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The Boundary Reset

by Ken Moua in Wellness & Self-Care

The Boundary Reset 

Kendall Circle Headshot

By Kendall Wolz
Mental Health and Wellness Manager at Mosaic Georgia

The Boundary Reset

The start of a new year often renews our focus on wellbeing and goal setting. While some of us feel energized and excited to begin again, others of us may be recovering from the physical and emotional exhaustion of the holiday season. Whether you are stepping into the new year with joy and anticipation or dragging yourself forward wishing that time would slow down, this can be an opportune moment to revisit what we know about boundaries and reflect on which ones may need to be established or strengthened.  

What are boundaries?  

A boundary is a limit a person sets to define what behaviors, interactions, and treatment they find acceptable or unacceptable. Often, we become most aware of boundaries when they have been crossed. We notice the discomfort, invalidation, resentment, or even harm when a boundary is violated. When boundaries are respected, people often experience greater clarity, safety, connection, and compassion.   

Importantly, boundaries are primarily for the individual or group setting them. They support self-regulation and self-protection and help clarify where one person ends and another begins.  

Boundaries are not . . . 

Punishments, ultimatums, or attempts to control other people.  

For example, someone might say, “I’m ignoring you until you apologize the right way.” While this can sound like a boundary, it is more accurately described as a consequence intended to cause discomfort or teach a lesson. A boundary, in contrast, is about protecting one’s emotional or physical wellbeing regardless of how the other person responds.  

Similarly, boundaries are sometimes mistaken for ultimatums. A statement such as “If you don’t change, I’m leaving,” is designed to force a specific outcome and emphasize compliance rather than choice. A boundary would instead clarify what the individual will do for themselves if the situation continues.  

At their core, boundaries require an internal focus on the self and the question: What will I do to stay safe and well? Punishment and ultimatums shift the focus outward, placing responsibility on others to change in order to avoid consequences.  

What are the types of boundaries? 

There are many types of boundaries and the list can become extensive. Below are some of the most common categories.  

  

Case Examples: Beginning to Set Boundaries 

As a counselor, I find case examples especially helpful for illustrating concepts like boundaries. Recognizing the need for a boundary often starts internally, with noticing discomfort or tension.  

See if any of the examples below resonate: 

Emotional Boundary 

Context: I feel emotionally drained by a friend who frequently vents without asking. 
Internal Cues: I feel exhausted and resentful after these conversations.  

How I may set a boundary: “I care about you, and I’m not able to talk about heavy topics right now. I can listen another time, or we can talk about something lighter today.”  

This is an effective boundary because it states a personal limit, does not shame or demand change, and offers choice without obligation.  

Physical Boundary 

Context: I feel uncomfortable with hugs from extended family. 
Internal Cues: My body tenses when people hug me without asking.  

How I may set a boundary: “I’m not a hugger, but I’m happy to say hello another way – how about a fist bump.”  

This boundary centers bodily autonomy, uses simple and neutral language, makes an alternative suggestion for a hello, and does not over-explain or apologize. 

Relational Boundary 

Context: I feel judged when family members comment on my life choices. 
Internal Cues: I shut down when my decisions are criticized. 

How I may set a boundary: “I’m not open to feedback about my personal decisions. If it comes up, I prefer to change the subject or leave the conversation.”  

This boundary is specific, clearly names the topic that is off-limits, and explains how the person will respond if the boundary is crossed. It emphasizes self-protection rather than control.  

Setting boundaries is an ongoing practice that often requires regular reflection and adjustment. It is normal for boundaries to feel uncomfortable or imperfect, especially at first. Practicing self-compassion is an essential part of the process. Like any skill, boundary-setting develops over time and with practice.  

As you move into the new year, where are you noticing tension or discomfort? What boundaries might support your wellbeing in the months ahead?  

