Balanced Life Movement

07/03/2025

✨Feeling overwhelmed all the time? You’re not alone—especially if you’re neurodivergent.

For people with ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Autism, or other neurodivergent experiences, overwhelm can feel like a tidal wave—too many thoughts, sensations, emotions, and expectations flooding your system all at once.

In our newest blog, we break down:
🔹 What neurodivergent overwhelm really looks like
🔹 How it impacts daily functioning
🔹 Why it’s often misunderstood
🔹 Somatic + expressive arts therapy tools to regulate your nervous system

Understanding your brain~body connection is the first step to finding relief—and you deserve support that actually gets it.

🧠 Read the full blog at the link in our bio or: https://balancedlifemovement.com/bodymindblog/2025/6/16/understanding-overwhelm-in-neurodivergent-brains
💬 Drop a 💛 if this resonates with you or someone you love.
📥 Save this to revisit when your nervous system needs a little extra care.

06/16/2025

An important read. Its important we encourage ourselves and our loved ones to discuss the longterm effects of psychiatric medications.

"Some Psych Meds Tied to Higher Future Risk of ALS - — Study sheds light on relationships between psychiatric symptoms and motor neuron disease"

"In this case-control study including nearly 9000 individuals, prescribed use of anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives, or antidepressants was associated with a 34%, 21%, and 26% higher future risk of ALS. Prediagnostic use of such medications was also associated with poor prognosis after ALS diagnosis." (from the actual study https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2834877)

This association was downplayed by Anthony Hannan, PhD, of the University of Melbourne Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Australia ...

"What is more likely is that the findings reflect associations between psychiatric symptoms and risk of motor neuron disease (independent of medication)," Hannan continued. "This is consistent with previous studies, including those involving genetics, which link motor neuron disease to frontotemporal dementia, a neurodegenerative disease where psychiatric symptoms are often prominent." (from this article https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/generalneurology/115948)

There may be some merit to this but I suspect there is much more to this, given what we know about psych meds and damage to mitochondria and the impacts of benzos on dementia.

Hopefully it's a read flag for exercising more caution when prescribing psych/sleep meds and leads to further research.

20 years ago, ALS was rare and now and surprisingly, I know 3 people who have had family members pass away from ALS. I'm hearing more and more about people being affected by this dreadful disease.

06/07/2025

🌊You’ve done the talk therapy. So why do you still feel stuck?

You’re not alone.
Many people understand their trauma, their patterns, even their coping skills — but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

That’s because trauma doesn’t just live in your mind.
It lives in your nervous system — in your breath, your posture, your startle reflex, your gut. And your body may still be telling a story of danger… even when you know you’re safe.

Somatic Therapy helps you work with the body — not against it.
It uses movement, breath, touch, voice, and internal awareness to gently unwind old survival responses and build safety from the inside out.

In our newest blog, we explore:
🔹 What Somatic Therapy really is
🔹 How it regulates the nervous system
🔹 What a session looks like (no yoga mat required)
🔹 Why it’s effective for trauma, anxiety, and chronic pain
🔹 Who it’s especially helpful for

This isn’t about “just feeling your feelings.”
It’s about helping your body feel safe enough to let go — and reconnecting to the wholeness that’s always been there.

What if your body holds the key to healing your mind?

📖 Tap the Mind-Body Blog in our bio to read the full article.
{Or visit our website at balancedlifemovement.com}

realty

05/31/2025

A weekend hiking amongst the waterfalls was a reset i didnt realize i needed. The rhythm of walking, the flow of water, muscles burning!, deeply breathing...

I am inspired to foster connections with others who experience overwhelm and anxiety through evidence-based, body-focused techniques that I know work quickly and for the long-run when we practice them often.

Anxiety. Trauma. Bipolar symptoms.
You don’t have to navigate them alone.

🌿 The Regulate & Rise Circle is an 8-week somatic therapy group designed to support adults living with PTSD, chronic anxiety, or mood disorders. Together, we’ll build nervous system awareness, emotional regulation, and embodied resilience.

