S O U L F U L L W E L L N E S S
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The name for Soul Full Wellness came to me, as I was practicing Chakradance, one evening. The founder of Chakradance, Natalie Southgate, states that traditional shamanic cultures believe uncomfortable symptoms like depression, anxiety and addiction arise from a loss of connection to the Soul, that basically there is a conflict between our inner lives and our outer lives.
I believe the disconnect creates a void in people's lives that causes negative emotions and, therefore, a desire to fill the void with something and, hopefully, feel better. Unfortunately, people end up filling the void with things like drugs, alcohol, food, work and other people. So, as I danced, I thought "if we're able to feel connected to our Souls, then our Souls would be Full, and we would be Well." Fortunately, the Soul has an innate ability to heal itself. It communicates to us through our bodies, feelings, dreams, relationships, artwork and dance, as well as through energy work and nature, even the stars. We just need to learn the language of our Souls, and listen. |
Soul Full Wellness provides the means, guidance and safe space for you to explore your inner realm, connect with your Soul and transform your life. It is based on the principle that connecting with your Soul and aligning your inner life with your outer life leads to fulfillment and wellness, not only on an individual level but also on a global level, because when we heal ourselves, we radiate positive vibes.
Wellness is such a broad field, and means something different to each person. I work with whatever wellness means to you, but I am especially interested in working with individuals who are undergoing, or who would like to undergo, major life transitions, and are seeking direction and purpose in life. Life transitions are very stressful, and a lack of purpose can cause major health issues. Having a strong and clear sense of purpose improves resilience, and it may even prevent dementia, heart disease and Alzheimer's. I also enjoy incorporating nature into coaching sessions. A recent study indicates that spending just 2 hours in nature per week has a significant, positive effect on health and well-being. |
The Founder
Kathie Anderson, MA, CHWC, CCHT, RMT
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M Y W E L L N E S S J O U R N E Y
I've always tried to follow my heart, like a sunflower follows the Sun. Even when I've gotten off track, or maybe it's just that I needed to change paths, my body has let me know through physical and emotional symptoms.
Early in my career, I was a ballroom and dance instructor, because I love to dance. Then I became a corporate travel agent, because I wanted to travel. And I did travel to some amazing places, including Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
I enjoyed being a travel agent, for several years, but then I began to long for something more meaningful, and my body confirmed this. Every morning I began to experience abdominal pain on my way to work.
After a series of synchronistic events, a large cyst was discovered on my ovary, and I had surgery to remove it. As I was recuperating from the surgery, for 6 weeks, I had time to reflect on my life, and I realized that I wanted to return to university. So, upon my return to work, I gave my notice.
In addition to studying psychology, I also combined my love of travel with my studies, and I studied abroad in Costa Rica, Spain and the United Kingdom. It was during my independent research trip to the U.K. that I experienced a spiritual awakening.
I had already experienced a "veil lifting" through a change in my diet, after I was diagnosed with endometriosis, but this was a much greater shift in my conscious awareness. I perceived the interconnectedness of the Universe.
At the beginning of the trip, I stated that I wanted to do something holistic for a career, but I didn't know what that meant. It wasn't until 1.5 years later, after I completed my research paper on the healing and transformative effects of travel, that I "Googled" "holistic graduate schools," and discovered the Graduate School for Holistic Studies at John F. Kennedy University, in the East Bay of San Francisco.
I immediately resonated with their description of transpersonal psychology. Even though I had just earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, I had never heard of transpersonal psychology, which is a school of psychology that embraces psychoanalysis, behaviorism and humanistic psychology, but then goes beyond the personal (transpersonal) to include the spiritual aspects of one's being.
My heart knew that the Graduate School for Holistic Studies was the next destination on my journey, so I enrolled in the master's in counseling psychology program and moved from Wisconsin to California. I felt like I had come home.
About a year into the program, I took a Nature Based Spirituality course, and I discovered that JFKU had a dream studies program. It was then that I decided that I just wanted to take classes that I enjoyed, and I switched from the counseling program to a non-clinical transpersonal psychology master's program and the certificate program in dream studies.
I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I went on a vision quest, and I studied all aspects of dreams, including lucid dreaming, shamanism and dreams and dream group facilitation. It also was the beginning of my astrology studies, and I took transformative arts classes.