Kendall Wolz heads up the Mental Health and Wellness team that provides individual, family, and group therapy to those seeking care at Mosaic Georgia. As a survivor herself, she has a unique insight into the challenges of living with past trauma, how it impacts lives daily, and what the process of healing truly looks like. Her personal website, Brave Girl, Speak unpacks some of the complex issues that come along with being a survivor of sexual violence. Visit Kendall’s site to read more about her personal journey healing from trauma and peeling the layers to reclaim her true self.

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Seasonal Shifts: Finding Light as the Days Grow Shorter

by Ken Moua in Wellness & Self-Care

Seasonal Shifts: Finding Light as the Days Grow Shorter 

Untitled design (51)

By Sarah Marin
Wholeness Collective Coordinator at Mosaic Georgia

As the air cools and the days grow shorter, many of us notice a shift: not just in the weather, but in our energy and mood too. Fall can be a season of cozy blankets, warm drinks, and beautiful colors, but it can also bring feelings of fatigue, sadness, or stress as we move toward winter and the holidays. 

There’s a particular feeling that hits this time of year. You wrap up a long day, finally close your laptop, and step outside, only to be met with a sky that’s already been dark for hours. That sudden, early evening darkness can feel like a physical weight, deflating any hope for an afternoon walk or a moment of quiet sunshine. It’s a stark sign that the seasons have truly turned. 

If this shift brings more than just a sigh, perhaps a dip in motivation or a fading mood, you’re not alone. These changes are common and completely normal. Our bodies and minds respond to less sunlight, colder weather, and the natural slowdown that comes with the season. For some, this can lead to seasonal depression (often called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD), while others may simply notice a “winter slump,” feeling more tired, withdrawn, or low-spirited than usual.

But why does this happen? 

When there’s less daylight, our internal clock can get out of sync, which can affect mood and sleep. The holidays can also stir up a mix of emotions: excitement, stress, nostalgia, and even grief. The result? We might feel off balance without fully knowing why. 

Simple Ways to Support Yourself 

The good news is that small changes can have a big impact on how we feel. Here are a few gentle ways to nurture yourself through the seasonal shift: 

  • Follow the Light (or Create Your Own):
    Our bodies crave sunlight for vitamin D and serotonin, a key neurotransmitter for mood regulation. Try to get outside during daylight hours, especially in the morning. Even brief sunlight exposure can lift your energy and help regulate sleep. For those in particularly gray climates, a light therapy lamp can be a game-changer. Sit with it for 20–30 minutes each morning while you have your coffee or check emails. 

 

  • Create Cozy Moments:
    Light a candle, play soft music, or make your favorite warm drink. Little rituals of comfort remind us to slow down and savor the season. 

 

  • Move Your Body,Gently: 
    When energy is low, the thought of intense exercise can feel overwhelming. Reframe it as “movement” instead of a “workout.” Movement releases endorphins that help boost mood and energy. 

 

  • Set Realistic Expectations for the Holidays:
    The holiday season can be a time of mixed emotions, where joy and gratitude coexist with grief, loneliness, financial stress, or family tension. Amidst the pressure to be constantly festive, remember that it’s okay if this time of year feels heavy. Your feelings are valid and deeply human. Focus on meaning, not perfection. Identify one or two holiday traditions that truly bring you joy and let go of the rest. A perfect holiday is a myth, but a meaningful one is within reach. Set boundaries and protect your energy, prioritizing quiet moments of connection and peace that truly nourish you. 

 

  • Stay Connected:
    Schedule low-key social time. Instead of a big party, suggest a cozy coffee date, a phone call with a long-distance friend, or a movie night. You might even share how you’re feeling. You may be surprised by how many people are feeling the same way. Opening up to others can ease the burden and strengthen your connections. 

 

  • Ask for Support if You Need It: 
    If you notice persistent sadness, low energy, or loss of interest in things you enjoy, consider reaching out to a counselor or healthcare provider. You don’t have to navigate the darker months alone. 

Fall reminds us that change is a natural part of life. Just as trees shed their leaves, we too can let go of what no longer serves us and make space for rest and renewal. This season invites us to slow down, find gratitude in small things, and take care of our inner world as much as our outer one. This time of year encourages us to pause and nurture ourselves in quieter ways, to rest, reflect, and find meaning in small moments of peace. The darkness outside doesn’t have to define how we feel inside. By tending to our mental health, staying connected, and giving ourselves grace, we can move through the season with gentleness and care. 

