In this episode of 'Yoga in the Therapy Room,’ Chris interviews Leah Barnes. Leah shares her unique approach to incorporating yoga into therapy sessions and explains how she introduces yoga to clients, the types of practices she uses, and the benefits it offers, especially for those with ADHD and trauma. The episode also covers the importance of keeping practices trauma-informed and tailored to individual clients' needs. Listeners will gain insights and practical advice on how to safely and ethically integrate yoga into their therapy practice. Leah also guides a short, mindful cat-cow exercise to demonstrate its grounding effects.

MEET Leah Barnes

Leah Barnes, LCMHCS, is the owner of Ridgeline Counseling and Supervision, PLLC where she provides online therapy to adults in North and South Carolina. She focuses on working with late-diagnosed or suspected Autistic and ADHD adults to get rid of internalized shame and ableism surrounding their neurotype, and learn ways to work with their brain, not against it. In addition to traditional weekly therapy, she offers therapy intensives to help clients dig deep into healing over the course of 1 to 3 days. She uses a variety of approaches during intensives, such as brainspotting, polyvagal techniques, therapeutic yoga, parts work, and more.

"‘It fits so naturally because we are talking about how the nervous system responds and how we get somebody back into a regulated state. Many of those somatic techniques that we use are very similar to yoga, if not identical and so it just fits so well.’" -Leah Barnes

Find out more at Ridgeline Counseling and connect with Leah on Instagram and Facebook

• Demystifying Yoga in Therapy
• Practical Applications of Yoga in Therapy
• Yoga Techniques and Client Adaptations
• Trauma-Informed Yoga Practices
• Guided Cat-Cow Practice

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In this episode, we explore therapists' challenges in integrating yoga into their practice and embracing a new identity as a yogi. We will discuss professional boundaries, cultural considerations, client misconceptions, and building competence and confidence. We will also look at practical advice, such as starting with breathwork, creating personal yoga practices, and seeking support within the therapist community. I will share personal experiences and encourage therapists to adopt a gradual approach to help them integrate yoga and therapy.

"As therapists, we often focus on guiding our clients towards healing, self-discovery, and the present moment awareness. Yoga can offer us a unique opportunity to do that with clients, to help them connect deeply with their own bodies, minds, and spirits, and to bring that sense of grounding and authenticity into our therapeutic work." -Chris McDonald

• Embracing the Yogi Identity
• Overcoming Obstacles to Integration
• Role Clarity and Professional Boundaries
• Training and Competence
• Client Perceptions and Misunderstandings

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In this episode, I will address the myths and misconceptions surrounding the integration of yoga into clinical therapy sessions. We will discuss the common belief that yoga is just about physical exercise and stretches and delve into its broader mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits. This episode will debunk myths such as requiring those practicing to be naturally flexible and its supposed religious connotations. We also discuss the evidence-based benefits of yoga, the ethical considerations for integrating it into therapy, and the importance of personal practice for therapists.

"You cannot be an effective teacher of yoga, even as a therapist, unless you are doing yoga. You must feel these practices. You must really be connected to your body, noticing sensations, and how they feel in your body, in order to be effective.” - Chris McDonald

• Debunking Common Myths
• Yoga Beyond Physical Exercise
• Yoga as a Spiritual Practice
• Ethical Integration of Yoga in Therapy
• Competence and Training for Therapists
• Evidence-Based Benefits of Yoga

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Welcome to Yoga in the Therapy Room! We explore the powerful intersection of yoga and therapy, offering therapists a fresh perspective on integrating yoga practices into their sessions. We will discuss the foundational principles of yoga as a therapeutic tool, and define what integrative yoga truly means in therapy.

We’ll discuss how to incorporate yoga’s physical, mental, and spiritual elements into therapy, enhancing your clients’ healing journey. This episode provides practical insights and tips to help you seamlessly blend these two powerful practices.

Discover how yoga can support emotional regulation, stress reduction, and overall well-being in your clients, and how you can start incorporating these techniques into your practice today.

