A Therapist's Guide to Creating a "Sense"of Wellness in Virginia
Written By: Katie Jacobi, LPC
When we think of wellness and well-being, we rarely consider tapping into one or more of the five senses. Our senses help us access and assess the deeper world around us, with the added benefit of mindfulness being embedded in the process. The five basic human senses include smell, touch, hearing, sight, and taste. But, when was the last time you considered how your senses could improve your mental health and well-being? Our geographic locations have an inherent connection to how we experience the place where we live. In This blog, we’ll take a Therapist’s view of places to create wellness in Virginia.
Connect to Your Senses and Be In the Present Moment
For example, a giraffe won’t be found in nature in Clarendon, Virginia. But, think about the capacity to marvel at the first butterfly you see in the spring or the magic of Cherry Blossoms in full bloom come April. Connecting to our senses is a unique way to tap into paying attention in the present moment, and really take in the place or area in which you live or spend time. If you’re a resident or visitor of Virginia, feast your eyes on the suggestions below for how to best tap into each of your five senses and enhance your well-being in this state which offers so many meaningful sensory experiences!
Smell ‘Nose’ Best:
Enhance your sense of smell with a visit to the following locations, take in the essence of Virginia, and help alleviate anxiety or stress with these fragrant pit stops along the way!
The DIY Scent Studio
No better way to in-scent-ivise your senses than with a trip to this cool little spot in Fairfax, VA. A perfumery that offers sessions like creating hair/beard oil, body oil making, and creating your own perfume. They also have a storefront where you can create your own fragrance kit or purchase premade scents.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Wake up and smell the flowers at this not-so-little hidden gem tucked away on a 95-acre property in Vienna, Virginia. This one’s a triple-hitter, covering not just your sense of smell, but also the visual treat of these beautiful gardens, and the sound of songbirds that create an incredibly serene setting tapping into multiple sensory experiences in one spot!
Can Touch This:
There are certain places where you don’t have to keep your hands to yourself. By visiting a few of these notable venues in VA, you’ll get to engage in a variety of ‘touching’ sensory experiences!
Teal Center
This wellness center located in Arlington, VA is the place to be if you’re looking to invoke your sense of touch. They offer a variety of different massages, spinal reflex therapy, and even acupuncture! Truly, I “feel” better after a single visit.
Virginia Beach
While the commute may depend on where you’re located in the state, Virginia Beach is a prime destination for touching experiences. The feeling of the soft sand hitting your feet, the salty freshness of a wave crashing against your body, and sun-kissed skin after a beach day are a few of the many ways to enhance well-being through your sense of touch without even having to leave the state! As an added bonus, all of these sensory experiences in a trip to the beach can be a fantastic way to strengthen relationships, or get to know a romantic partner better through travel!
Hear Me Out:
Wolf Trap or The Birchmere
Music to your ears is one of the many ways to create wellness through your sense of hearing here in Virginia. Wolf Trap Concert Hall in Vienna, VA or The Birchmere in Alexandria are tried and true concert venues to listen to local musicians or even some of your favorite headliners!
The Crooked Road
As it turns out, Virginia is for music lovers. When we consider hearing, we rarely think of the option of a road trip. Depending on who you’re traveling with, it may be a mix of the sounds of meaningful conversation; your favorite playlist; the never-ending list of podcasts you’ve been wanting to listen to; or an audiobook to accompany the travel. Get the ultimate auditory experience, by taking a drive on The Crooked Road. Music is woven into the fabric of this state, with the birth of country music being in Bristol, VA; and the sounds of Appalachia. The Crooked Road covers over 300 miles, and 19 different counties in Virginia with over 60 affiliated venues and festivals along the way, depending on when you travel! If music has been an integral part of your own journey of self-discovery, this path is for you!
Eye Spy:
There are certainly a number of different places in Virginia to really take in the beauty, and transport yourself to a place of mental clarity whether it’s a magical garden, museum, or the beauty of the fall foliage along hiking trails. Sight-seeing and exploration can be meaningful ways to get clarity while navigating a life transition or creating solitude for opportunities for self-discovery. Some fan favorites include:
Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park:
Shenandoah’s beauty is apparent through and through, but Skyline Drive is a special brand of aesthetic pleasure. Not to be missed in October as the leaves begin to take on the vibrant colors of autumn, this is truly a place to come to feel centered, grounded, and awed by the magnificence of nature.
Luray Caverns
While you may not have heard the terms “stalactites” and “stalagmites” since a high school geology class, let us re-introduce you to a self-inflicted rocky road. This VA destination is one of those places that leaves you breathless, wondering “How does this just exist?” Life challenges can sometimes take a different shape when we see the bumpiness that exists in our natural world, comforted by the knowledge that even when things are rocky, they can still be beautiful.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Another opportunity for a self-care road trip is when you drive through this 469-mile scenic overlook. Filled with mountain vistas, and some overwhelmingly stunning pit stops, maybe give up driving privileges so you can take in the beauty of BRP, letting road rage get quickly replaced with restoration while traveling on one of the country’s most amazing drives.
Taste Tests:
Wellness through gastronomic experiences is another way to channel your senses into general well-being. The sense of taste can be tricky, whether it’s health-related dietary restrictions or a challenging relationship with food our skilled therapists at TSG have helped clients work through many of the particular difficulties this sensory experience can elicit. If you have a complex history with food, body image, and/or disordered eating, feel free to skip this section. For those interested in mindful experiences through your sense of taste locally, feel free to sample some ideas below:
Taste of Nova
An annual event held at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA allows you to experience items from some of Northern Virginia’s best restaurants. Savor local favorites, and expand your palate, letting your taste buds blossom! It’s also a great activity to create a shared experience with someone you’ve been wanting to get to know a little better, or even just a foodie friend!
River-Sea Chocolates Factory
Let your inner child have its day in the sun, with a trip to River-Sea. This awesome spot in Chantilly, Virginia offers a variety of experiences like tasting flights and chocolate making! Another two-for-one, as the fragrance of a chocolate factory, is perhaps the lesser-known eighth wonder of the world.
Make Sense?
To tie it all together, our five senses are part of what makes us human beings. By activating our senses, we get to be more mindful of the deeper world around us and take in the richness of places where we live and visit. While bringing mindfulness through your senses is one source of improving mental well-being, our therapists at the Sterling Group can help! Another way to activate your sense of sound? Booking a 15-minute free consultation with our team, we can’t wait to hear from you!
Start Therapy For Young Adults in Virginia Today!
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Other Services at The Sterling Group
If you’re struggling our therapists have support to offer. We provide couples therapy and dating and relationship therapy for those that are looking to grow in their relationships. If you’re just hoping to work on yourself, we offer therapy for life transitions and support for depression, anxiety, and self-discovery. Additionally, our therapists offer services online or in-person at our Washington, DC-based counseling practice to cater to your schedule and make it as easy as possible for you to prioritize your healing. We would love to chat with you today about the ways we can support your growth in all areas of life!