 

If you need extra support during the holiday season, you are not alone. Here are some resources that can help:

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. 
  • GCAL (Georgia Crisis and Access Line): Call 1-800-715-4225 for 24/7 mental health and substance use support in Georgia. 
  • SAMHSA National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for confidential treatment referrals and information. 
  • FindSupport.gov: Explore tools and connections for mental health and substance use resources. 

If you are looking for community and guidance, consider joining us for our Navigating the Holidays workshops, a safe space to learn coping strategies, connect with others, and care for your mental health through the season. 

A warm reminder: You don’t have to perform happiness to be worthy of peace. As the days grow shorter and the light fades sooner this season, give yourself permission to care for your heart, honor your limits, and find light in the spaces that feel safe and genuine. Your mental health matters, even (and especially) in the darker months. 💛 

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The Resilience of Traditions

by Susan Nerenbaum in Wellness & Self-Care

The Resilience of Traditions

Kendall Circle Headshot

By Kendall Wolz
Mental Health and Wellness Manager at Mosaic Georgia

Traditions form the backbone of our cultural and personal identities. They bring meaning, a sense of belonging, and a unity that ties people together. Whether it is a holiday tradition, a secret family recipe, or a communal ritual, traditions are much more than something you do once a year or once a week. When traumatic events disrupt our traditions, we may feel ungrounded or untethered. Understanding the meaning of our traditions and knowing how to recreate them if needed is essential for healing and resilience.  

Traditions frequently provide structure and familiarity- they are something we frequently look forward to all year long. During times of stability, traditions offer joy and connection but when hardship occurs, they can become a source of comfort, a reminder that some aspects of life remain constant despite the chaos.
 

But what happens when our traditions do not get to remain constant due to the aftermath of trauma?
 

The individuals and families we serve at Mosaic Georgia each year have experienced profound trauma. For some of these survivors, it will be impossible for them to continue their established practices or traditions. Not only do they face logistical barriers to carrying out a beloved tradition (financial challenges, employment requirements, relocation, loss of familial support, etc.), but the emotional weight of the trauma may also alter the way the traditions are perceived. Practices that once brought joy may trigger feelings of sadness, guilt, and anger.  

Most of the traditions my family celebrated occurred in November and December. I vividly recall the first holiday season after my November 2004 disclosure of sexual abuse. I remember the uncertainty I felt as my family gathered to enjoy a meal on Thanksgiving day, a meal my abuser had joined us for years. Then, on Christmas morning, my siblings and I woke up in a different house than we had so many years prior. There were family celebrations we did not participate in because we were no longer a family. In the midst of the gratitude for my newfound safety and security, there was grief that hovered in all spaces I walked. Some of my beloved traditions I had to learn to grieve and let go.  

Trauma may dismantle life as one knows it, but traditions can act as an anchor amid the storm. Preserving and renewing traditions in the aftermath of trauma requires intention and flexibility. It involves recognizing the values of these practices while being open to adaptation. Here are a few steps to ensure traditions remain a source of strength, rather than a trigger.  

  1. Reflect on Meaning: Revisit the core purpose of the tradition and explore how it can be maintained in a way that feels authentic to current circumstances.  
  • Maybe Thanksgiving was always celebrated at a location that now brings many trauma triggers. Reflect on the meaning of the tradition and put a focus on recognizing that the celebration is more about spending time with loved ones than a physical location. Maybe choose to celebrate somewhere different moving forward.
     
  1. Invite Collaboration: Involve family members or community members in reimagining the tradition, ensuring it meets collective needs and preferences.  
  • This gives everyone an opportunity to identify how the traumatic event has impacted them. Brainstorm with friends, family, faith leaders, contacts from support organizations, and other trusted people in your network on creative ideas to honor tradition in a new way.
     
