In February 2020, I experienced my first panic attack, and the timing couldn't have been worse. Just as the world was about to grapple with a global pandemic, my anxiety reached its peak. I found myself unable to regulate my nervous system, perpetually living in a state of heightened alertness that threatened my well-being. The realization hit me hard – if I didn't address this, I knew it was going to make me sick. I actually felt that I would die.

This wake-up call, combined with the world shutting down, spurred me on a quest for healing. Initially, I sought help from doctors, undergoing numerous tests and diagnostics in an attempt to pinpoint the cause of my symptoms. Exhausting all these medical avenues, my doctor finally looked me in the eye and said:

"your body is doing fine; you need to offload stress."

She explained the far-reaching impacts of chronic stress on the body, from hormonal imbalances to muscle pain and memory issues. It was a sobering revelation. One that set the trajectory for my life.

In that moment, I knew I had to make substantial changes to my life, but I wasn’t quite ready. So, I began by delving into nervous system healing practices, including cold water exposure, the Wim Hof method, Emotional Freedom Tapping, and meditation, all aimed at regulating my system. I sought therapy from a Somatic Therapist and immersed myself in books like "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel Vander Kolk and "The Drama of the Gifted Child" by Alice Miller.

Using these invaluable techniques and tools, I managed to keep my system at bay for another year, but then had another panic attack that floored me even more. It was the wake up call I needed to make significant life alterations, letting go of relationships that were wreaking havoc on my nervous system so I could actually heal it. I explored EMDR, Neurofeedback, and talk therapy – all of which rewired my neural pathways and helped me connect the dots between my trauma, unresolved pain, and the tumultuous inner (and outer) life I had created.

While these modalities were invaluable, I sensed there was still something missing – a need for release. That's when I stumbled upon Somatic Release Breathwork, and I knew it was the path I had to follow. What drew me most to this practice was the concept of the "Empathetic Witness" – someone who could hold space for me as I expressed the emotions I had been holding back out of fear of rejection. The images and videos I encountered were compelling, showing a guide or practitioner offering support as clients released their pent-up rage or grief. I felt an innate calling to be part of this process, but first, I had to experience it myself. When I finally did, when I felt that presence without judgment, allowing myself to feel and express what I had been suppressing, it felt like my soul was liberated. Like I had unlocked a door that was keeping me from experiencing the good stuff of life.

It is now my deepest honor to serve as an empathetic witness for my clients, helping them navigate their own healing journeys. To assist people in accessing their own innate ability to heal, to release the stress they carry, to feel what they’ve been afraid or not permitted to feel. To be alive is to feel! We just need to clear out the blockages. What a gift it is to be able to walk you home to yourself.