Dr. Aubrey Berry, a teen, adult, and couples therapist at TenderHearts Counseling, introduces the Five Senses Grounding Technique as a practical way to manage anxiety. She explains that anxiety often pulls us out of the present moment, either making us dwell on the past or worry about the future. The goal of this technique is to bring our focus back to the present by engaging our senses.
The technique involves using the five senses to ground ourselves:
– 5 things you see
– 4 things you hear
– 3 things you can touch
– 2 things you can taste
– 1 thing you can smell
Dr. Berry emphasizes flexibility; you can adjust the technique to fit your needs (e.g., using fewer senses if you’re short on time). To enhance the experience, she suggests using items like peppermint or lavender oil for smell or sour candies for taste, which can quickly redirect attention and interrupt anxious thought patterns.
This simple yet effective tool helps anchor us in the present moment and can be used anytime anxiety or heightened emotions arise. For further support on managing anxiety, Dr. Berry invites viewers to reach out to TenderHearts Counseling.
