You can expect occasional reflections, simple practices, seasonal offerings, community events, and resources from my work as a therapist, yoga teacher, and human being.
Entering Autumn with Heart Stone
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Well, I keep putting one foot in front of the other and taking one breath at a time. And that’s part of what the Autumn season asks of us, too. To notice what has grown, what we’re ready to gather, and what we might be ready to loosen our grip on. To return to ourselves without needing to have everything figured out. Just in time for the change of seasons, I finally hit publish on my very first Heart Stone Newsletter. A little reflection on where we’ve been, what we’re carrying forward, as we move into autumn. The invitation is to explore the possibility of slowing down to create space to notice, breathe, move, rest, and reconnect. To move slowly enough to listen, with enough spaciousness to make your own choices, and with the reminder that you don’t have to arrive as anything other than who you are that day. There’s room for movement and stillness, curiosity and quiet, blankets and deep breaths and maybe a little bit of autumn settling in along the way. Over the past few years, I've had the privilege of connecting with people in so many different ways through therapy, yoga, TCTSY, workshops, community events, fundraisers, collaborations, and simply being part of the same community. Some of you know me through therapy. Some through yoga or community work. Some of you I've met only once, or perhaps haven't seen in quite a while. However you found your way into orbit, I'm glad you're here. I've found myself wanting a way to stay connected that feels a little more personal than social media, a place to share what's happening, offer opportunities to practice and learn together, and stay connected to the people and communities that have become part of my life. My hope is that this newsletter can be a simple way to stay connected, a place where I can share upcoming classes, workshops, community offerings, reflections, and things I'm learning along the way. It feels fitting to begin this now, as we move into autumn and the autumnal equinox, a natural point of transition and reflection. Heart Stone continues to grow and take shape in new ways, and this newsletter feels like a natural next step. What began primarily as a counseling practice has gradually grown to include yoga, embodiment, trauma-sensitive practice, community education, and opportunities for connection beyond the therapy room. Over time, I've come to see these as different ways of exploring some of the same questions: How do we come home to ourselves? How do we connect with one another? And how do we create spaces where people feel supported in being exactly where they are? For me, so much of this comes back to shared authentic experience, being present with one another, meeting each other where we are, and noticing the meaningfulness of connection. Heart Stone is becoming a home for all of these pieces for me, and for you. I'm excited to see where it goes. For those who don't know me well, I'm Jo-Ann- a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, Certified Yoga Teacher, and Certified Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator. I've spent more than 25 years working alongside people in clinical and community settings, and my work has increasingly brought together mental health, embodiment, mindfulness, yoga, and our very human need for connection. Across all of these spaces, I keep returning to the same things: choice, curiosity, authentic connection, and the possibility of developing a kinder more compassionate relationship with ourselves and with one another. That's the spirit behind this newsletter, too. Autumn Opportunities to Practice & Connect Sunday Reset: Seasonal Yoga & Restoration 12-week series • September 13–November 29 Sunday Reset was created as a welcoming, accessible space to slow down at the end of the week, reconnect with yourself, and spend a little time in community. Each Sunday we weave together gentle movement, breath awareness, meditation, mindful awareness, and restorative practices. The series follows the rhythms of the season, giving us an opportunity to pause, notice what is here. The practice is all-levels and rooted in choice. There is no particular way you need to move, experience, or participate. Come as you are. No previous yoga experience is needed. https://medwayma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30690 Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: Introductory Session with OUT MetroWest I'm excited to be offering an introductory trauma-sensitive yoga session through OUT MetroWest's NOVA program for LGBTQ+ adults and allies. This session is an opportunity to explore movement, stillness, and mindfulness in a supportive and welcoming environment. The practice is grounded in choice, personal agency, and curiosity about your own experience. There is no expectation of previous yoga experience or a particular level of physical ability. Participants are invited to engage in ways that feel supportive for them, with opportunities to move, pause, rest, notice, and make choices throughout the practice. This is a one-time opportunity to experience trauma-sensitive yoga and learn a little more about what a choice-centered, body-based practice can offer. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfl8JZxIX6T72oujWADmLO7Oe4xCWywjOjEVp4FFOMP5nz_zw/viewform Flow at Drift & Oak Come flow with me Thursday mornings at 9am at Drift & Oak in Medway. This weekly class is a chance to move, breathe, and connect in a small, welcoming boutique studio. We'll explore a thoughtfully sequenced flow with options along the way so you can find a practice that works for you that day. https://www.driftandoak.com/classes Individual TCTSY I'm also beginning to offer individual Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) sessions. TCTSY is a body-based practice that centers choice, agency, and present-moment awareness. Rather than focusing on how a pose is supposed to look, the practice creates space to explore movement and sensation through your own experience. An individual session might include gentle movement, grounding, breath awareness, stillness, and opportunities to notice sensations and make choices about what feels supportive. Sessions can be adapted to meet you where you are, with no expectation that you move in any particular way. If you're curious about TCTSY or wondering whether an individual session might be a good fit, I'd be happy to talk with you. Reach out anytime at joannphillipslicsw@gmail.com. A Little Invitation If you'd like to join me for a class, workshop, TCTSY offering, or community event, I'd love to see you there. And if you have an idea for something you'd like to see offered in the community, I'd love to hear that, too. With gratitude, Jo-Ann |
Heart Stone Counseling Services
You can expect occasional reflections, simple practices, seasonal offerings, community events, and resources from my work as a therapist, yoga teacher, and human being.
Heart Stone | November As we move deeper into autumn, I’ve been thinking about the rhythms of the past few months, what we have to opportunity to take from them, and what helps us feel grounded and supported as we move through the season. At a book club recently, we found ourselves talking about what a beautiful summer we’d had. Bright, airy, sunny and warm, with cool, windy nights. It was just about as lovely as a New England summer can be. And this fall has been pretty remarkable, too. The...
An Autumnal Welcome to Heart Stone If you’re receiving this, chances are you’ve connected with Heart Stone in some way, through therapy, yoga, a workshop, a community event, a friend, or simply by being part of the same community. However you found your way here, I’m glad you’re here. For the past several years, Heart Stone has primarily been known as a counseling practice. Counseling will continue to be an important part of the work, while Heart Stone grows to include yoga, embodiment,...
This week I’ve been spending a lot of time talking about and feeling through the news out of Cornell, and the ongoing story of Nolan Wells. There is a lot of heaviness in the news right now, sexual assault and gender and race-based violence, questions of safety, justice, and accountability. This week, TCTSY and The Center for Trauma and Embodiment are holding sessions that are free and open to anyone who wants in. I am going to do the same, because moving together, breathing together, is...