After I earned my master's degree and certificate in dream studies, I got certified as a clinical hypnotherapist and Reiki Master-Teacher, and I started a private healing practice. I had followed my heart, and fulfilled my Soul.
Since returning to the Twin Cities Area, I have become a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, through Wellcoaches, and a Chakradance Facilitator. I utilize positive psychology, eco-coaching/nature, energy work, dream work, transformative arts and travel to allow others to explore, connect with and transform themselves.
I believe that each person holds all the wisdom s/he needs to heal her/himself, and that it is my role to provide a safe space and the tools to navigate pathways to transformation and healing. In the process of guiding others to follow their hearts and connect with their Souls, I feel like I'm fulfilling my own Soul's destiny.
I've always tried to follow my heart, like a sunflower follows the Sun. Even when I've gotten off track, or maybe it's just that I needed to change paths, my body has let me know through physical and emotional symptoms.
Early in my career, I was a ballroom and dance instructor, because I love to dance. Then I became a corporate travel agent, because I wanted to travel. And I did travel to some amazing places, including Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
I enjoyed being a travel agent, for several years, but then I began to long for something more meaningful, and my body confirmed this. Every morning I began to experience abdominal pain on my way to work.
After a series of synchronistic events, a large cyst was discovered on my ovary, and I had surgery to remove it. As I was recuperating from the surgery, for 6 weeks, I had time to reflect on my life, and I realized that I wanted to return to university. So, upon my return to work, I gave my notice.
In addition to studying psychology, I also combined my love of travel with my studies, and I studied abroad in Costa Rica, Spain and the United Kingdom. It was during my independent research trip to the U.K. that I experienced a spiritual awakening.
I had already experienced a "veil lifting" through a change in my diet, after I was diagnosed with endometriosis, but this was a much greater shift in my conscious awareness. I perceived the interconnectedness of the Universe.
At the beginning of the trip, I stated that I wanted to do something holistic for a career, but I didn't know what that meant. It wasn't until 1.5 years later, after I completed my research paper on the healing and transformative effects of travel, that I "Googled" "holistic graduate schools," and discovered the Graduate School for Holistic Studies at John F. Kennedy University, in the East Bay of San Francisco.
I immediately resonated with their description of transpersonal psychology. Even though I had just earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, I had never heard of transpersonal psychology, which is a school of psychology that embraces psychoanalysis, behaviorism and humanistic psychology, but then goes beyond the personal (transpersonal) to include the spiritual aspects of one's being.
My heart knew that the Graduate School for Holistic Studies was the next destination on my journey, so I enrolled in the master's in counseling psychology program and moved from Wisconsin to California. I felt like I had come home.
About a year into the program, I took a Nature Based Spirituality course, and I discovered that JFKU had a dream studies program. It was then that I decided that I just wanted to take classes that I enjoyed, and I switched from the counseling program to a non-clinical transpersonal psychology master's program and the certificate program in dream studies.
I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I went on a vision quest, and I studied all aspects of dreams, including lucid dreaming, shamanism and dreams and dream group facilitation. It also was the beginning of my astrology studies, and I took transformative arts classes.
After I earned my master's degree and certificate in dream studies, I got certified as a clinical hypnotherapist and Reiki Master-Teacher, and I started a private healing practice. I had followed my heart, and fulfilled my Soul.
Since returning to the Twin Cities Area, I have become a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, through Wellcoaches, and a Chakradance Facilitator. I utilize positive psychology, eco-coaching/nature, energy work, dream work, transformative arts and travel to allow others to explore, connect with and transform themselves.
I believe that each person holds all the wisdom s/he needs to heal her/himself, and that it is my role to provide a safe space and the tools to navigate pathways to transformation and healing. In the process of guiding others to follow their hearts and connect with their Souls, I feel like I'm fulfilling my own Soul's destiny.
"When we heal ourselves, others are healed. When we nurture our dreams, we give birth to the dreams of humankind. When we walk as loving aspects of the Earth Mother, we become fertile, life-giving Mothers of the Creative Force. When we honor our bodies, our health, and our emotional needs, we make space for our dreams to come into being. When we speak the truth from our healed hearts, we allow life abundant to continue on our Mother Planet."
~Jamie Sams, The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers