I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist, Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified in the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method.
I am passion about working with people who want to:
+ Improve their quality of life
+ Increase their self-awareness and learn to work with difficult emotions
+ Learn to manage and cope with depression, anxiety and past trauma
+ Learn how to be more mindful, present and cope with stress
+ Identify ‘blindspots’ in relationships and heal from relational trauma
+ Unpack family of origin issues and their impact on their life
+ Cultivate self-acceptance & self-compassion as inner resources
+ Commit to the therapeutic process and make an investment in themselves
My Journey from Stress to Health
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies at the University of Maryland at College Park and went on to earn a Master of Social Work at Howard University. I was initially drawn to the field of Social Work through my coursework in Family Studies and my ability to relate my own experiences and challenges with other families. I became a real advocate for youth, working with youth with emotional and behavioral issues and then I worked in an outpatient mental health clinic with people of all ages.
Even though I loved helping people, I began to learn that the systems and agencies that I worked for didn’t ensure a healthy work-life balance and were not supportive of myself or my colleagues. I eventually burnt out after experiencing numerous stress-related health challenges. I, then realized my colleagues were going through the same things on top of just trying to deal with issues that come with being an adult. Among my family and friends, I became everybody’s go to counselor. That’s when it hit me that I had to take care of myself. So, I got help, but in a very holistic kind of way incorporating naturopathic medicine, yoga, nutrition, social connection and setting healthy boundaries for myself and the people in my circle. Through my own personal journey and helping others like myself with the same challenges, I developed a real interest in supporting people in their 20s, 30s and 40s through therapy that takes an integrative and somatic approach. Its something I am truly passionate about as I draw from personal experience and what works in theory and practice.
My Philosophy
Doing the work myself through my own self-care, therapy and clinical supervision, and helping support others along their journey is incredibly rewarding and truly an honor. I believe the work we do to help fulfill our greatest potential and continuously evolve and grow is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and our families, friends, and even coworkers.
Seeking help and support through therapy can feel a bit awkward or scary at first, but you will find that it is a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can explore the places where you get stuck; gain insight from patterns in your behavior, communication and messages you communicate to yourself and receive from others about your value and worth; and help integrate and practice healthy coping skills and lifestyle changes to reduce stress and anxiety.
My counseling philosophy is relational, integrative, somatic, and utilizes approaches that best meet the needs of my clients. In doing my own work and healing, I have found that incorporating the practice of yoga, mindfulness, healthy eating, writing, art, music, journaling and focusing on what nurtures you is a great complement to therapy.
If you’re interested in becoming a better, happier, more fulfilled you, I’d love to work with you! I look forward to connecting with you at the perfect time!
– Jihan Madyun Eley, LICSW, RYT, TCYMT