Joanna Barrett Therapy & Wellness

09/22/2025

On Sunday, the last full day of Summer, I attended "Sonic Tonic: Autumn Equinox Sound Bath" with Reggie Hubbard atSun & Moon Yoga Studio . It was a deep experience of listening and feeling what Autumn sounds like through chimes, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, rain stick, and other instruments.

Then, this morning on the first day of Autumn, I woke up hearing the instrumental sound in my head of the leaves falling. I went out to my car and saw this on my windshield....

As we transition from Summer into the energy of Autumn, we are being called to turn inward and release what weighs us down. Just as the trees let their leaves fall, we too can let go of stress, worry, and what no longer serves us.... making space for rest, reflection, and renewal.

Autumn is about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go...

09/17/2025

Yoga is better with friends! Whether new or old, all friends are welcome at Sun & Moon Yoga! Join me for Flow & Yin on Tuesday evenings in Fairfax and bring a friend! See you on the mat!

Photo: and her childhood bestfriend (of more than 35 years 😳) demonstrate the preparation for Janusirsasana. 🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️

09/14/2025

Some exciting updates and new resources are coming this week, and my email community gets to hear it first!

Join me at www.joannabarrett.com —> scroll to the footer and tap “Receive Your Free Toolkit for Stress-Relief," then fill in your info. You’ll get a free resource I created and be the first to know when the news drops.

I can’t wait to share it with you!

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information on Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

09/09/2025

I’m deeply honored to partner with It's Lifey and co-facilitate our upcoming Widows Wellness Retreat at the beautiful Inn On Golden Pond in New Hampshire, October 24–26. It’s a true privilege to hold space, share my heart’s work, and walk alongside these incredible women as they navigate their grief journeys.

If you know a widow (whether in your family, community, or network) who could benefit from a women's weekend of connection, healing, and support, please share this retreat with them.

A heartfelt thank you to Jen (creator of It's Lifey ) for your trust, partnership, and vision in creating this space of compassion and renewal. ❤️

✨Join Session Leader & Retreat Co-Facilitator, Joanna Barrett, in October!

I’m so excited that Joanna, a licensed mental health therapist and trauma-informed yoga instructor, will be helping to lead It’s Lifey’s Fall Spiritual Wellness Retreat for Widows.

She specializes in supporting clients through stress, anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, and relationship challenges.

Her integrative approach combines Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Expressive Arts Therapies, and Yoga Therapy, which creates a compassionate, judgment-free space where clients can explore their experiences and reconnect with themselves.

In addition to bridging traditional therapy with mind-body wellness through practice and mentorship, Joanna is a speaker, consultant, Mental Health Expert for Scituate Living Magazine, an Ambassador with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, and a committee member for the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (National Capital Area Chapter).

🍁 If you’re a widow seeking peace, connection and healing, come join us October 24th-26th at The Inn on Golden Pond in Holderness, NH!

👇Find more on Joanna, the other session leaders, and to register for the retreat on the website:

https://itslifey.com/widow-retreat/

09/08/2025

"TURNING ANXIETY INTO EMPOWERMENT" was published in Spirit of Change Magazine.

Excerpt:
Have you ever felt your heart racing before a difficult conversation, your stomach in knots before making a big decision, or your mind spinning with what-ifs late into the night? If so, you are not alone. This is part of being human. But what if I told you that anxiety isn’t just something to “just get rid of”? What if it holds wisdom that is worthy of listening to?

Anxiety often gets a bad reputation, especially when we view it as something wrong with us, something we need to suppress, avoid, or fix. In our fast-paced culture, where productivity and perfection are often celebrated, there’s not a lot of space for the discomfort anxiety brings.

When we start to view anxiety as a messenger rather than a malfunction, we can begin to reclaim our power. We can choose to listen differently, respond more mindfully, and relate to ourselves with greater care.

One of the most empowering shifts you can make is to view anxiety not as something to shove away or suppress, but as a purposeful energy to channel into aligned action..."

You can access the article though the Spirit of Change website, or my blog: https://joannabarrett.com/2025/09/04/turning-anxiety-into-empowerment/

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

09/06/2025

Good morning and Happy weekend!