  1. Embrace New Elements: Incorporate elements that acknowledge the impact of the trauma, such as moments of reflection or acts of gratitude. 
  • Identify how you can honor the resilience of yourself, others, or the community. What will help you hold both grief and gratitude? For example, there may be sadness in the loss of a holiday ritual that once was familiar and cherished. Honor that grief and mourn that loss. But let’s say you found healing in the arts–maybe create a tradition of attending a holiday theater performance or art show or that symbolizes and celebrates the part of you that found strength and new life in these activities.
     

Traditions are more than routines; they are living expressions of who we are. Even in the face of trauma, they have the power to evolve and endure, which can remind us of our own capacity for resilience and renewal.  

Kendall Wolz heads up the Mental Health and Wellness team that provides individual, family, and group therapy to those seeking care at Mosaic Georgia. As a survivor herself, she has a unique insight into the challenges of living with past trauma, how it impacts lives daily, and what the process of healing truly looks like. Her personal website, Brave Girl, Speak unpacks some of the complex issues that come along with being a survivor of sexual violence. Visit Kendall’s site to read more about her personal journey healing from trauma and peeling the layers to reclaim her true self.

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Life is a Dance

by brian in SAFETY, Wellness & Self-Care

Mayra Paradas: Life is a Dance

Women’s History Month Feature

An interview with Dance Teacher Mayra Paradas and Ashia Gallo, MPA, Wholeness Collective Coordinator

Mayra Paradas is the passionate, bi-lingual dance teacher and personal trainer who has brought new and fun ways to heal to Mosaic Georgia’s Wholeness Collective! For Womens’ History Month, we are proud to feature Mayra and capture her thoughts on womanhood, making a living while prioritizing your dreams, and advice she’d give to women and survivors of trauma.

—

What is one thing you love about being a woman?

How we can be nurturing and strong at the same time – We can be a mother and wife and build businesses and a home.

When did your interest in dance begin?

I always knew I wanted to try dance since I was a child, but we couldn’t afford it at the time. Then, in high school dance was offered as a main class I could take. Every day, for four years. For free!

My dance teacher at the time, Natalie Cruse, really encouraged my passion. An honor in our dance class was developing your own choreography to be performed at the annual show. I auditioned twice and didn’t make it. But the third time, during Senior Year, I was featured in a solo/trio dance that I created! After that, I was obsessed with dance and learning. I was more confident and would be dancing in the aisles at Walmart!

Did you end up choosing a fine arts school post-high school?

No because I hadn’t been studying dance long enough. I ended up with an academic and dance scholarship to Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama after high school. I joined the dance team, worked with a nonprofit dance studio, and started doing dance ministry for multiple churches. It was one of the best times in my life. I was offered dance captain at school but had to turn it down my second year. Life was changing…

Yes, please share about your experiences as a young wife and mom!

My husband Joel and I were set up for high school prom. Super awkward, but we liked each other and come from the same [Dominican] culture, so it worked. We married and had my daughter in my early 20s, while I started college the same year. My son came a couple of years later. It was VERY HARD to juggle everything. Creating a family and getting my education at the same time.

It was also hard for Joel to get used to it from a cultural perspective. He’d grown up around housewives. But my mom was a businesswoman – she had a hair salon in Birmingham and owns a restaurant in Buford, GA called Oregano Latin Bar and Grill that specializes in Colombian and Dominican food – so I never knew any different. If I could change anything, I’d maybe not do so much so young!

Can women have it all?

It depends on your expectations; you can get close, but too many dreams make it difficult. Putting effort into one area takes away from another. You cannot do everything perfectly. Stick to the top 3 things that mean the most to you: for me, its God, family, business.

What is one piece of advice you would give your daughter on how to navigate the world as a strong woman?

Follow your dreams with dignity and standards. Don’t be manipulated into saying yes to things you don’t want to do.

Where are things today with your family and your work?

My daughter is 10 and my son is 7 (sometimes I can’t believe I’ve been a mom for a decade!). I graduate from SCAD this Spring. LOL Schools (Live Online Learning) is my next venture. I want to create an online school that caters to children ages 4-17. My husband and I taught online while living in Punta Cana, DR during COVID, and really loved it! LOL will offer activity classes in language, art and design, school subjects, and life skills (cooking/organizing/etc.). It’ll be like Outschool.

How do you prioritize yourself so that you do not pour from an empty cup?

In order to give your best to others, give the best to yourself. Be an example. Eat, rest, and exercise well, then motivate others to do the same things. Lack of these things will cause unintentional mental health problems.

When is the last time you cried? Why?

Last big cry: Years ago, in the shower after a diagnosis with cancer (Mayra was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma while living in the DR. She had a golf-ball size tumor removed and is in remission). Last small cry: Feeling that the huge pressures and expectations that ruled my life were misunderstood.

What advice would you give to survivors of trauma?

There’s only so much you can do and what others can do to motivate you. You must find something bigger than yourself. Willpower only takes you so far. For me, it’s been my faith in Jesus.

To get in touch with Mayra and learn more about her dance and personal training offerings, email her at mayra.fitlife@gmail.com or contact her on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/mparadas1.

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Nurturing Gratitude: A Lighthouse in Stormy Waters

by brian in HEALTH, Wellness & Self-Care

Someone’s Gotta Say It…

Nurturing Gratitude: A Lighthouse in Stormy Waters

By Marina Sampanes Peed
Executive Director of Mosaic Georgia

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
— Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)

Finding peace of mind in a world filled with interpersonal violence is not easy. With the constant barrage of multi-media journalism, pretend-news and social media, it’s a challenge to stay informed about current events without overdosing on images of man-made tragedies.

People often ask, “How do you and your team deal with all the horrible things done to people who come to you for help? I don’t think I could handle it.” To say it’s a calling minimizes the effects on the helpers. Without an intentional counterbalance, the natural response can be to become numb and jaded about people, systems, and life. And truth be told, I wrestle with frustration about our collective refusal to invest in measures known to prevent violence.

For all of us, the cultivation of gratitude is a powerful tool and a psychological anchor holding steadfast in the turbulent seas of human suffering. The practice of gratitude builds mental resilience, and it has sustained my actual life and all the goodness in it for decades.

More Grateful than Thankful

Gratitude is nuanced, existing on a plane deeper than mere thankfulness. Consider thankfulness the immediate reaction to positive outcomes or narrow escapes — the meeting concluding early or the unlikely absence of traffic on I-85. Gratitude, however, is richer and more conscious — an appreciation that lingers and proliferates. It’s the recognition of ongoing goodness and the contributions of others, generating warmth and solidarity that extend far beyond the self.

For example, I am grateful for all the people who donate blood and platelets; they kept me alive for over a year. That gratitude arises each time I see a blood donation event in the community.

Gratitude, like love, is a practice as well as an emotion. It requires a conscious effort to see beyond the immediate, the loudest distractions. Observing and appreciating the positive facets of life develops mental resilience, even when overwhelmed with fear or pain. I called upon it in my darkest moments (sometimes teasing it out with some macabre humor).

The Science Behind Gratitude

Research within positive psychology corroborates the benefits of a grateful mindset. Studies indicate that practicing gratitude consistently contributes to mental well-being, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. By acknowledging the good, individuals combat the natural negativity bias, which, while evolutionarily protective, can be debilitating.

This shift is not about wearing rose-colored glasses but about recalibrating the mind to appreciate moments of kindness, success, and love that do exist amidst the chaos.

Exercise that Gratitude Muscle 

For personalities with higher levels of pessimism, the practice of gratitude may feel unsettling at first. Start simple: First: over a meal with another person or group, share one lowlight of the day and then three highlights. Invite others to do the same. When you spend more time and thoughts on the positive elements of the day, the meal will be tastier and you will leave the table more satisfied. Second: when you are in bed with the lights out, before you go to sleep, speak three things you are grateful for from the day. Let your mind rest for the night with those thoughts.

