Promoting Active Therapy: Path to Wellness

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: Depression, Anxiety; Physical Activity; Time in Nature; Feasibility Pilot Study; Self-Efficacy

• Registration Number: NCT06858189
• Lead Sponsor: Kansas State University

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.

Detailed Description

For this project, we will recruit ten licensed therapists whose caseload includes adults with depression and anxiety. We aim to recruit therapists who practice in northeast Kansas. Our team will lead a 3-hour in-person training for participating therapists that covers project aims and procedures, benefits of nature-based physical activity for mental health, identifying and enrolling suitable clients for participation, recommending and engaging in nature-based physical activity with clients, and completing project assessments.

Following the training, each therapist will recruit six clients aged 18-65 who are willing to participate in a 10-week research study and meet the following criteria: 1) diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder, 2) able to safely engage in moderate physical activity, and 3) willing to complete all research requirements. Clients who are part of an underrepresented minority group (i.e., racial/ethnic minority, low SES, LGTBQ) will be prioritize during recruitment. Therapists will invite eligible clients to participate in the study, and those who agree will sign an informed consent document. Clients will be randomly assigned to the intervention or active waitlist control (usual care) condition. All participants will receive a Fitbit and download the NatureDose app. 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. Control participants will receive information about nature-based physical activity, and then will receive the full intervention after 10 weeks.

All participating clients will complete surveys assessing depression and anxiety symptoms at baseline (following informed consent) and at the end of the 10-week intervention. Throughout the 10-week intervention, therapists will keep a weekly log of frequency and duration of walk-and talk sessions. Clients will also keep a weekly log of nature-based physical activity, use the NatureDose app to measure time spent in nature each day, and wear a Fitbit to track their daily physical activity. At the end of the intervention, clients will complete a brief satisfaction survey, and therapists will complete an individual interview with the research team.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-27
• Study Start: 2025-02-28
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-05
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-05
• Primary Completion: 2026-05-31
• Study Completion: 2026-05-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

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

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Participation in walk-and-talk therapy	Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention	Therapists will keep logs of weekly attendance and participation in walk-and-talk therapy during sessions. Outcome will be calculated as a percentage of offered sessions.
Perceived therapist support for nature-based physical activity	End of intervention (after 10 weeks)	Participating clients will complete a survey indicating how frequently their therapist asks about physical activity, recommends physical activity, engages in physical activity with the client, etc.
Acceptability	End of intervention (after 10 weeks)	At the end of the intervention, clients will complete a survey indicating how much the discussions/sessions were helpful, enjoyable, informative, etc.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-efficacy for physical activity	baseline, 10 weeks	Measured with a modified version of the barriers self-efficacy scale
Self-efficacy for time in nature	baseline, 10 weeks	Measured with the self-efficacy for spending time in nature scale
Physical activity	Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention	Average MVPA and daily steps measured via Fitbit inspire 3 devices
Time in nature	Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention	Measured via NatureDose app

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kansas State University; 🇺🇸 Manhattan, Kansas, United States