06858189

Conditions

Depression, Anxiety

Physical Activity

Time in Nature

Self-Efficacy

Feasibility Pilot Study

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Walk-and-talk therapy

Study Details

Brief summary:

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.

Conditions

Depression, Anxiety

Physical Activity

Time in Nature

Self-Efficacy

Feasibility Pilot Study

Study ID

NCT06858189

Start date

Feb 28, 2025

Status verified date

Feb, 2025

Completion date

May 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Current client of a participating therapist who has completed study training
  • Diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder
  • Able to safely engage in moderate physical activity
  • Willing to complete all study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Planning to discontinue therapy in less than 6 months
  • Active suicidal ideation
  • Does not pass exercise risk screener

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Intervention (immediate start)

Participants will engage in walk-and-talk therapy during weekly sessions with their therapist and will set goals for engaging in nature-based physical activity on their own outside of therapy.

no intervention: Waitlist control

Participants will receive generic educational materials about nature-based physical activity and local parks.

Interventions

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 outcome measure

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

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Emily L Mailey, PhD

847-224-1199emailey@ksu.edu

Gina M Besenyi, PhD

785-532-6765gbesenyi@ksu.edu

Locations

Kansas State University

Recruiting

Manhattan, Kansas, United States, 66506

More Information

Sponsor

Kansas State University

Last update posted

Mar 5, 2025

Last verified

Feb, 2025

Keywords

  • therapy
  • nature prescriptions
  • park prescriptions (ParkRx)
  • exercise
  • mental health
  • walk-and-talk

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Kansas State University on 2025-03-05.