"If you're breathing, you're doing yoga. You brought mindfulness and awareness to your breath." -Chris McDonald

• Welcome to Yoga in the Therapy Room
• Defining Yoga and Its Integration in Therapy
• Personal Journey and Practical Applications
• Trauma-Informed Yoga Practices
• Inclusivity and Accessibility in Yoga
• Yoga Tools and Techniques for Therapy

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Welcome to Yoga in the Therapy Room: The Nontraditional Therapist’s Guide to Integrating Yoga into Your Therapy Practice. This podcast is designed to empower mental health therapists with the knowledge and confidence to integrate yoga into their sessions safely and ethically. Whether you’re new to yoga or looking to enhance your therapeutic toolkit, our trauma-informed approach ensures that you can incorporate simple, easy-to-use yoga practices tailored to your client's needs.

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IN THIS PODCAST:

Exciting News on This Week's Episode! The Holistic Counseling Podcast is rebranding! In this special episode, I’m sharing the inspiration behind the decision to rebrand and giving you a sneak peek into what you can expect from the new direction of the podcast. Tune in as I explore what alignment and purpose mean to me, the factors that led to this decision, and what you can expect from the newly rebranded podcast. This episode is all about embracing change, living authentically, and stepping into a more aligned and purposeful path.

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What is Qigong, and how does it differ from other forms of exercise or meditation? What are the fundamental principles of Qigong, and how do they relate to self-care?

MEET Jennie Delich

Jennie Delich is a qigong instructor and educator who finds joy in inviting others to explore mindful movement. She founded QiCurious Qigong in the belief that ‘qigong is for everyone’ and sees the potential for this accessible practice to have profound effects. The mindful movement of qigong allows human beings to listen in and care for themselves, and in doing so, cultivate creative curiosity. This curiosity opens a world of possibilities with the potential to deeply benefit humans, critters, and the natural world around them. Jennie is a Holden Qigong Certified Teacher and has an additional certificate in Qigong and the Chinese Five Elements from Mimi Kuo-Deemer. She holds an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and, before turning her sights to qigong, she nurtured a personal practice in belly dance and yoga. Harnessing her background in second language education and movement arts enables her to approach diverse groups with various interests, needs, and levels of practice. As a qigong instructor, she gently guides individuals to explore the practice's physical, emotional, and mental aspects while sensing their shared space within the natural world. Beyond qigong, Jennie finds nourishment in nature. She will likely be clucking with her chickens, gardening, cooking up the fruits of her labor, or tending to trees and community in the Home Orchard Education Center.

Find out more at QiCurious Qigong and connect with Jennie on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

IN THIS PODCAST:

• What is Qigong? 9:39
• How does Qigong work with nature? 14:48
• How can therapists use Qigong as self-care? 21:32
• What are the benefits of Qigong? 24:21

• How can Qigong be integrated with other movement practices?
• When and where did Qigong originate?
• How does Qigong differ from yoga?
• Is Qigong a religious practice?

• How does Qigong integrate the 5 element system?
• The benefits of practicing Qigong in nature
• Movement inspired by nature
• What is the Wuji Posture?

• The importance of personal practice
• Self-reflection and personal growth through Qigong
• Integration into therapeutic practice
• Practical tips for therapists

• Qigong and depression
• Integrating breathwork
• What are the social and community benefits of Qigong?
• Physical benefits or Qigong
• A Qigong walk-through!!

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What does it mean to live the life you deserve? Can your mindset be the key to your success and well-being?

MEET Sylvester McNutt III

Sylvester McNutt, III is the author of "Live the Life You Deserve: How to Let Go of What No Longer Serves You and Embody Your Highest Self.". He is the author of ten books, a self-mastery coach, a father, a podcaster, and a course creator. Sylvester teaches people how to transform their mindsets through self-awareness and healing practices. His core message is no matter what you are going through there is so much greatness, power, and possibility inside of you. He helps people tap into their potential, upgrade limiting beliefs, and live in alignment with the life they want.

Find out more at Sylvester McNutt and connect with Sylvester on Instagram and YouTube

IN THIS PODCAST:

• What does it mean to be in alignment? 7:09
• What is your highest self? 12:38
• What is the Law of Attraction 26:19

• What does it feel like to be in alignment
• The importance of inner work when finding alignment
• Embracing the trial and error process

• Getting to know the different versions of yourself
• What is Internal Family Systems?
• What are the signs of being out of alignment?
• What does it mean to have integrity?
• Learning to let go of things that don’t serve you in a positive way

• What is the philosophy behind the Law of Attraction?
• The importance of changing your negative thoughts
• Finding energy and believing in yourself
• The Law of Attraction in Therapy

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