In this episode of the 'Heal with Grace' podcast, I welcome Dr. Heather Finley, a registered dietitian with a doctorate in clinical nutrition, to discuss the intricate connections between gut health, mental health, and chronic illnesses. Dr. Finley shares her personal journey through years of GI issues and how she discovered the benefits of functional nutrition. The conversation covers the impact of stress, lifestyle, and food variety on gut health, and offers insights into overcoming disordered eating and the importance of a holistic approach to wellness. Key topics also include the significance of microbiome diversity, the role of stress management, and practical tips for establishing a healthier relationship with food and body. Tune in to learn how to achieve long-term gut health and improve overall well-being.

About Dr. Heather Finley:
Dr. Heather Finley is a registered dietitian with a doctorate in clinical nutrition. She and her team help people struggling with bloating, brain fog, hormone imbalances, and GI issues find relief from their symptoms and feel excited about food again.

Heather struggled with her own hormone & digestive issues for nearly 20 years and understands first hand the impact that nutrition, lifestyle, and mindset have on digestive health. Gut health shouldn’t be restrictive, stressful, and all-consuming. She developed a simple way that individuals can reduce digestive symptoms and add foods back into their diet.

Dr. Heather has a doctorate in clinical nutrition from Maryland University of Integrative Health.

Her work has been featured on Good Morning Texas and in Mind Body Green, Yahoo! Life, and Very Well Health. Dr. Heather is the founder of the gutTogether® program for individuals and the gutPractitioner program for clinicians. 

Take the "Why Am I Bloated" Quiz: https://www.guttogetherprogram.com/healwithgrace

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website

The episode emphasizes the non-linear nature of healing, the importance of being present in the process rather than fixated on outcomes, and offers practical tips for moving through stuckness, such as making intentional shifts, reflecting through journaling, and avoiding rash decisions. In this episode, I share a personal journey of struggling with resistance and feeling stuck in various aspects of life, including health and daily activities. I describe how attempts to power through tasks often lead to increased fatigue and brain fog, signaling deeper emotions that need addressing. 

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website

In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, guest host Liana, a holistic therapist, interviews Dr. Chandler Collins, a holistic chiropractor.

Dr. Collins shares his journey to becoming a chiropractor, motivated by a persistent injury. He explains his unique approach to holistic chiropractic care that integrates muscle testing, addressing emotional traumas, and coordinating various aspects of the body’s functionality.

 Liana and Dr. Collins delve into how emotions and chronic conditions impact the body, the complexity of human adaptation, and the integration of brain and body in holistic healing.

Dr. Collins offers insights on the importance of consistent, thorough care for achieving deeper wellness and reflects on the shared goal of practitioners helping patients to uncover the root causes of their problems.

About Dr. Chandler Collins:
Dr. Collins has over two decades of in-depth study of health, physiology, nutrition, and healing.  As part of this journey, he has created a boutique healthcare practice that distinguishes itself by extensive one-on-one work tailored to the individual needs of each patient, in order to address the complete structural, chemical, and psychological health of each person.  Advanced testing techniques allow the treatment session to be guided by the highest priority revealed by that person’s body, in that moment.  With every session focused on finding the root cause of each ailment, a more self-sustaining lifestyle of health and wellness is achieved.

www.CollinsDC.com

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

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• Check out my website

In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, hosts Grace and Liana discuss strategies for getting back to the activities you love while recovering from chronic pain and chronic fatigue. They introduce the concept of pacing, which involves gradually increasing activity levels to avoid post-exertional malaise and to build confidence. The conversation highlights the importance of awareness, visualization, and setting safety nets to manage pain and fatigue effectively. They also delve into the science behind neuroplastic pain and offer real-life examples to emphasize the potential for recovery. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to reclaim their life from debilitating symptoms.

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website

In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace interviews Vanessa Blackstone, the executive director of the Pain Psychology Center. Vanessa, who has a background in social work and is a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, shares her journey from dealing with her own chronic pain to becoming a therapist in pain reprocessing therapy (PRT). They delve into the concept of PRT, explaining how it aims to address the neural pathways in the brain that perpetuate chronic pain by creating messages of safety and soothing the nervous system. Vanessa discusses the challenges of establishing a sense of safety, particularly for those who didn't grow up in secure environments. Through her personal stories and therapeutic experiences, she emphasises the importance of slowing down, understanding one's emotions, and using authentic messages of safety to foster healing. The episode also touches on the broader aspects of creating safety in one's current life and explores how our past and present environments influence our sense of security.

Connect with Vanessa:

@that.therapst

painpsychologycenter.com

blackstonewellness.com

[email protected]

Episode 3

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

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In this episode of the Heal With Grace podcast, I dive into the importance and transformative power of journaling for personal healing. Covering its benefits in mental and physical health, the episode emphasizes journaling as a tool for self-expression and reflection, aiding in the process of bringing subconscious thoughts and emotions to the conscious level. I discuss the concept of expressive writing, share research evidence supporting its positive impact on various health conditions, and present different methods and tips for effective journaling practices. These include the expressive writing protocol by Dr. James Pennebaker and Journal Speak by Nicole Sachs, tailored for individuals dealing with chronic pain or seeking deep emotional healing. The episode aims to guide listeners on how to utilize journaling as a safe, private means to explore their inner world and facilitate a journey towards recovery and self-understanding.