Gratitude allows those confronting or experiencing human suffering to maintain their humanity, find contentment, and continue their indispensable work. It is a choice to seek light and create an inner sanctuary of peace, from which we draw our strength.

Think of gratitude as more than a personal practice; it is a gift we share, through our continued hope and our belief in a better tomorrow. You’re welcome!

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Amy Lewis – Yoga and Sacred Space

by brian in HEALTH, Wellness & Self-Care

Amy Lewis – Yoga and Sacred Space

Ashia Headshot

By Ashia Gallo
Wholeness Collective Coordinator at Mosaic Georgia

Amy Lewis has been drawn to spirituality since she was a child. Born in Tyler, Texas, Amy describes her childhood home as tense and a bit stressful. Religion became her first escape. As the youngest of her siblings, Amy lone followed her mother into the Southern Baptist Church. She loved the service-oriented part of religion, and by the time she was a teenager, felt “called to the ministry”.

“I knew I wanted to do counseling and recreation, I just wasn’t sure how they would fit together,” remembers Amy. “And I wondered – could women even go to seminary?”

Amy got her answer as she pursued her education. She earned a bachelor’s in social work and master’s at Seminary in Marriage and Family Counseling and Religious Education. She gained a ton of experience as an adult hospice chaplain, a pediatric oncology chaplain, as well as opportunities in community pastoral care. Amy began working with survivors of sexual trauma during her master’s practicum in 1994.

“It’s a privilege to listen to people’s stories,” Amy says. “Being in spaces where people are grieving, and having the honor of walking alongside them as they figure out how to continue to live with loss sparked my passion.”

It was also during this time, after Amy married a man she met at seminary, that she moved to Decatur, GA. Living in a very diverse and free community, Amy began to ask more questions about herself for the first time. Though she and her husband had a ton in common (including a baby girl born in 2001), Amy began realizing some truths about her sexuality.

“My pregnancy was one of the first times I paid attention to my body,” recalls Amy. “It was also the first time I took a yoga class! It was a pivotal moment of finally realizing ‘there’s nothing wrong with me, I’m just a lesbian!’”
Amy came out around the same time she was being ordained, her daughter was 18 months, and the family had moved to a new city. It was challenging to find a therapist who understood and believed her about her sexuality in the small Midwest town. With grit and determination, she found a therapist who supported her and her husband through their divorce with the primary goal of becoming the best co-parents they could possibly be for their daughter.

Amy finally felt she was living her truth, and after another decade of pastoral care work, Amy needed to expand her understanding and experience of embodiment practices.

“I had done grief and loss work as a chaplain for about 20 years at that point. It is important for me to do embodiment work. I needed to move and metabolize the pain and grief that I had experienced personally and vicariously.”

After a happy marriage to her now wife, another child, and a decade off her mat, Amy was ready to embrace her yoga practice again. As she sought an embodiment practice, her first yoga teacher, Kath Meadows, also worked with incarcerated women in Maryland. Amy learned a lot through Kath about creating space within ourselves and was inspired by the abundant ways yoga was making a difference in the lives of people who were suffering.

“My life shifted when I dove into embodiment,” says Amy. “Studying how the body transforms through movement felt like a natural next step in my personal and professional spiritual development.”

Upon completing her RYT 200 certification in 2014, Amy has been dedicated to teaching yoga in many mental wellness programs. She worked at a school for traumatized children, where she taught yoga and mindfulness as a part of teaching coping skills.

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Wholeness Collective – A Wellness Program Launch

by brian in HEALTH, Wellness & Self-Care

Wholeness Collective – A Wellness Program Launch

 

By: Ashia Gallo, MPA

At Mosaic Georgia, we play a very sensitive role in the lives of the clients we support. From the first moment we meet them, the stakes are high. We are likely making introductions with a crime victim on the worst day of their lives. It’s a sacred responsibility that our team doesn’t take lightly.

At Mosaic Georgia, we specialize in crisis response for victims of sexual assault, child abuse, and more. A survivor may come to us after experiencing a sexual violation, calling the 24-hour crisis line mere hours or days after an incident. Next steps include an advocate helping the victim to ground, informing them of our services, and possibly making a same-day appointment at our confidential office location.

