Corazon
Holistic Health
WHAT IS A HOLISTIC HEALTH MODEL?
Holistic Health is an approach to life that considers multidimensional aspects of
wellness. It encourages individuals to recognize and address the whole person:
physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual. Each person is an active participant in the health and healing process, including wellness-oriented lifestyle choices. There are many approaches that have been cultivated over different disciplines to include medical systems, counseling, mind-body-spirit interventions, manipulative, and body-based approaches.
Each person that engages with Corazon participates in an assessment and collaborates in the development of an individualized treatment plan. Corazon practitioners work as a team on your behalf to help you develop the skills and knowledge to be successful in improving your overall health. Most of the remedies are used in conjunction with one another and may include but are not limited to; food as medicine, herbs, teas, art, movement, massage, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), structural muscular (musculoskeletal) work, mindfulness, and Yoga. Referrals may also be made to our community partners for chiropractic work, medical interventions and other commentary and alternative medicines (CAM).
Staff Bios
Melanie Peebles
Melanie A. Peebles graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2007 with a degree as an education specialist focusing on marriage and family therapy and is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and a Licensed Addiction Counselor in the state of South Carolina. Melanie has specialized in working with trauma survivors for over a decade and is trained in trauma informed care, Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Melanie has worked with trauma survivors individually, in their family units, and in group therapy. Melanie honors every client’s journey with safety and empathy. Melanie’s 16 years of clinical experience makes her well equipped to support your path forward.
The Holistic health approach is not new to Melanie. Even before understanding this approach Melanie understood the value in her own life. Understanding how her body is connected to her feelings and practicing yoga have been a journey of hers since the age of 13 when she read about yoga in a magazine and began to practice. Now as an adult Melanie has a personal understanding of how our bodies tell us how to care for ourselves with movement, nutrition, and mindfulness.
Kimberly Kocak
Kimberly L. Kocak is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of South Carolina. Kim is the founder and creator of the Corazon Holistic Health Model, a vision 10 years in the making. Kim took her own journey to understand self-care, nutrition, mind-body connection, which led her to create the Corazon Holistic Health model. Her love for her family and community is the spark and devotion that motivates her life.
Kim’s community service experiences include 6 years as a volunteer at CASA, while simultaneously being the founder and the chair for The Northwoods Foundation for 4 years. She has spent much time volunteering for her community through Habitat for Humanity, Driven, The Columbus Foundation, and many others. Kim is also a certified Patient Navigator, which laid a foundation for understanding the need to simplify complex health systems.
Kim has taken her lifetime of experiences and skills and created a model that addresses the interconnected complexities of health for each person. Kim’s understanding of the importance of nutrition, mind-body connection, emotional healing, mental health, navigating complex systems and self-care have culminated in the Corazon Holistic Health model.
Cynthia Bailey
Cynthia holds a Masters in Clinical Social Work which she obtained from The University of South Carolina. She is licensed to practice in South Carolina at the Master’s level, and has been working in the field of counseling since 2006. Currently she is advancing to a Clinical Independent license. Her professional history consists of providing counseling services for survivors of interpersonal trauma including physical, emotional, verbal, sexual and financial abuse for over 14 years. She has also assisted clients experiencing personal difficulties such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress-management issues, low self-esteem, body image issues, childhood trauma, and addictions.
Cynthia’s approach includes Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness Techniques, Motivational Interviewing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Strength-based interventions. Cynthia is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, and completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification in November of 2020. This additional training has helped her better understand the mind-body-spirit connection, and to identify and work through stress and tension that is held in the body using different techniques for self-regulation.
Cynthia’s goal is to empower clients by identifying internal strengths, overcoming excessive and often chronic feelings of guilt and shame, challenging negative beliefs and replacing those with a more positive self image. Cynthia will work together with her clients to understand how they perceive the world, and which approaches may work best to facilitate healing. In Cynthia’s own words, “I consider it an honor and a privilege when a person trusts enough to share any part of their story, and I know personally the courage it takes to reach out for help and guidance” and she is here to support her clients while they learn to live life on their own terms.
Juliet Hewitt
Juliet is a E-RYT 500 Yoga teacher, YACEP, and a certified personal trainer. Juliet’s path to yoga started in 2000 when after 10 years of teaching group fitness, her Columbia YMCA supervisor convinced her to take a weekend teacher training program. That weekend training program sparked her passion to learn more about yoga and share what she had learned with others. Since then, Juliet has had the great fortune to study with many amazing teachers. She completed a teacher certification program with Holy Cow Yoga in 2003 and with Carolina Yoga in 2009. She held an Anusara-Inspired certification from 2007 until April 2012. In 2016, she studied with Jill Miller, and became a certified Yoga Tune Up® teacher learning how to add therapy balls and corrective exercises into her yoga classes. She has also studied yoga as therapy extensively with Doug Keller and yoga for scoliosis with Elise Browning Miller.
Juliet teaches an alignment-based yoga practice with an emphasis on taking the body through a full range of motion eliminating pain, strengthening musculature around the joints, and down-regulating the nervous system. Her goal as a teacher is to create a fun, safe environment for you to explore connecting your body and mind.
Audrey Mitchell
Originally from Florida, Audrey Mitchell knew that she had a passion for helping others. It started with helping her little sister with Down Syndrome, fostering kittens and puppies during high school, and moved into assisting others with their mental health journey. After completing her Bachelors in Psychology from Florida Southern, Audrey left her home state and moved to South Carolina in 2021. Audrey then pursued her Master’s in Social Work at University of South Carolina, and has obtained her LMSW. She has a passion for and specializes in engaging with kids, teens, and young adults. Her experience includes whole body therapy techniques, somatic therapies, play therapy, mindfulness, strength-based approaches, DBT, person-centered therapy and narrative therapy. Audrey is excited to be a part of the Corazon team and looks forward to incorporating her knowledge and experience of holistic health with the community.
Find Us On The Web!
https://business.google.com/website/columbia-holistic-health/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/corazon-holistic-health-columbia-sc/876291
https://www.google.com/maps?cid=2958255237998985002
https://ezlocal.com/sc/columbia/massage-therapists/0917357851
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-kocak-lisw-cp-6451825
https://www.pressadvantage.com/organization/corazon-holistic-health