Grounding Exercises

A space for grounding among the trees in Fjordland National Park, New Zealand

What is grounding anyway?

-One option for help with moving through stressful, overwhelming emotions.

-Sensory experiences that bring you back to the present moment.

-A form of distraction from intrusive, anxious, or distressing thoughts.

- Skills for self soothing.

  • Cognitive

    Start at 100 and count backwards by 3.

  • Tactile

    Place your hands in cool water. Notice how it feels differently on different parts of your hands. Now switch to warm water and notice the similarities and differences.

  • Breathing

    Take 5 long, deep breaths. With each breath, feel and visualize the breath moving into, through, and back out of your body.

  • Visualization

    Picture a favorite place. Imagine moving through the space and notice something with each of your 5 senses.

Schedule now to learn about additional techniques