Once the victim arrives in person, we work to establish safety and trust among trained advocates, provide medical and law enforcement support, and determine the best plan for next steps – navigating difficult healing, and possibly legal, journeys.

The need to further develop these long-term responses became an issue that Mosaic Georgia leadership was desperate to solve. Our legal team helps victims through rigorous and otherwise expensive court proceedings to receive justice against an abuser. Our counseling team provides the one-on-one processing space that so many trauma survivors must undergo in order to move through their pain and not let the impacts of sexual or child abuse dominate their futures.

What isn’t often considered, though, is the isolation felt by these victims as they move through the healing process. The spiritual warfare, the identity crisis, the loss of self and safety at a soul level. The Wholeness Collective was born from these realities. When I signed on as program coordinator in Summer 2022, I was determined to combine my experiences as a victims’ advocate, activist, and international service worker to nurture the creation of this vision.

The goal of the Wholeness Collective was simple – design a trauma-informed healing and wellness program enhancing Mosaic Georgia’s mission by extending care to abuse survivors beyond our established crisis response period. To encourage and support long-term healing and wellness for those on the road back from trauma.

I spent the first several weeks creating a network of people who knew how to do just that. Reflecting its namesake, I aimed to build a “collective” healing community and knew that it couldn’t happen independently. I cold called and emailed countless community-serving nonprofits in Gwinnett County to spread the word about what we were creating. I also ensembled an Advisory Committee from those I talked to with diverse backgrounds, in terms of both identity and area of expertise. Committee members include local business owners, artists, mental health professionals, higher education administrators, and esteemed Mosaic Georgia staff members.

After months of building community interest, partner support, and referral processes at Mosaic Georgia and beyond, the Wholeness Collective launched in October 2022. The results were more than I could’ve ever imagined!

We held a total of 24 FREE Wholeness events and classes in the program’s first quarter, a variety of offerings: support groups for adult, female sexual assault survivors, music classes for children, sound healing and yoga classes, and a workshop for youth-serving professionals and parents about the ways we can protect our kids from abuse.

Nearly 70 participants registered for Wholeness events. Seven healing modality facilitators shared their gifts and led classes. Our program evaluation process (44% response rate) reflected success, revealing an increase in participants’ sense of agency, well-being, empowerment, and positive feelings about their healing journeys over an 8-week period.

We also received notable feedback we are excited to implement in 2023: creating more connection among participants and facilitators, offering culturally specific programming, and taking our events out of the office and into the community!

The sky is the limit for the future of the Wholeness Collective, and I am honored to lead the charge in Mosaic Georgia’s unique, holistic approach to victim services. Amongst our class facilitators, community stakeholders, victims, their families, and the Mosaic Georgia team, the message will remain the same: You are not alone.

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Toxic Wellness? How Mosaic Georgia’s Wellness Program Breaks Stereotypes

by brian in HEALTH, Wellness & Self-Care

Toxic Wellness? How Mosaic Georgia’s Wellness Program Breaks Stereotypes

Ashia Headshot

By Ashia Gallo
Wholeness Collective Coordinator at Mosaic Georgia

WELLNESS falls among the countless misused (and misunderstood) ‘buzz words’ in our culture slowly losing their meaning. In a climate of extremes where you’re either a ‘narcissist’ or a ‘spiritual guru’, it became essential for Mosaic Georgia to do wellness thoughtfully when its Wholeness Collective programming launched in 2022.

The Wholeness Collective offers survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, and other traumas a space to explore healing modalities like art therapy, yoga, hiking, dance, and more through a rotation of free wellness activities. These events are complementary, not a replacement to the mental health services of our incredible Mosaic Georgia counseling team. The vision has always been to offer wellness programs as an additional support in the recovery toolkit of survivors on their journey back to wholeness.

