All Things Vagus

Jen Racicot is a nationally certified counselor with her master's in clinical mental health from the University of Montana. Jen's life experiences as a fifth-generation non-Indigenous Montanan have been infused in teaching, service, and advocacy in Montana for over 20 years. She has worked with ages 3 through 70, counseling and traveling as a speaker and leading workshops on mental wellness. For more information on Jen's work, you can visit her website HERE.

Christine Lustik is a leadership coach and leadership development specialist focused on guiding authentic, caring, productive, and confident people managers. After earning her PhD, Christine focused on developing her own self-awareness. She obtained two mindfulness teacher certifications, including one from an organization called Awake in the Wild, which certifies teachers to guide mindfulness in nature classes and retreats. Christine has a labyrinth outside of Missoula where she offers retreats. For more information on Christine's work, you can visit her website HERE.

Elaine Sheff, a clinical herbalist and author of several books on herbal medicine and healing, has been passionate about sharing herbal knowledge for over 30 years. She is the co-director of Greenpath Herb School in Missoula, Montana, where she inspires and empowers students and clients to reconnect with the earth, plants, and their own healing journey. A professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, Elaine teaches workshops and speaks at conferences both nationally and internationally.

Greenpath Herb School

Laura Marx has been a family nurse practitioner for 40 years and has a part-time private practice in Missoula. She has also been an assistant clinical professor for the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing for Montana State University. She teaches psychosocial concepts and health promotion. Laura knew from early in her career that the Western model of medicine was lacking in a holistic approach and sought to become more integrative both in her practice and her teaching. In 2011, Laura studied at the Mount Madonna College of Ayurveda to become an Ayurvedic wellness consultant. She found that this oldest and time-honored medical model gave her a new perspective in our relationship to health and nature.

Sarah Aronson was mothered by the landscape of Southeast Alaska at the toe of the Mendenhall Glacier. She maintains a climate-aware psychotherapy practice as a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. She holds an MFA from the University of Montana and her debut collection of poetry and other bodiless powers won the 2018 New American Poetry Prize. Sarah is also a host and producer for the Montana Public Radio, home to her most recent project, Health and Mother Earth.

John Sommers-Flanagan is a Professor of Counseling at the University of Montana. He is a clinical psychologist and the author or co-author of over 100 publications, including nine books and many professional training videos. John has published many newspaper columns, and op-ed pieces, including articles in Psychotherapy Networker, Counseling Today, and Slate Magazine. You can learn more about John's latest venture, The Montana Happiness Project, at www.montanahappinessproject.com

Susan Stone is a senior faculty member for the Eden Method and is in her 16th year of teaching for Innersource. She brings to her students and patients an extensive 47 years in holistic health. She is an acupuncturist, nutritionist, and an Advanced Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner. Susan's unique approach delves into the causative factors of imbalances and her gentle but laser-like modalities can allow for rapid change to occur.

Laurie Leitch has been a practicing psychotherapist, clinical trainer, consultant, and researcher for over 25 years. She is the founder and director of Threshold Global Works, established in 2011. Threshold Global Works is dedicated to cultivating and enhancing natural resilience within communities, organizations, and individuals using the neuroscience-based Social Resilience Model. If you are interested in learning more about Laurie's work you can find her website below:

Mari Hodges is a certified Alexander Technique teacher and pain management specialist. She has a therapeutic pain specialist certificate and a Master of Science in Medicine and Pain Management. She is passionate about empowering people to enhance mobility and performance. She also loves helping people discover personal transformation and increase of freedom of movement by changing long-standing habits of posture, movement, and thought. Mari is based in Missoula and is available for individual coaching by appointment. For more information about Mari and the Alexander Technique visit her website: https://marihodges.com/alexander/

Julie Mackiewicz attended her first yoga class in 2001 and has been on this journey ever since. She completed her first teacher training in 2007 and began teaching that same year. For the past 15-plus years, she has continued on the concurrent paths of student and teacher, completing further trainings, continually immersing herself in learning, and sharing her deepening, expanding, and evolving understanding and experiences as a teacher. It is the unending depth and breadth of yogic studies that entices and inspires her to continue on this journey and experience the unfolding and uncovering of ourselves.

If you're interested in reaching out to Julie, her information can be found below: