Before therapists Jessica Ogiony and Kimberlee “Rae” Frisosky founded Mangata Wellness in Stuart, they asked themselves one question: how else can we look at therapy to serve our clients better? “We had a shared vision of supporting our clients more holistically,” says Ogiony. “We dreamt about creating a space where clients would receive all the services we would suggest in one place.”
Now, four years later, the duo run a thriving practice where traditional therapies and holistic approaches like Reiki, neurofeedback, massage, and acupuncture form a unique integrated modality approach to wellness. “Let’s say a traditional therapist sees someone with severe depression who has been struggling for years. They might still try to continue to utilize talk therapy,” says Frisosky. “But maybe our approach would be we start out with talk therapy and then decide how we can bring in more supportive services,” she continues. “How can we bring in the healing love Reiki can provide? Maybe the depression is related to chronic health issues, and we can support with acupuncture or massage. There’s the ability to hand-hold the client through a circular process of integrated healing.”
Getting to a healthier mental space can be challenging, but Ogiony and Frisosky say taking these first steps to explore a therapy option that is right for you can put you on the path to wellness.
Health Hack #1: Talk It Out
Talk therapy is often the first step people take when seeking help with personal challenges. Talking with a licensed therapist in a safe, confidential space opens the door for self-discovery and healing. “Talk therapy puts your feelings into words, which helps your nervous system regulate, organizes the chaos of dysregulation, and makes spoken pain more manageable,” says Ogiony, a master’s level clinician. “Once your nervous system is regulated, different patterns show up. It’s like taking a step back from yourself.”
Talk therapy is aimed at helping clients know and understand themselves at a core level and approach themselves differently. “Often a client’s way of speaking to themselves is abusive, and you cannot heal when you are in an abusive relationship,” says Frisosky. “It counts if you are in an abusive relationship with yourself. Being able to treat yourself well is a huge mile marker.”
For people who are new to talk therapy, Frisosky tries to normalize the experience. “We tell people: ‘This is going to be super weird and uncomfortable, and we are going to ask hard questions.’ But we constantly reaffirm that this is a nonjudgmental, loving space, and even if we disagree with the client, we are correcting with gentleness. We are just the map holders. We are not driving the car.”
Health Hack #2: Heal Your Energy
Long used by Japanese practitioners, Reiki is a type of energy healing that aims to increase energy levels, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. “Reiki is rooted in the idea that the body has an energetic field and that emotional stress or trauma can create energetic blockages in that field,” says Ogiony.
During a Reiki session, the therapist will lightly rest or hover his or her hands over various parts of the body to restore energy flow. “Different emotions can be stored in different parts of the body,” says Ogiony. “For example, grief can be stored in your lungs and behind your shoulder blades. During a Reiki session, [the practitioner] can lay her hands underneath your body on the back of your lungs and shoulder blades and help release residual grief that is stored there.”
Frisosky says people can be skeptical about the benefits of Reiki. “Most people experience a shift in the first session,” says Ogiony. “At the very least, there is a deep sense of calm and relaxation.” Adds Frisosky: “We love taking our most skeptical clients into Reiki, and it’s amazing to see the smiles they walk out with. You feel light, like your cells are dancing. You feel unconditional love and peace. It’s one of the most rewarding practices I have ever experienced.”
Health Hack #3: Retrain Your Brain
Considering that our brains work through a network of electrical and chemical signaling, it’s not surprising that sometimes those signals need adjustment. Neurofeedback can help change your brain patterns for positive effect. “Neurofeedback is a type of noninvasive biofeedback that trains your brain to improve its self-regulation, efficiency, and overall functioning,” says Ogiony.
During neurofeedback, sensors that monitor brain wave activity are attached to your scalp and to your ears, and a software system creates audiovisual feedback. “When the system detects a shift in your brain activity, the music that is playing will briefly pause,” says Ogiony. “The brain becomes aware of itself and self-corrects.”
Neurofeedback has been helpful in people with a high level of stress, ADD or ADHD, anxiety, sleep difficulties, or trauma related dysregulation. “If a highly anxious person has an over congregation of neuroactivity in a certain part of the brain, it’s like blowing a whistle and asking [the activity] to move around the brain so it is not all clustered around something you find distressing,” says Ogiony.
For more tips on rewiring your routine, keeping reading:
Hack Your Health: On Your Plate
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