Grounding Yourself In the South Bay: A Trauma Therapist Shares 4 Spots to Clear Your Mind
TLDR: Getting outside of the house to get a change of scenery, connect with nature, and/or do something relaxing or fun can be super helpful in grounding yourself through a difficult emotional time. The South Bay is full of great spots to do this, whether you are looking for a place to center yourself as a support for doing trauma therapy, or are simply going through a challenging time.
As a trauma therapist, I am always urging my clients to get outside as a way to help them regulate their emotions during a tough time. Sometimes this is as a way to ground themselves after a tough session or conversation with a loved one, other times it’s to help them as they try to cope with a particularly difficult season of life. There’s something about getting a change of scenery, and getting outside in particular, that is really helpful to shake things up and connect you back to yourself.
Science backs this up - when you can stimulate your senses in ways that you find calming, this is known as self soothing and it’s incredibly regulating to your nervous system. Being somewhere different from home or work (especially if you work from home) offers novel stimuli to engage your senses, and the outdoors is inherently sensory with all the visuals, sounds, and other sensations.
As a therapist and resident of the South Bay in Greater Los Angeles, I feel really lucky to be here as there are so many great places to go when you need a little centering and to clear your mind. Here are some of my favorites!
Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance Beach
Let’s start with the obvious. The beaches are the thing people love the most about the South Bay, and with so much beach access it’s no wonder why. There’s something for everyone and every mood. Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach are great if part of how you want to ground is people watching, as they are full of people surfing, playing volleyball, and taking in the scene. Torrance Beach and Redondo Beach are quieter and less crowded, with striking views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula (which has its own great beaches, more on that below). And whether you sit on a patch of sand or a bench, or stroll the strand or the sand, all of them offer the chance to listen to the waves, watch them build, crest, and fall (just like every single emotion does - the metaphor is too spot on), and feel the breeze, sun, and sand. Accessibility notes: there are accessible bathrooms and parking at some points along the beach. The strand is accessible and there are portions of paved trail that go from the strand to the ocean. Do your research ahead of time to find the best point of access for you.
South Coast Botanic Garden
I love a garden, and the South Coast Botanic Garden is a superb one. Trails, both hilly and flat, wind through different areas of the garden offering a wide array of sights, scents, sounds. As of the time of writing, there is both an exhibit of the largest number of Thomas Dambo’s Trolls, as well as a tropical butterfly garden. Besides a great place to walk, there are benches and patches of grass distributed throughout the park in case you’d prefer to sit or lay and read, picnic, journal, draw, or rest. Accessibility notes: bathrooms, parking, and many trails are accessible
Palos Verdes Peninsula
The Palos Verdes Peninsula is home to a ton of beautiful cliffside trails with spectacular spots to take in sweeping ocean views or explore tide pools. Whether you prefer to do something active to ground yourself, or sit on a bench in a pretty spot, you are spoiled for choice here. Personally, my favorite is to park at Trump National (I know… but at least you can feel some satisfaction using facilities he didn’t want to have to pay for, and this link goes to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes for information rather than sending his property more clicks) and head out on the trails from here. The Coastal Commission forced him to make nice public parking and restrooms available, so it’s a good jumping off point where you don’t have to worry about where to park or what happens if nature calls. There are also benches and picnic tables. Accessibility notes: bathrooms, parking, and some trails are accessible.
Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach Greenbelt
Sometimes you need to clear your mind but don’t have the time to go make an afternoon of it. In this case, I love going to the greenbelt, a long, wide path that winds its way through Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. It’s got a lot of shade and the path is covered in woodchips, which I find is both interesting from a sensory perspective to walk on, and encourages slightly slower walking, which can be nice when you want to ground. There are flowers and benches along the way to stop and soak in the peaceful environment. It’s a little slice of nature in the busy beach cities. Accessibility notes: not accessible due to the woodchips.
Start Therapy to Feel More Grounded in Los Angeles:
If you struggle with intense emotions that can feel overwhelming, you certainly aren’t alone. Whether due to past trauma or hurts, current stressors, or the current state of the world/country, it can be a real challenge to stay grounded and regulated, especially when going through a tough time. Therapy can help you learn strategies to manage these feelings in a healthy way, so that they don’t overwhelm you and you can feel more in control. Start by following these steps:
Reach out for a consultation at Well Woman Psychology.
Meet with a therapist specializing in women’s issues like trauma, anxiety, and stress.
Learn how to support yourself with effective, compassionate, and science backed strategies so you can navigate your challenges and life with more ease.
About the Author:
Dr. Linda Baggett is a licensed psychologist and founder of Well Woman Psychology, a virtual trauma-informed therapy practice supporting women and people of all genders in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Washington. Dr. Baggett is skilled at helping people develop a kinder, more effective relationship with their emotions and overcome trauma and stressors. She also works with clients around body image, relationship issues, perimenopause and menopause, perinatal and postpartum challenges, pregnancy loss and miscarriage, and infertility.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a client-therapist relationship.