✨ Starts June 16
🕕 Mondays | 6:30–8:00 PM (ET)
💻 Virtual | $60/session | Cigna & Superbills for OON Reimbursement
👥 Small group. Real connection.

Led by Jennifer Giuglianotti, LCAT, BC-DMT
Dance/Movement Therapist
Somatic Therapist for Trauma

Sign up now at balancedlifemovement.com with a free consult call

04/30/2025

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or exhausted from trying to manage it all on your own?

At Balanced Life Movement, we offer holistic psychotherapy that goes beyond talk—using the body, movement, and creativity to support deep healing from anxiety, trauma, and depression.

If you or someone you love is struggling, we’re here to help.

Share this with a friend who may benefit, or reach out today to schedule a free consultation. Deep healing and vitality are possible with support.

Free consult at: balancedlifemovement.com
Call/text: (516) 847–4289

01/14/2025

Traumatic events in our lives either create more loss, anxiety, depression, and limitations, or they usher us into a deeper calling. I have found grief to call me to share my story and the story of my sister, Heidi, who passed away tragically this summer.
This calling is dredging up many shadow parts within myself that have long lived to be seen in a new light.
This calling asks of me to learn how to tell a nuanced story of truth, acceptance, and alchemy ~ from pain into power.
I do not consider myself a storyteller and find words to stumble me. It is in experience , movement, art, and drama where I enter this path of narrative storytelling.

Upon much research into how to help my clients tell a new story of transformation, I've stumbled upon "The Hero's Journey", a method written about by Joseph Campbell back in the 1940's based in archetype and mythology. How can I use this method in therapy with all of the creative arts to help my clients who are stuck in their old stories of doubt and self-crticism?

In therapy, "the hero's journey" refers to a metaphorical framework based on Joseph Campbell's concept, where a person's therapeutic process is viewed as a narrative journey of self-discovery, facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, and ultimately achieving personal growth and transformation, similar to the archetypal hero in mythology who embarks on a quest to conquer a dragon; essentially, the "dragon" in therapy represents the individual's deepest fears and limiting beliefs. 

I came upon the practice of an actor turned therapist who taught this method for years and then trained others. Tony Khabaz, a renowned teacher and guide, who is based in France, will be guiding me along this journey.
And guess what? He teaches through experiential learning, acting, movement and will only teach me if I employ this method in my own life and with my own shadows.
And here we are. We are beginning.
Bring a blindfold and a box of tissues, he said.

The first step of 12 is the "Call to Adventure".
I will embark on this new therapeutic process and integrate dance, drama, writing, and art. I feel called to create a new story with you and for me.

11/21/2024

Grief lives in the body, in the spaces we create, and in the moments we share. This month, we gather in our *Expressive Arts & Belonging* group to honor loss and longing, weaving movement, creativity, and ritual to transform despair into connection.

Here, I am both teacher and student—offering what I’ve learned and holding space for your stories, your pain, and your hope. Together, we’ll co-create a sanctuary for our authentic selves, moving toward the energy of life in all its forms: peace, presence, and renewal.

Ritual gives shape to what feels unspeakable. In movement and art, we find solace, structure, and the sacred. By creating sacred spaces—whether in nature or within your home—we embody healing. Bring a special object, candle, or photograph to create a personal altar and help define this shared moment of grief, transformation, and belonging.

Let’s meet in this space of lightness and presence. Together, we’ll teach and learn to live from the reality we want to create.

Join us beginning Dec. 2nd – First Mondays, December through March. 🌿 Link in Bio

11/06/2024

🌿✨ Dive deeper this winter with us!
We’re inviting you to join our Monthly Expressive Arts Therapy Group—a space to explore what often stays hidden and unspoken. Led by licensed Creative Arts Therapists, each month we’ll come together in community, using movement, art, poetry, and other forms of expression to process themes like grief, fear, curiosity, embodiment, and connection through ritual.