Show Resources:

Nichole Saches Journal Speak

Dr. Pennebaker journal study

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website

In this episode, I welcome Nityda Gessel, a seasoned yoga teacher, trauma therapist, and somatic therapist with nearly two decades of experience. Nityda, a licensed clinical social worker, discusses her approach to supporting individuals by examining how their past and present manifest in their bodies and using body-based embodiment interventions for healing and evolution. She introduces the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, a blend of somatic psychotherapy practices and trauma-conscious yoga, and discusses her book, 'Embodied Self Awakening: Somatic Practices for Trauma Healing and Spiritual Evolution.' The conversation delves into the effects of trauma on the body, the importance of community and validation in the healing process, and the concept of embodied self-awakening. Nityda emphasizes the role of the vagus nerve, polyvagal theory, the significance of compassion and community support, and introduces internal family systems therapy as a model for understanding and integrating different parts of oneself towards healing. She encourages embracing the journey of healing as an ongoing process of self-discovery and awakening.

Connect with Nityda:

https://traumaconsciousyoga.com/

https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Trauma-Conscious-Yoga-Institute/100063494533157/?modal=admin_todo_tour

https://www.instagram.com/trauma_conscious_yoga_method/

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website

In this episode we delve into the underestimated practice of visualisation and its significance in the healing journey, exploring both the scientific studies and practical guidance on how to effectively utilise this technique for health and vitality. I explain how the brain cannot differentiate between real and visualised experiences, thereby offering an opportunity to influence the body's response and initiate healing. I discuss chronic conditions, the root causes being stress and a dysregulated brain and body, and how visualisation can shift perceptions of pain and symptoms. I provide evidence from studies showing the effectiveness of guided imagery in pain management and stress reduction. Furthermore, I give detailed instructions on visualising for soothing the amygdala to reduce fear and anxiety, improving functional status, and rewiring food sensitivities, emphasising the practice of visualisation as a powerful tool for self-empowerment and resilience in healing.

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website

In this episode, Grace is joined by Liana, a support therapist in the mind-body healing method at Elevate Therapy and Wellness, and Amy Sanders, a licensed massage therapist and craniosacral therapist.

Amy shares her background in occupational and massage therapy, and explains the principles and benefits of craniosacral therapy, emphasizing its role in treating various conditions by working with the body's craniosacral system to influence the central nervous system and thus, the entire body.

Liana shares her personal journey of seeking craniosacral therapy for painful jaw degeneration, highlighting the significant pain relief and nervous system regulation she experienced without undergoing invasive surgery, thanks to Amy's holistic approach. The episode delves into how craniosacral therapy aids self-healing, the impact of respecting the body's pace and signals for safety, and introduces the Safe and Sound Protocol as an additional tool for achieving nervous system regulation.

Amy and Liana's experiences underscore the importance of a trusted therapeutic relationship in navigating chronic symptoms and achieving wellness.

Connect with Amy
It is a blessing to be a practitioner in a field that makes a difference in people’s lives. From an early age, I knew that being a therapist was what I was destined to become.

That path has lead me to a deeper understanding of how manual therapy techniques are extremely effective therapies in the treatment of many conditions that create pain and cause problems in the daily lives of both adults and children.

As a graduate of the University of Wisconsin’s program of Occupational Therapy, I began my professional practice in rehabilitation settings ranging from acute to outpatient.

Subsequently, I decided to continue my professional skills by doing post- graduate training in Massage Therapy in 2001. Working as an Occupational Therapist, I witnessed the effectiveness of utilizing manual therapy techniques in treatment of a variety of clinical conditions. After becoming experienced as a massage therapist, I received additional training in CranioSacral Techniques through the Upledger Institute with completion of my Diplomate certification in CranioSacral Therapy. 

My approach to treatment is to help identify the underlying physical patterns that create the symptoms reported by my clients. I achieve this by listening to both the personal reports of my client, and the symptoms manifested within the body. My goal is to help my clients achieve balance both physically and emotionally. I feel it is important to empower my clients to understand how to care for themselves between treatment sessions so that the body can self-correct and heal naturally.

www.amysanderstherapy.com

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

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• Check out my website

In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Amal Hawari shares her profound journey of mind-body healing, overcoming pelvic pain, histamine intolerance, fibromyalgia, and other health issues through nervous system regulation and brain training. Starting with her struggle, Amal recounts how her life was severely impacted by various health conditions and her eventual discovery of a holistic approach to healing. She emphasizes the importance of nervous system regulation, the support from Grace and the program, and how mind-body connection techniques provided her the tools for recovery. Amal also discusses the incremental steps to her healing, indicating that recovery is a non-linear process that requires persistence, self-awareness, and a willingness to engage deeply with emotional trauma and stress management. This episode dives into the significance of mental health in physical recovery and offers hope to those experiencing chronic health issues.

Resources from Grace:

• Mind-Body Healing Method Waitlist -get 50% off with our updated course
• Submit your Question for Grace to answer on the podcast
• Work with me in therapy or coaching
• FREE Chronic Pain Relief Starter Kit
• 6 weeks free with Curable: https://getcurable.com/healwithgrace

Connect with Grace

• Connect on Instagram
• Check out my website