Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos

Cal Poly’s Pop-Up Resilience Room

In the middle of the lively Downtown SLO Farmers Market, surrounded by chatter, music, and movement, something quietly powerful is happening. Cal Poly’s Experience Industry Management Department has introduced a Pop-Up Resilience Room—an intentionally calm, sensory-friendly space nestled inside the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at 872 Higuera Street.

This space is more than a break from the noise. Designed with neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive individuals in mind, it features low lighting, soft seating, noise-reducing headphones, and fidget tools. It’s a soothing reminder that rest is not a luxury—it’s a need. And it’s okay to step away from the world to take care of yourself.

What’s especially meaningful about this initiative is the message it sends: your mental and emotional well-being matter. Overwhelm, anxiety, burnout—these aren’t things you have to “tough out.” And while a quiet, welcoming space can offer immediate comfort, sometimes what we really need is a deeper kind of support.

That’s where therapy comes in. Whether you’re managing sensory overload, navigating anxiety, or simply trying to make space for yourself in a busy world, therapy can help. It’s a place to exhale. To process, regulate, and heal. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit—you just need to be ready to care for yourself in a new way.

If the Resilience Room resonated with you, I invite you to take that feeling one step further. In my private practice, I work with individuals who want to feel more grounded, more understood, and more empowered in their daily lives. Whether you're neurodivergent, highly sensitive, burned out, or just curious about what therapy could offer you, I’m here to help you explore that next step.

Your needs are valid. Your nervous system deserves care. And you're allowed to feel better—starting now.