The wellness industry, which boasts a multi-billion-dollar profit worldwide, often targets those seeking these types of psychological and spiritual supports. With its allure of holistic health, personal growth, and enlightenment, the wellness industry has captivated the masses seeking healing and a better quality of life. However, beneath the glossy exterior lies a disturbing reality – the toxic underbelly of the wellness industry.

What exactly is toxic wellness? And how does Mosaic Georgia work to combat these stereotypes?

Unrealistic Ideals and Body Image

The wellness industry at large often peddles an unattainable standard of beauty and health. I learned to practice yoga for the first time from a cis-gendered, able-bodied, thin white woman on YouTube (no shade, Yoga with Adriene is awesome!) in my early 20s to cope with the stresses of newly adulting. While Adriene is incredibly respectful and relatable on many levels, she also represents the typical, palatable aesthetic that we see repackaged over and over in many yoga, meditation, and fitness videos that rule the wellness media sphere – though they derive from historical, indigenous practices.

Progress has been made across industries to increase visibility and recognize contributions of diverse cultural and ethnic identities, but there’s still a way to go. It’s also not the existence of these stereotypically picture-perfect influencers and business-savvy “healthy lifestyle” gurus that are the problem – their dominance as the face of wellness culture is where the issue lies.

The Wholeness Collective aims to push back against these industry norms by offering a variety of activities, modalities, and facilitators who match the diversity of the survivors we serve. The originators of so many of the marketed wellness solutions we offer were not majorly white, young, nor skinny. So, most of our facilitators and teachers aren’t either!

Harmful Practices and Pseudoscience

Within the wellness industry, pseudoscience frequently masquerades as genuine health advice. From dangerous dietary trends to unproven alternative therapies, individuals are bombarded with conflicting information that can be not only ineffective but potentially harmful. Detox diets, for instance, promise to cleanse the body of toxins but lack scientific backing. “Spiritual teachers” advise clinically traumatized people on the types of books or retreat packages they should purchase to alleviate their emotional pain. The industry’s tendency to vilify conventional medicine can lead individuals to neglect necessary medical interventions in favor of untested remedies.

The Wholeness Collective believes that science is real and that our survivors’ safety comes before our goals or a desired number of participants. Our carefully chosen facilitators are trained in their crafts to teach in a trauma-sensitive manner, work with children, make sure all bodies are safe during movement activities, etc. All folks who need clinical-level intervention are referred to trauma therapists and/or other clinical professionals most appropriate for their needs. We are a support, not a substitution.

Promotion of Anxiety and Perfectionism

Rather than alleviating stress, the wellness industry can exacerbate anxiety through its emphasis on personal responsibility for one’s well-being. The constant pursuit of an idealized state of health and happiness can lead to a sense of failure and inadequacy when these goals are not met. The relentless pressure to optimize every aspect of life by yourself can result in burnout, anxiety disorders, and a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction. Unproductive thoughts can include:

“Why am I not further along on my healing journey?

“If I’m not at peace yet, I must not be trying hard enough.”

“Why am I not able to keep motivated with exercise? I’ll never lose the weight…” 

“I cannot make it to these groups being offered. I’m alone and just not strong enough.”

The “wholeness” in Wholeness Collective represents our values of community support and nonconditional acceptance. We do everything within our power to eliminate barriers that many survivors face when trying to get help: hybrid group activities, transport assistance, childcare support, multiple forms of communication about events, etc. Though we do offer some affinity spaces (support groups for female sexual assault survivors only, youth-focused activities, etc.), inclusion is always our goal. You are accepted regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, or any other historically rejected identity. We are on this journey together.

Conclusion

While the pursuit of wellness is a noble goal, the emergence of toxic wellness threatens the very essence of well-being. At Mosaic Geogia, we seek to offer balance, authenticity, expertise, and self-compassion to survivors of trauma working to gain their sense of agency again. By raising awareness, promoting empowerment vs perfection, and prioritizing mental and physical health, the Wholeness Collective program works to mitigate the detrimental effects of toxic wellness and pave the way for a more genuine and holistic approach to well-being and trauma recovery.

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