Is a member of your brood very sensitive to the emotions, energy and/or experiences of others? If the answer is yes, chances are that loved one is an empath or an individual with a heightened ability to sense and absorb the emotional states of those around them, sometimes feeling the physical or emotional symptoms that others are experiencing.

Being an empath is not a bad thing; it’s just a thing. One of our kids is a quintessential empath—during a trip to the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, the woman who checked us in asked my daughter if she had any questions before we entered the museum and she said, “I just feel terrible that the Holocaust happened at all, and that so many millions of people had to experience that fear and devastation. It makes me sad.” I had instead been mentally figuring the amount of time we had to spend in the museum before we had to head to the car to make it to soccer practice. The woman, who had a loved one who died in the Holocaust, said, “Sweetie, you need to get over that.” 

In addition to being highly sensitive and compassionate, empaths generally share several characteristics, including feeling a connection to nature, feeling drained from spending time in a crowded or emotionally charged environment, struggling with recognizing between their own emotions from those they absorb and responding well to grounding techniques like meditation or deep breathing.

Being an empath will likely be my daughter’s superpower throughout life. I always consider it when planning for or engaging with her—whether thinking about her schedule, providing constructive criticism or setting up an adventure. 

My empath loves to travel—even recently taking the major step of going on her first trip without me—and certain approaches seem to be effective for ensuring she has the travel experience she’s hoped for. I’m sharing those approaches here as considerations that may help as you travel with your empath.

Pre-Trip

1. Plan ahead:

• Share an itinerary or visual guide in advance so they have time to mentally prepare.
• Select peaceful and comfortable accommodations to provide a quiet retreat to recharge.
• Consider destinations and activities that are not overly crowded or chaotic.

2. Involve them in decision-making: 

Empaths often appreciate being part of the planning process, choosing destinations and pacing the trip.

On the Trip

1. Pack comfort items: 

Encourage them to bring items that help them feel grounded, such as noise-canceling headphones, a journal, stuffie or a favorite book.

2. Plan for downtime and be mindful of overstimulation:

• Build time into the schedule for rest and solitude.
• Avoid overly crowded or noisy places for long durations.
• Seek out tranquil settings like nature trails, beaches or quiet museums when possible.
• If they need some alone time, let them recharge without guilt.
• If an environment feels overwhelming or stressful, be open to changing plans, even at the last minute.

3. Provide Emotional Space: 

Empaths are naturally attuned to others’ feelings, so they may feel responsible for your mood. Reassure them that they don’t need to manage your emotions during the trip.

Traveling with an empath can offer you a perspective you might not otherwise have gained and be a particularly rewarding experience. Applying the above considerations can accommodate their sensitivity and unique needs. Many happy (and empathetic) travels to you and yours!