In this farewell episode of the 'Yoga in the Therapy Room' podcast, I reflect on my journey through podcasting over the last five years, with 257 episodes, countless guests, and a significant global impact. I discuss the meaningful connections, personal growth, and valuable lessons learned about integrating yoga into therapy. I will share five major lessons I learned from the importance of authentic connection among therapists, the holistic nature of yoga, the power of vulnerability, and the courage to begin without all the answers. This episode is a tribute to all the listeners, guests, and supporters who have been part of this incredible journey, and an encouragement to continue pursuing meaningful, mindful practice in both personal and professional realms.

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

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The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

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Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we introduce a unique approach to therapy involving therapeutic boxing. Joined by licensed therapist and boxer Aaron Post, this episode explores how boxing can serve as a powerful tool for releasing tension, building confidence, and fostering body awareness. Aaron shares his journey into boxing and how he integrates it into therapeutic practices, especially for clients with trauma, ADHD, and autism. The discussion highlights the parallels between boxing and yoga, emphasizing movement, mindful breathing, and body awareness. Practical approaches to incorporating boxing into therapy sessions, client safety, and the benefits to mental health are also covered.

• The Therapeutic Benefits of Boxing
• Boxing Techniques and Training
• Mindfulness and Boxing

MEET Aaron Post

Aaron is an LCMHC in private practice and a boxer. He trains clients in boxing as a form of psychotherapy. 

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

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The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we talk to Beena Patel, a physician assistant, holistic healer, and cancer survivor. Beena shares her personal journey with cancer at age 21 and how it led her to explore the limitations of traditional medicine. We discuss the importance of integrating the mind, body, and spirit for true healing, the benefits of individualized care, and how practices like yoga, Reiki, and somatic healing can bring about real transformation. 

• The limitations of traditional medicine
• Nervous system regulation in healing
• Exploring healing and somatic practices
• The importance of pausing and being present
• Misconceptions about somatic healing

MEET Beena Patel

Beena Patel is a Physician Associate, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Healer, and Health Coach who integrates modern medicine with holistic healing to support whole-body transformation. Through her brand The Yoga Movement, she blends science, soul, and ancient wisdom to help clients reconnect with their innate wholeness in order to live healthier lives full of vitality, purpose, and abundance.  A cancer diagnosis at 21 shifted her path and deepened her commitment to innovating a new form of healthcare that was more inclusive of some of the underrated aspects of holistic health, including faith and spirituality. Today, she provides holistic healing services, advocates for health equity, and empowers individuals to take ownership of their multi-dimensional well-being that includes the mind, body, and spirit. Currently living in the Blue Zone of Nosara, Costa Rica, Beena embodies the lifestyle she teaches—rooted in balance, nature, and healing from within.

Find out more at The Yoga Movement and connect with Beena on Instagram

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

Connect With Me

The Yoga in Therapy Collective\

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we go into how energy medicine can complement traditional talk therapy. Mary Grigsby, a seasoned therapist trained in both traditional and alternative healing modalities, discusses her approach to integrating energy medicine into psychotherapy. The conversation covers practical energy medicine techniques, the role of the body's energy systems in emotional regulation, and ethical considerations. Mary also demonstrates several simple energy medicine practices that listeners can try immediately. 

• Ethical considerations and training
• Energy medicine techniques for trauma and substance abuse
• Practical energy medicine exercises
• Comparing energy medicine and Reiki

MEET Mary Grigsby

Mary is a seasoned therapist with training in both traditional and alternative healing modalities. She brings a deep respect for the body’s innate wisdom and its ability to guide the healing process. Her approach is holistic, integrating knowledge from functional and integrative medicine with practices such as mindfulness, EMDR, and Brainspotting. Mary’s training in Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine (EEM) has expanded her ability to support clients who may not respond to conventional talk therapy. She has successfully used EEM in a wide range of contexts—including cancer treatment support, infertility, organ transplant recovery, digestive issues, and chronic pain. It has proven especially effective for individuals who are either reluctant to discuss their challenges or who are too anxious or dysregulated to benefit from traditional therapeutic approaches. Providing adjunct energy work is one of Mary’s greatest passions. In this role, she focuses on addressing trauma and areas where clients feel stuck, while their primary therapist continues to support other aspects of their healing journey. 

Find out more at Counseling in Durham, NC

Eden Method

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

Connect With Me

The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we discuss integrating yoga into therapeutic practices. Kaleigh, who combines traditional talk therapy with yoga, emphasizes the power of movement, breath, and mindfulness as therapeutic tools. We discuss how Kaleigh uses yoga to help trauma survivors reconnect with their bodies, the role of trauma-informed language, and practical strategies for incorporating yoga into therapy sessions. Kaleigh shares her journey of discovering yoga, its integration with EMDR and parts work, and offers a demonstration of a yoga practice aimed at grounding and releasing tension. 

