Our Mission
Our mission is to empower you to understand and nurture your unique ecosystem of wellbeing, integrating physical, emotional, and mental health. We simplify the complexities of the medical, nutritional, and fitness worlds by guiding you to listen to your inner self, helping you decode your body’s signals as sources of wisdom rather than setbacks. We aim to restore your sense of safety and balance, enabling you to make informed choices and find sustainable paths to wellness.
Our Values
Seeing You As An Ecosystem
You are more than your biology—you are a complex ecosystem, every part playing a crucial role in your well-being. Your body, a harmonious blend of bone and soul, deserves to be understood and nurtured, not a quick fix.
Equipping You With Resources
We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of the medical, fitness, and diet worlds by guiding you to listen to your inner self first. No one understands your body’s sensations, feelings, and emotions better than you; by becoming an expert on yourself, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate and choose wellness professionals who best fit your needs.
Navigating Complexity
Navigating the intersection of food, diets, wellness, movement, and mental health can be overwhelming and the deluge of information often leads to analysis-paralysis, leaving you disempowered, lost, and disappointed. We’re here to walk with you.
Empowerment Through Understanding
We are here to simplify; empowerment begins with clarity. Discover how these elements intersect uniquely for you, unveiling a path where wellness becomes intuitive and sustainable.
Embracing Wholeness
There is no one-stop-shop for true wellness. Your body isn’t broken; it speaks to you through pain, guiding you towards deeper wisdom. Your symptoms are signals, not setbacks.
Restoring a Felt Sense of Safety
Together we can increase your capacity and resiliency—helping you downshift out of the buzzing intensity that might reverberate in your chest, or up rise out of the throes of deep depression to find a balanced state of being.
Keeper of the old stories.
In the name Cantadora, Spanish for 'keeper of the old stories,' lies the essence of our work. Inspired by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Women Who Run With the Wolves, we delve into the stories we carry, passed down through cultures, families, and personal experiences.
Dr. Besser Van der Kolk’s seminal work The Body Keeps the Score echoes this belief: our stories, whether faith, family, or career-related, remain within us and shape our nervous systems and health. At Cantadora Wellness, we focus on unlocking trauma stored in the body which may take the form of strained relationships with food, drink, intimacy, or unexplained health issues. Through attunement, we honor your pain and facilitate healing and increased agency, trusting the body's wisdom to express and transform trauma through sensations, emotions, and movement.
Your experience matters. Cantadora Wellness is here to listen, equip, and empower you on your journey toward healing and reclaiming your story.
“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
— Clarissa Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves
FAQs
I see that you're a licensed therapist in Tennessee and Georgia, can I still see you if I live somewhere else?
Absolutely! We can still work together through Telehealth on personal development, wellness enrichment, and other goals. Set up a free, twenty-minute consultation appointment today to see if Cantadora Wellness is a good fit for you.
What is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?
While a full blown eating disorder may meet specific medical criteria, these criteria are continually evolving with research. Unfortunately, they often fall short in addressing the nuances of genetics, culture, ethnicity, region, and trauma. As a result, a one-size-fits-all diagnosis may not fully capture your unique experience; this is where the concept of disordered eating becomes meaningful. Ultimately, what matters most is your personal distress with food and how it guides your path to healing.
Do you offer equine therapy?
Technically, yes! But, the American Counseling Association and other pioneers of the field are increasingly championing different descriptions of this modality because the term ‘equine therapy’ has become colloquial and confusing, as it may imply that the horse itself is providing therapy. While being around these remarkable animals is beneficial, they do not have the capacity to be therapists. At Cantadora Wellness, we refer to these practices as Psychotherapy With Equine Interactions.
Okay, tell me more about Psychotherapy With Equine Interactions!
This is where the fun begins! Psychotherapy With Equine Interactions is tailored to your unique story and therapeutic relationship, just like traditional psychotherapy. In this approach, horses are not tools but partners integrated into your therapeutic journey. The level of horse-human interaction collaboratively determined by you, your therapist, and the horse’s needs and demeanor. Safety for everyone—horse, client, and therapist—is paramount, so careful attention is given to selecting an equine partner. Note that this approach does not involve riding; it is not about horsemanship and requires no prior equine experience. You might observe horses expressing their natural instincts—setting boundaries, responding to hunger cues, and releasing tension through stretching or yawning—without judgement. This mindful observation can help you connect with your inner self and uncover unspoken stories. Interacting with horses in a serene setting can also offer a calming alternative to conventional therapeutic settings. The peaceful environment and horse’s gentle presence create a supportive ecosystem for deeper therapeutic work.
Alright, what about somatic counseling?
Sometimes our minds’ and bodies’ signals can feel at odds with one another. Somatic counseling differs from traditional talk therapy by going beyond the context and moving towards the stories held in our bodies through flashbacks, sensations, images, and movement.
Are You Ready To…
Say yes to food without fear or shame?
Find clarity about diet, gut-health, and fitness?
Quiet your food and body-image noise?
Discover a sustainable path back to everyday life from residential eating disorder treatment?
Contact Us
In-Person &
Remote Options
We’re honored for our in-person and equine services to be hosted at Clydesdale Farms in Livingston, Tennessee. Can’t make it in person? No worries, we’ve got you covered with telehealth!