A new wellness facility that combines psychotherapy services with physical fitness is celebrating its grand opening in Wallingford.
Vincent Salzo, Patch Staff
WALLINGFORD, CT — TJ Dowling will see the vision for his new business become a reality after more than a decade in the making when it celebrates its official grand opening in Wallingford this weekend.
Synergy Health & Wellness, located at 202 North Plains Industrial Rd. in Wallingford, will host a grand-opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, May 3.
Dowling, the founder and owner of Synergy Health & Wellness, is a five-time Ironman competitor and licensed clinical therapist. He said Synergy is “Connecticut’s first wellness facility to fully integrate mental health counseling with fitness training, nutrition coaching, and holistic recovery services — all under one roof.”
Synergy is designed for people seeking more than traditional therapy, and offers an “innovative, personalized approach where each session includes one-on-one psychotherapy, private fitness coaching, tailored nutrition guidance, and access to restorative treatments like infrared sauna, cold plunges, and therapeutic massage tools,” according to Dowling.
Dowling said that Wallingford felt like the “perfect home for this new kind of wellness center.”
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“It’s centrally located, accessible from all directions, and full of life-with thriving businesses, strong community values, and excellent schools,” he said. “As a former school counselor, I’ve built many connections here over the years, and I knew this town would understand and appreciate the value of integrated care. It’s a community that invests in its people, and that’s exactly the kind of place I wanted to plant roots and make a difference.”
Dowling has a long-term vision for Synergy that included the first phase, where he transformed a space attached to his home into a fully equipped residential office and training facility.
Following the success of Phase 1, Dowling said they are launching Phase 2 with the expansion to the new facility in Wallingford.
Dowling said he looked at other areas for the facility, but knew from the beginning that he wanted to own the property.
“This isn’t a short-term venture for me, it’s a life’s mission,” he said. “I was looking for a space as unique as the services we offer: a place that could bring therapy, fitness, and holistic recovery together seamlessly. This building gave us exactly what we needed — room for a private gym, multiple therapy offices, and space to house our sauna, cold plunge, and other recovery tools — all under one roof. It just felt right.”
Dowling, a Prospect resident, said he has become quite familiar with Wallingford over the years.
“I’ve spent countless hours biking and running through Wallingford while training for Ironman races, and over time that built a strong connection to the community,” he said. “I got to know the neighborhoods, the energy, and the character of the town in a really personal way. Whether it was grabbing a bite to eat after a long ride or passing through on early morning runs, Wallingford always left a great impression. So when it came time to open Synergy, it felt like the right place — close enough to home to stay grounded, but positioned perfectly to expand our reach and serve a vibrant, wellness-focused community.”
The next two phases of Dowling’s vision for Synergy Health & Wellness include expanding its staff and service offerings, and eventually expanding across multiple locations.
For now, he said advancing to Phase 2 and opening the facility in Wallingford “means everything” to him.
“This vision has lived in my head and heart for over a decade,” Dowling said. “I’ve imagined this exact moment — down to the ribbon cutting — countless times. To see it come to life in a town like Wallingford, with a community that cares deeply about well-being, is honestly surreal. I’ve dedicated my career to helping people heal, grow, and rediscover their potential. This new facility is more than just a space — it’s a movement. We’re here to help people reconnect with their purpose, elevate their physical and mental health, and ultimately build lives filled with strength, clarity, and joy.”
For more information, visit the Synergy Health & Wellness website here.
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