• Practical applications and client stories
• Yoga practices and techniques
• Advice for therapists

MEET Kaleigh Beddingfield

Meet Kaleigh, LCSW – Founder of Living In Alignment Therapy & Wellness. Kaleigh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the heart behind Living In Alignment Therapy & Wellness, where she offers individual therapy for girls, women, and LGBTQ+ identifying individuals. She specializes in trauma work and is EMDR-trained, with a passion for helping clients safely reconnect with their bodies, deepen self-understanding, and heal from the inside out.  Her holistic approach integrates mind-body practices and values-based exploration, creating space for clients to show up authentically and move toward lives that feel aligned and meaningful. Kaleigh is especially energized by supporting clients navigating trauma, anxiety, attachment wounds, identity and existential concerns, and relationship challenges — including the relationship with themselves. She’s deeply committed to holding space with care and curiosity, and to being a steady, empowering presence as clients learn to show up for themselves and honor their own needs.

Find out more at Living In Alignment Wellness

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

Connect With Me

The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of the Alexander technique (AT). We discuss how subtle shifts in posture and awareness can impact breathing, and explore the concept of air hunger, its effects on the nervous system, and why some breath practices might be unsafe for certain clients. Simon shares his personal journey with breathing issues, the transformative power of the Alexander technique, and practical strategies for therapists to integrate breath and somatic awareness into their sessions. They also go into the importance of gentle approaches and mindfulness in breathwork, especially for clients with a history of trauma.

• Simon Spire's journey with the Alexander Technique (AT)
• Understanding air hunger and its impact
• The Alexander Technique in therapy
• Practical applications and practices

MEET Simon Spire 

Simon Spire is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Contemplative Teacher, and Founder of Liberating the Natural Breath, a program that helps people with dysfunctional breathing and Air Hunger restore their easeful, Natural Breathing.

Find out more at Liberating the Natural Breath, Soulcentric Psychotherapy and connect with Simon at Simon Spire

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

Connect With Me

The Yoga in Therapy Collective\

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we discuss practical strategies for integrating yoga into therapy sessions in a personalized way. We will go over assessing clients' readiness and needs, matching techniques to specific moments, and using attunement to enhance the yoga experience. We also discuss the importance of building a strong therapeutic relationship, monitoring clients' responses in real-time, and adapting practices accordingly. 

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58 

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we discuss the significance of Trauma-Aware Yoga Therapy for women healing from trauma. We explore how traditional therapy can be complemented by reconnecting with the body, breath, and nervous system. Keri shares her journey into yoga therapy, her holistic approach integrating body, mind, spirit, and life, and her extensive experience supporting women through somatic practices. We also discuss the importance of personalized yoga therapy, being trauma-informed, and partnering with mental health professionals. Keri offers a soothing somatic yoga practice for listeners, highlighting the deep healing potential of this integrative approach.

• Integrating yoga and mental health
• Understanding yoga therapy training
• Specializing in women's growth and healing
• Creating a safe space for clients
• Trauma-informed practices in yoga therapy

MEET Keri Marino

Keri Marino is a Certified Somatic Yoga Therapist on a mission to help you feel more whole, confident and love yourself more. ​Over the past 16 years, she's worked thousands and thousands of people across the US and guided them through yogic life transformation. Keri is the person you hire when you're ready to go deep and want an off the beaten path approach.   While working with Keri, you'll feel embraced in warmth, calmness and a powerful soulful approach that will help you find clarity in your life, heal through your body and soak in the love of her unequivocal mama energy.

Find out more at Keri Marino and connect with Keri on Instagram and YouTube

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58 

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this encore episode, featuring a discussion with clinical mental health counselor Katelyn Jakobsen, we explore integrating sensory-motor psychotherapy into therapeutic practices, particularly for clients with chronic illness and self-esteem issues. We go into the importance of using the body in therapy for a holistic healing approach, contrasting traditional talk therapy with sensory-motor strategies and attuning to bodily sensations, movements, and posture to aid in trauma processing and improving mind-body awareness. 

• Understanding Sensory Motor Psychotherapy
• Practical applications and client experiences
• Incorporating yoga and sensory motor techniques

MEET Katelyn Jakobsen

I am an LCMHC at Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services. I specialize in treating chronic illness and self-esteem, and use a lot of therapy principles based in sensorimotor psychotherapy and IFS. As a former athlete and chronically ill individual, using my body and reclaiming it as a safe space has been hard but important work that I hope to share with others.

Find out more about Katelyn at NC Psychologist

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58 

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)

In this episode, we discuss the practicalities and challenges of incorporating yoga into clinical therapy sessions. I share personal insights and lessons learned, focusing on ethical gray zones, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of intentional practice. We address common fears and misconceptions, offer practical advice on documentation and informed consent, and emphasize the transformative impact of yoga on both therapists and clients. 

The Top 10 FAQs on Integrating Yoga into Therapy

Connect With Me

The Yoga in Therapy Collective

Yoga Basics: The Therapist's Guide to Integrating Trauma-Informed Yoga into Sessions

Instagram: @chris_mcdonald58

Join the private Facebook Group: Bringing Yoga Into the Therapy Room

Self-Care for the Counselor: A Companion Workbook: An Easy to Use Workbook to Support you on Your Holistic Healing and Counselor Self-Care Journey ... A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals)