After years of wandering, including a long stretch traveling the country and down into Baja in a travel trailer with my husband and two kids, followed by two years in North Carolina, we finally found the place we wanted to put down roots. It's a tiny, quirky, beautiful village called Lovingston, Virginia, tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County. I grew up on the coast of Virginia, so in a way this feels like coming home, just with more mountains and a lot more mystery.
I'd love to introduce you to my little corner of the world, and share why I think the places we live have so much to do with how we heal.
[PHOTO: Lovingston's Front Street or the courthouse]
Where is Lovingston, Virginia?
Lovingston sits right in the center of the Commonwealth, about forty minutes south of Charlottesville and roughly midway between Charlottesville and Lynchburg along U.S. Route 29. It's the county seat of Nelson County, a rural county of mountains, orchards, rivers and farmland, where the Blue Ridge Parkway runs along one edge and the James River runs along another.
What makes Lovingston so quirky?
For a village of only a few hundred people, Lovingston is full of delightful surprises. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:
It's a courthouse town. Lovingston was laid out in 1809 on land given by the Loving family, which is where the name comes from, and court days once doubled as social gatherings for families from all over the county.
The old jail was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Yes, really. The 1823 jail is part of the Lovingston Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There are Sears kit homes. The historic district is dotted with renovated houses that were once ordered from a catalog and shipped here in pieces.
The movie theater moved in. Nelson Hall, once the county's only movie theater, was moved to Front Street from the nearby Oak Ridge estate in the 1920s.
Even the state rock comes from here. Nelsonite, Virginia's official state rock, is named for Nelson County.
[Bren: add a few of your own favorite local spots, people or rituals here]
A place that knows something about grief
Nelson County carries a deep memory of loss. In August of 1969, Hurricane Camille caused catastrophic flooding here, and the county was hit harder than anywhere else in Virginia. In the Courthouse Square, a monument honors the 153 Nelson County residents who died. I often think about how a whole community held that grief together, and how, over the decades that followed, the land and the people slowly found their way back to life. It reminds me of something I see in my work every week. Grief doesn't disappear, but with time, care and connection, it can become part of a story that also holds beauty and renewal.
Healing in nature
I truly believe our relationship with the natural world is essential for our wellbeing. My family spends much of our time on a piece of raw land on the Tye River, and some of my best ideas, and most honest tears, have come to me there. Living here, the mountains and rivers are never far away:
Crabtree Falls, the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River, roars after the autumn rains.
The Tye, Piney and Rockfish rivers offer quiet places to fish, paddle, swim or simply sit and listen.
The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail wind along the county's western edge, with endless overlooks for watching the light change.
The Blue Ridge Tunnel, an 1850s railroad tunnel turned trail, is a wonderfully strange walk through total darkness under a mountain. Bring a headlamp.
[PHOTO: the Tye River or Bren's land]
Therapy, KAP and retreats in Nelson County
If you're looking for a therapist in Lovingston, Nelson County or the greater Charlottesville area, I'd love to meet you. I offer in-person ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at my office here in Nelson County, as well as virtual therapy, grief support and KAP for adults throughout Virginia and Oregon. I can also bring groups, Flowrobics workshops and KAP to retreats and organizations in Nelson and Albemarle counties and the Tidewater area. You can learn more on my Services page or reach out through my contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a therapist in Lovingston, Virginia?
Yes. I'm a licensed therapist based in Lovingston offering grief therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and psychedelic integration, in person in Nelson County and virtually across Virginia and Oregon.
Can I do a KAP retreat near Charlottesville?
Yes. I offer KAP for small groups of friends and can add KAP to established retreats in central Virginia. Get in touch and we can dream it up together.
Come visit, or stay connected from afar
If you ever find yourself passing through, wave at the courthouse for me. And wherever you live, you're welcome in my Meditation Club, where I share weekly meditations, art and playlists, many of them inspired by these mountains and rivers.
