Grounding

A set of therapeutic and coping techniques used to help a person reconnect with the present moment and their physical surroundings during periods of emotional distress, anxiety, or trauma response. Grounding activities aim to strengthen the connection between mind and body and can include breathing exercises, counting, touching objects, listening to music, or tapping on surfaces. In accessible app and technology design for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities or trauma histories, grounding activities are increasingly integrated as self-regulation tools to help users manage emotional responses when encountering difficult or triggering content.