welcome to
The Institute for Integrative Healing!
At The Institute for Integrative Healing, we are passionate about advancing a holistic perspective on healing and wellness. Whether you are a clinician seeking to deepen your expertise or a community member on your own healing journey, we are here to inspire, educate, and empower.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, trainer, and owner of Healing Hearts Counseling, I have dedicated my career to guiding individuals toward resilience and equipping therapists with tools to foster meaningful change.
Our work is rooted in the belief that healing the mind, body, and soul is not only possible but essential for achieving wholeness.
Our institute is an extension of the collaborative and holistic care model practiced at The Integrative Healing Center of Arizona, where I work alongside an incredible team of professionals—including Holistic Nurse Practitioners, a Functional Nutritionist, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, a Massage Therapist, and an Esthetician. Together, we embrace an integrative, whole-body approach to health and well-being.
You can learn more about the center at www.integrativehealingcenteraz.com.
Here at The Institute for Integrative Healing, our mission is simple: to share the knowledge and tools that help individuals and professionals alike embrace healing from a holistic perspective. Welcome to a space where learning, growth, and transformation thrive.
The Importance of Education in Holistic and Integrative Trauma Healing
Trauma leaves an indelible mark not only on the mind but also on the body and spirit. Unresolved trauma and chronic stress disrupt the delicate balance of our nervous system, often leading to dysregulation that impacts us on multiple levels: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Understanding these interconnected effects is vital to fostering true healing and wellness.
At the core of trauma’s impact is the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. When our bodies are stuck in states of fight, flight, freeze, or the dorsal vagal responses of shut down, the ripple effects are profound. Chronic nervous system dysregulation contributes to inflammation, disrupts gut health, and impacts digestion and nutrient absorption. This connection, often referred to as the gut-brain axis, highlights how trauma can exacerbate conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, and other gastrointestinal issues.
Unresolved trauma also places immense strain on the endocrine system. Prolonged stress dysregulates the adrenals creating cortisol dumps, leading to hormonal imbalances that can affect thyroid function, reproductive health, and overall metabolic processes. Over time, this stress burden depletes our energy, alters sleep patterns, and weakens our immune response, leaving us more vulnerable to chronic illnesses. This also impacts our energy, clarity of thought, mood and overall health.
On a soul level, trauma challenges our self-belief and erodes our connection to who we are at our core. It often silences our inner voice, replacing it with feelings of shame, fear, or unworthiness. This spiritual disconnection further deepens the wounds left by trauma, making it difficult to reclaim a sense of purpose, belonging, and inner peace.
This is why a holistic and integrative approach to trauma healing is essential. By addressing the physiological, psychological, and spiritual impacts of trauma, we can create pathways for complete recovery. Nutrition, mindfulness, internal balance within our endocrine system, somatic therapies, and addressing nervous system dysregulation all play a role in restoring balance and resilience.
My passion for educating both the general community and clinicians stems from this understanding. When we equip ourselves with knowledge about how trauma affects the whole person, we empower individuals to heal at every level of their being. It is my mission to share these insights and foster a deeper awareness of the interconnectedness of body, mind, and soul in the journey toward wellness and healing.
About Myra
I am a wife, mom and bonus mom to four wonderful children, and a sweet fur baby. My journey began on a dairy farm, where I learned the values of hard work, resilience, and connection to the land. As a former collegiate athlete, I developed a deep appreciation for discipline, teamwork, and perseverance—qualities that continue to influence my personal and professional life. Deepening into my own work of nervous system healing and connection has been a process that continues to teach me to slow down, build mindful moments of connection and savor the still quiet moments.
Traumatic loss is a profound part of my story, shaping the way I see and hold space for others. I have learned that grief forever changes the landscape of our lives and that life seldom looks the way we think it will. It is one of my life’s greatest privileges to walk alongside those on their healing journeys, offering a compassionate presence as they navigate their own paths toward wholeness.
Nature and family are at the heart of who I am. Whether I’m enjoying the outdoors, or spending quality time with loved ones, I find balance and inspiration in these moments. These experiences shape my belief in the importance of holistic well-being, fostering a deep connection between mind, body, and soul.
I bring this same passion for connection and resilience into my work, striving to help others find their own path to healing and wholeness.
My Workbooks
I am the creator of four workbooks:
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Mindful Moments: A Daily Mind/Body Check-In Journal
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Regulate the Body: Grounding Skills for Emotional Distress
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Healing Your Heart: Understanding & Healing from the Impact of Trauma
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Our Lens for Life: The Nervous System & Trauma Healing
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My therapeutic practice
In my clinical and educational work, I emphasize the transformative power of combining evidence-based therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. With an understanding of Polyvagal Theory and the nervous system’s role in healing, we aim to bridge the gap between science and compassion to create lasting change.
I take a whole-person approach, recognizing each individuals unique strengths and fostering resilience throughout the healing process. My goal is to create a supportive space where each person feels seen, heard, and empowered.
Collaborating with clients, we work to:
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Heal from traumatic experiences
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Find relief from depression and anxiety
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Build and maintain meaningful, nurturing relationships
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Support your children in developing resilience and navigating the challenges of today’s world
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Break free from harmful patterns that may be holding you back
Each journey is unique, and our approach is designed to help each individual uncover the strength and resources within themselves to live their life to the fullest.
We view therapy as more than just a profession—it’s a deeply personal and collaborative experience that allows us to engage authentically with one another. Therapy should be as unique as the individual and the heart of our approach is a foundation of compassionate presence.
Together, we’ll create a healing experience that honors your individuality and supports your growth.
My Trainings, Presentations and Consultation
I offer dynamic, thought-provoking, and heart-centered trainings and presentations tailored for both the general public and the therapeutic community. My workshops focus on topics such as Integrative Trauma Healing, EMDR, Nervous System Regulation and Somatic Psychology.