This isn’t just about creating; it’s about connecting—with yourself, with others, and with the world around you as we move through the darker months. No art or dance experience is needed, only an open heart. ❤️

🗓First Monday of Each Month
December - March | 7:00-8:15 pm EST

Want to learn more or save your spot? DM us or join directly on our website balancedlifemovement.com

☆link in stories

09/23/2024

🍂 As autumn settles in, it serves as a reminder to tend to our mental health. The changing leaves can evoke feelings of depression, anxiety, and the weight of grief and loss. 🌳 Our Clinical Director, Jennifer, took a trip to the Adirondacks pictured above to process some of the loss she is going through. The rustle of leaves and the calm of a gentle stream created safety for feeling and being present.

At Balanced Life Movement, we recognize that this season can be particularly challenging. Our somatic therapy services provide a space to reconnect with your body and process these emotions in a supportive environment.

If you’re feeling the heaviness of the season, know you’re not alone. Reach out today to see how we can help you navigate this journey.

Visit us at the link in our bio to schedule a free phone call with our Intake Coordinator, Sarah. We are here for you.

08/01/2024

✨️This is major and intense!✨️

🌊Transformative Therapy Intensives🔥

We recently had a client come for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and he realized he needed the longer session to deep-dive into his history of trauma and explore the parts of him that needed healing – without engaging with Ketamine.

We dove into the depths to explore what felt blocked through movement therapy and art therapy in this 3-hour intensive. He left expressing that it was the most transformative experience he has ever had in any relationship. He was able to access his inner child, who had been neglected, and realized he could move forward with compassion and deeper understanding (rather than self-criticism). I'm still deeply affected by this experience myself as his therapist and realize the power of the relationship and the safety and love co-created can be like alchemy.

Inspired by this radical session and with renewed hope in our capacity to make remarkable, rapid shifts, I am excited to announce that we now offer:

Therapy Intensives using Somatic Therapies, Dance/Movement Therapy, Yoga, Art Therapy, EMDR, IFS, and talk therapies. Ready to tackle trauma, limiting beliefs, or unwanted behaviors? This is for you.

Our intensives create a sacred space for your nervous system to heal, with sessions ranging from 2-5 hours. We are fully virtual and offer these intensives in both NY and Massachusetts. If you prefer the intimacy of in-person sessions, we offer a retreat-like experience in Sullivan County, NY.

Unlock your innate healing capacity in a safe, supportive setting. These intensives can be more effective than weekly sessions if you find therapy to be too short or have a lot to unpack from a recent disruption or traumatizing event.

Consider if you're ready to shift a traumatic memory or unwanted behavior.

Therapy intensives provide:
- In-depth connection
- Gentle, tailored pace
- Self-care and relaxation
- Efficient, compact sessions
- Embodiment

Take the next step in your healing journey with a free consultation call to determine if an intensive is right for you.

06/23/2024

🌟 Struggling with anxiety, mood disorders, or complex PTSD? Explore our integrative psychotherapy, now offering virtual sessions and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Experience a holistic approach combining somatic therapy, art therapy, and evidence-based talk therapies from the comfort of your own space. Take the step towards healing and reclaim your well-being today.

Click the link in our bio to schedule a free, no-committement consultation call or visit balancedlifemovement.com to choose a best time to connect.

🌿

06/05/2024

📅 June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 🧠💙

Hey everyone,

This month, we’re shining a light on an important issue: Men’s Mental Health. Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health challenges men face and breaking the stigma that often surrounds it.

🔵 Why It’s Important: Mental health issues affect everyone, but men often face unique pressures and societal expectations that can make it harder to seek help. It’s time to change that narrative.

👥 Let’s Talk: It’s healthy to talk about your feelings. Our culture has taught boys to be strong and tough, which really just teaches repression instead of expression. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health concern, opening up is a powerful step toward healing and feeling strength in the vulnerability.

📞 Get Support: You’re not alone. Reach out to friends, family, or mental health professionals. There are resources and people ready to support you. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us.

💪 Strength in Vulnerability: Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. This month, let’s encourage each other to be open about our mental health and support those who are struggling.

📚 Learn More: Take time this month to educate yourself about men’s mental health. Share information, resources, and personal stories to help others understand the importance of mental well-being.

At Balanced Life Movement, we’re here to provide support and resources for those in need. Let’s work together to create a culture where everyone feels safe to seek help and talk about their mental health.



Together, we can make a difference. 💙