Meet Laura V.
I come from a family of educators, healers, and community-involved people. I am a continuous learner, a dedicated mind-bod yogi, a gardener and pet mama. Weaving all these threads created a tapestry of a Social Worker, therapeutically inspired yoga teacher, and earth advocate! I know on a personal level how vital the living world and nature is for wellness, healing and development. I am thankful for time outside; foraging and gardening, and exploring many different forms of art inspired by nature. People have been learning from the natural world and honoring yogic practices for centuries, and I believe that these teachings offer vitalizing benefits for mind-body psychoeducation, health & wellness.
I have spent over a decade working with multiple public school systems as an educator and as a counselor. I am thankful to be able to hold space for the children I work with and am inspired by their creativity, humor and raw honesty. I enjoy collaborating with caregivers to learn about their stories and cultures, as I value learning about their perspectives, practices and backgrounds.
By merging wellness and healing, integrating my training in mind-body yoga approaches, and therapeutic interventions from my social work background: I strive to empower those I work with to access self-care and regulation strategies tailored to individual needs. my goal is to support stress reduction and enhance emotional well-being in all beings. I integrate mindfulness and nature, play and creativity, somatic movement, and breathwork into my practice.
I am grateful for my teachers, experiences and opportunities that have inspired my practices of holistic perspectives for navigating the world.
My background & influences:
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Boston College School of Social Work| Masters of Social Work, Clinical student with Children, Youth and Families concentration.
Villanova University| Bachelor’s in Psychology and Elementary Education Certificate
Lesley University| Graduate Certificate The Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity (LIFTS).
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200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at The New School of Yogic Arts under Laura Ahrens, Goldie Graham, Tatyana Souza, and Andrew Tanner.
Therapeutic Yoga Training for Those Treating Children with Trauma History with Joanne Lloyd.
Foundations of Trauma-Informed Yoga with Alex Bauermeister.
Yoga therapy training and practicum with Alex Bauermeister.
The Center for Trauma Embodiment's Foundational Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga program.
Coaching for Embodied Therapists program with Kate Graham.
Meditation Master Class with Davidji.
Deep Play Kids yoga and meditation teacher with Missy Brown.
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Learning From The Living Land: Foundational course in home herbalism & ecological gardening, based upon the Wheel of the Year.
United Plant Savers
Mass Audubon Society
Protect Ancient Forests
Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Sacred Alchemy of Creating Your Offering, Tracee Stanley
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LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker)
DESE Adjustment Counselor license
Stanley Greenspan Floor time Play Therapy
MBSR (Mindfulness based stress reduction)
Colorado Ecotherapy Institute: Training in the study and practice of Ecotherapy, Development, Attachment & Gestalt