My Favorite Places in Long Beach to Practice Mindfulness as an EMDR Therapist

As an EMDR therapist, I often guide clients toward finding a sense of calm and regulation—tools we call resources in the therapy room. But resourcing isn’t only something we imagine in our minds. Sometimes, it’s as simple and powerful as sitting in a real place that feels safe, steady, and beautiful!

Living and working in Long Beach, CA I’m surrounded by places that offer exactly that. These are a few of my favorite local spots to practice mindfulness, reset my nervous system, and reconnect with the present moment.

🌿 1. 6th & Monrovia by the Colorado Lagoon

This quiet corner near 6th Street and Monrovia overlooks the serene waters of the Colorado Lagoon. It’s often peaceful, with the soft sounds of birds and gentle waves.

I love using this spot to ground myself—especially when I need to feel calm and centered. The view is perfect for visualizations I sometimes use in EMDR sessions, like imagining a “calm place” where the body can relax and feel safe.

🌳 2. Under a Tree in Alamitos Park

There’s a tree I always return to in Alamitos Park. It offers just the right amount of shade and a peaceful break from the city’s hum.

Whether I’m practicing breathwork or just sitting with the moment, this space reminds me that mindfulness isn’t always about doing—sometimes it’s about simply being. That’s a lesson I bring into my work with clients often.

🍺 3. Overlooking Ballast Point from the Waterfront

Near the waterfront, there's a spot where you can look out across the harbor toward Ballast Point. In the early morning or at dusk, it’s incredibly grounding.

Watching the boats drift, hearing the water move—it’s a perfect setting for gently reconnecting with your body and breath. It’s also a reminder of one of EMDR’s core ideas: you can stay rooted in the present while allowing your mind to process and move through the past.

🪑 4. Benches by Marine Stadium Launch Ramp

These benches, tucked beside the Marine Stadium launch ramp, offer a peaceful place to watch the water. You’ll often see rowers glide by or birds skimming the surface.

It’s a perfect space for bilateral movement—walking slowly, tapping your legs gently, or just watching the rhythm of the boats. For anyone in EMDR work, these subtle forms of rhythm can help the nervous system self-regulate.

🌳 5. Under the Trees at Los Cerritos Park

These trees are magical. And I highly suggest going during summer concerts at the park for lovely experience.

If you are familiar with Bixby Knolls, then tucked next to the 710 is the beautiful Los Cerritos Park. This park is full of old, wide-canopied trees that create a calming patchwork of light and shadow.

I like to sit beneath them, especially on days when I need to slow down and breathe deeply. I bring a cozy blanket, and do a guided meditation and enjoy the view of the trees swaying, and sounds of the birds, or kids playing nearby. These trees have stood through decades of change—there’s something comforting about that kind of quiet permanence.

🚣 6. The Colonnade in Naples

There are some benches you can sit on to watch the kayakers and gondolas pass by. Pick up a snack and come enjoy the view!

Tucked in Naples, the Colonnade offers a quiet view of the canals where boats, kayakers, and even gondolas gently drift past. There’s a quiet magic here—a reminder of beauty, rhythm, and even romance.

Sometimes, watching the movement of water and people in peaceful flow feels like its own kind of therapy. It's a lovely spot to reflect, reconnect, or even install positive imagery—another useful EMDR resourcing technique.

🌊 7. Mindfulness as a Way of Living in Long Beach

All of these places help me do my own grounding work, and I often recommend similar practices to clients navigating stress, trauma, or simply life transitions. Mindfulness doesn’t always need a yoga mat or a retreat center—it can begin with a bench, a breeze, or the quiet passing of a kayak in a canal.

If you're in Long Beach and curious about how EMDR and mindfulness could support your healing journey, I’d love to connect.

Ready to begin?
Searching “therapist near me” and happen to be in Long Beach? Then Contact me here or learn more about EMDR therapy in Long Beach. Sometimes healing starts with finding a quiet place and simply noticing what’s already around you.

Hi! I’m Nicole, EMDR Therapist in Long Beach, CA.

I specialize in relationship issues, trauma, and breakups working individually with people to help them heal the parts of themselves that need it the most.

Ready to begin?
Contact me here or learn more about EMDR therapy in Long Beach. Sometimes healing starts with finding a quiet place and simply noticing what’s already around you.