Elevated Life Academy

What happens when mindset meets movement? In this powerful episode, we dive into the transformative journey of Ashley and Joanna, co-founders of Vizcaya Coaching — a dynamic team blending mental strength with physical resilience.

Joanna, a 16-year veteran of military service, turned her passion for personal fitness into a mission of helping others move better and live stronger through functional training. Her focus? Real-life streng...

What if healing didn’t have to be slow and painful? What if frequencies, sound, and the right modalities could gently transform even the deepest wounds?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Carol Ann Brayley, a seasoned clinical social worker and somatic experiencing practitioner based in Ontario, Canada, who brings over 30 years of trauma-informed psychotherapy to the conversation. Her story is not just clinical—it’s deeply p...

In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of trauma with Ontario-based psychotherapist Jennifer Freedy, who brings over 25 years of experience and passion to the conversation. Jennifer shares her evolution from viewing trauma as a cognitive and behavioral issue to understanding it as a deeply embodied nervous system experience, especially when it stems from developmental and childhood wounds.

We explore:

• The difference between...

What happens when life literally forces you to stop and reassess your path?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jen Gilchrist — Speaker, Spiritual Teacher, and Retreat Leader — whose life today looks like a dream: daily meditations, creative flow, luxury self-care, and annual dolphin swims in Hawaii. But it wasn’t always this way.

At 30, Jen was a single mom running a successful 6-figure beauty business — and burning out fast....

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Candace Rutkowski, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. With over 12 years in the field and a deep-rooted passion for working with children, Candace shares how she found her calling in helping the youngest among us—babies through age 12—and their caregivers.

Candace takes us inside the world of in...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Agne Paceviciute, the visionary founder of Quantum Healing based in Sweden. Agne’s story is one of resilience, awakening, and transformation. After years of seeking answers through traditional therapy and self-discovery, she experienced a profound spiritual awakening that changed everything. But what came next was even more extraordinary: the realization that healing isn’t one-size-fits-al...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Tania Rose—a psychotherapist, art therapist, and clinical supervisor based in Australia with over 30 years of experience in disability and mental health spaces. Tania shares her journey as a late-diagnosed autistic woman with ADHD, and how her lived experience fuels her passion for supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially those who have gone undiagnosed for dec...

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Tony Victor, a passionate and seasoned couples counselor based in Southern Illinois, just outside St. Louis. Tony shares the powerful story behind his calling to work exclusively with couples—a path rooted in his own childhood experiences of witnessing constant conflict in a home where love was present, but peace was elusive.

Tony opens up about the early days of his ...

What if the key to unlocking deep emotional healing isn’t in talking, but in where you look?

In this episode, we sit down with Cindy Smith, a pioneering brainspotting practitioner based in Boulder, Colorado, who’s been helping people regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with themselves since 2008. Cindy’s journey is anything but linear—and that’s exactly what makes it powerful.

From being the go-to confidante as a kid to stud...

In this episode, we dive into the heart of leadership with executive coach and licensed therapist Rivka Geoghegan. Rivka has worked extensively with Silicon Valley professionals and leaders, helping them navigate workplace challenges that often stem from internal blind spots. Her unique approach blends psychology and coaching, guiding individuals to bridge the gap between their personal identity and professional roles.

We explore:

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In this episode, we sit down with Patrice Flannagan-Morris, a trailblazing mental health professional from Wisconsin, who shares her inspiring journey from agency work to building a thriving group mental health practice. With a team of seven clinicians, her practice offers a diverse range of services, including individual and couples counseling and community workshops, all designed to challenge the traditional medical model of ther...

In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Bagy, a St. Louis-based therapist, private practice owner, and mother of three. Brittany shares the real, unfiltered journey of running a thriving mental health practice while navigating the complexities of motherhood, marriage, and personal growth.

With expertise in brainspotting, Brittany helps clients move through anxiety, grief, and life transitions—while also using this powerful techni...

Have you ever dreamed of running your own private practice but felt unsure about taking the leap? In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Brugge, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Certified Yoga Therapist, to hear how she made the bold move into private practice after decades in a large behavioral health organization.

Vanessa shares how she went from envisioning a career in therapy during her...

In this episode with Gabby Palamino, a Latina entrepreneur, therapist, and mother who took a bold leap of faith to build her private practice during the uncertainty of COVID. Gabby shares her journey of starting with just one private pay client—only to feel overwhelmed by fear. When she became pregnant, her perspective on work and family shifted, leading her and her spouse to reimagine their lives as co-parents and part-time profes...

In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Petty, a play therapist and Brainspotting practitioner, to explore her journey from early intervention and attachment work to becoming a successful business owner. Michelle shares how her achievement-driven mindset and task-oriented nature initially made it difficult for her to take big risks—until a deep Brainspotting session revealed a powerful metaphor: a mountain she had to climb on he...

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of art with Ardenna, an inspiring advocate for creative healing. Ardenna shares her deeply personal story of loss and resilience, starting with the death of her mother just before her 17th birthday and her grandfather when she was only 9. Growing up, she found herself surrounded by people who didn’t know how to process grief—and she didn’t understand it either.

During her junior a...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Michelle Dyett-Welcome, a compassionate guide for men navigating the challenging path of recovery from sexual addiction and for the women who’ve been impacted by betrayal trauma. Michelle shares her unique approach to helping individuals reconnect with their integrity, self-compassion, and wholeness through Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding Sexual Addic...

In this episode we dive into the world of mindfulness and movement with Addie DeHilster, a mindfulness meditation teacher and movement specialist. For over 25 years, Addie has relied on these practices to navigate the ever-changing seasons of life. From her early days as a college student in a high-pressure performance environment to her role as a teacher helping others access the benefits of embodied mindfulness, Addie’s journey i...

In this inspiring episode we sit down with Chris McDonald, a yogi and therapist on a mission to revolutionize how mental health professionals approach healing. Chris brings her unique perspective as a former school counselor of 16 years, where she first discovered the limitations of traditional therapy with anxious students. Her journey of self-discovery and reinvention has led her to embrace holistic principles, integrating breath...