5 Ways to Enjoy Denver’s Wash Park after a Postpartum Counseling Session
View from Wash Park’s Smith Lake in the fall.
If you have sought out postpartum counseling for coping with challenges during your family planning, pregnancy or postpartum journey, you know how rewarding a therapy session can feel. Therapy allows you to heal, grow and ultimately connect to feeling more present and joyful in your life. But therapy is also hard work. Sometimes in therapy, we end up visiting memories from our past that bring up complex feelings. Sometimes we connect to emotions that we didn’t even know were present. It can feel so cathartic and healing to release these feelings through counseling, but it can also sometimes be heavy and leave us feeling a little more tender afterwards. This is why self-care after therapy sessions is so important.
Self-Care in Wash Park After a Postpartum Counseling Session
If you live in Denver, you are most likely familiar with Wash Park, Denver’s second-largest, and perhaps most frequently visited, park. Dener is known for its beautiful public parks system, and actually ranks 13th among large cities in the country for the quality of its parks. Within the 165 acre park, there are both quiet coves to have a peaceful moment, and areas to gather with friends for picnics, sports and strolls. It sits in the center of several of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods, and is accessible to so many Denverites. It’s a great place to go and debrief after a therapy session, whether you’re feeling a little emotionally drained or just feeling empowered to continue the self-care momentum in your day. As a postpartum therapist in Denver, here are my tips for 5 ways to enjoy Denver’s Wash Park after a postpartum counseling session:
Take a mindful walk through the trees
Evergreen trees in Wash Park in Denver
Wash Park has several glades of evergreen trees that allow you to momentarily forget that you’re in the middle of a bustling city. Enjoy a mindful walk to practice present moment awareness, string up a hammock or set up a picnic blanket and take in the view of the lakes. Spending time in nature will help both your body and brain to feel more at peace.
2. Enjoy a gorgeous sunset
Sunset over Wash Park’s Smith Lake in Denver
Wash Park has some of the most gorgeous sunsets in Denver - from the east side of Smith Lake you can watch the sun set over the mountains and the sky turn all different shades of pink, purple and orange. There is a sense of connection you’ll feel to others at the park at sunset, all reveling in this natural beauty.
3. Have a peaceful picnic
Wash Park picnic area
There are tons of picnic tables scattered throughout Wash Park, and in the summer time the picnic areas are bustling with families and friends grilling and playing lawn games together. In the winter, you can enjoy a quiet moment soaking in the Denver sunshine and taking in the crisp air and beautiful views while you enjoy your lunch or coffee. These tables can also be a great place to journal or meditate, and people (or goose!) -watching can provide plenty of entertainment.
4. Break a sweat at the Wash Park Rec Center
Washington Park Recreation Center in Denver
In the middle of Wash Park stands the Washington Park Recreation Center, one of the best places to tackle your fitness goals if you live in the neighborhood. The rec center has a full gym, indoor pool and fitness classes, including swim classes for kids, and Denver rec centers are some of the most competitively priced gyms in the area. An added bonus is the stunning mural on the building - the vibrant colors fit in perfectly with the park’s natural beauty.
5. Check out the playgrounds with your little one
Wash Park playground in Denver
Wash Park has two playgrounds, the larger playground in the southern half of the park, and the newer infant and toddler playground closer to the boathouse. If you have your kiddo in tow, stopping by the playground is a great way to keep them entertained and get out some energy before naptime.
And a bonus tip: treat yourself to a warm drink at Wash Perk after!
Wash Perk coffee shop in Denver
Wash Perk is a neighborhood staple. The coffee shop is only a 3 block walk from the park, and is the perfect place to stop for a beverage or snack as you are coming or going to the park. Winter walks can feel a little more manageable if you have a warm drink to look forward to at the end of it!
Postpartum Therapy in Denver at Root to Rise Therapy
As you can see, Wash Park has plenty to offer as a place to relax on your self-care day. If you aren’t already connected to a postpartum therapist in Denver, Victoria at Root to Rise Therapy can help you to feel like yourself again if you’re dealing with new mom anxiety, recovering from sleepless nights or struggling to adapt to this new role. Reach out today for a free phone consultation to find out more about how postpartum therapy can help you heal.
Other Services at Root to Rise Therapy:
Other mental health services at Root to Rise Therapy include Therapy for Anxiety, Therapy for Perfectionism, Therapy for People-Pleasing, Cultural Identity Counseling, ADHD Therapy, Counseling for Moms and Postpartum Counseling. I see clients located in Colorado, New York and New Jersey. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome anxiety and reclaim your life!