~Author credit: unknown

08/27/2025

✏️📚BACK to SCHOOL SUCCESS TIPS for PARENTS ✏️📚
A new school year brings excitement, opportunity, and -- let’s be honest, a little bit of stress for both kids and parents.

So, I’m re-sharing a blog post from last summer with practical, compassionate tips to help you. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into their final year of high school, these strategies can help you create more ease, connection, and confidence at home.

--> And, you get to see a few photos of me from over the years (lol)

What’s your go-to back-to-school tip that makes life easier for your family? I’d love to hear in the comments or private messages!

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

08/22/2025

From Outer Chaos to Inner Calm: A 6-Week Embodied Healing Series for Women

New, virtual cohort starting Thursday, September 4.

In a world that feels loud, fast, and overwhelming, it’s easy to lose touch with our own steady center. That’s why I created From Outer Chaos to Inner Calm: A 6-Week Embodied Healing Series for Women, a guided journey to support your nervous system, quiet the mental noise, and help you feel more grounded in your everyday life.

Over the course of this program, we’ll weave together mindfulness, breathwork, somatic awareness, and simple, practical therapeutic tools you can use anytime you feel overwhelmed. Each week builds on the last, so by the end you’ll have a personal toolkit to return to calm, no matter what’s happening around you.

This isn’t about “fixing” yourself or pushing through. It’s about slowing down, listening inward, and honoring what you need to feel safe, steady, and present.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, longing for more ease, or ready to care for yourself in a deeper way, this new cohort might be just what you need.

Why I created this program:
As a therapist, yoga teacher, and fellow human navigating life's complexities, I believe deeply in the healing power of slowing down, tuning inward, and reclaiming our inner calm. I created this program because I know that you're not broken. You're not alone. And there is a way through that doesn't require pushing harder.

Who It's For:
"From Outer Chaos to Inner Calm" is for deep-feeling, busy women (often creatives, caregivers, professionals, healers) who…
- Feel stuck, misaligned, or quietly unfulfilled
- Are navigating perfectionism, anxiety, or burnout
- Are exhausted from looping through self-doubt and overdoing
- Crave more peace, space, and self-trust
- Are ready for a mind-body approach that doesn’t bypass the hard stuff

What You’ll Learn & Experience:
Over six powerful weeks, you’ll learn to…
- Calm your nervous system using breathwork, gentle yoga, and mindfulness
- Soften your inner critic and perfectionist tendencies using IFS-informed tools
- Reconnect with your body as a source of wisdom
- Feel your emotions with compassion and safety
- Get clear on what really matters so you can live in alignment

Each Session Includes:
- Grounding movement and breathwork practices
- A weekly soul-centered theme + teaching
- Journaling prompts + personal reflection
- Group sharing (always optional, always safe)

6-Week Curriculum at a Glance:
- Week 1: Arriving & Grounding – Creating Safety in Body + Mind
- Week 2: Listening Within – Befriending the Inner Critic
- Week 3: Releasing Perfectionism & Overdoing – Moving from Performance to Presence
- Week 4: Returning to the Body’s Wisdom – Somatic Self-Awareness
- Week 5: Redefining Alignment – Living from the Inside Out
- Week 6: Integration & Ritual – Anchoring the Journey Forward

Bonuses:
- Weekly email from Joanna to check-in and provide summaries of the sessions
- Integration workbook with teachings and journal prompts
- Optional pre-recorded audio meditations and yoga flows for in between sessions

More Info:
- Dates: Thursdays from 6:30–7:45pm EST, starting September 4
- Location: Virtual – join from anywhere via a HIPAA-compliant video platform
- Investment: $540 for the series (payment plans and discounted rates are available)
- Space: Limited to 4-6 participants to keep the container intimate and supportive
- Information Website: https://joannabarrett.com/2025/08/22/calmseriesfall2025
- Enrollment: Please email me (hello@joannabarrett.com) with any questions, to schedule a 20-minute call, or to sign up!

If this speaks to you, I’d love for you to join us. Your calm is possible.

Many thanks,
Joanna

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

08/18/2025

Influenced by my mentor, / Seane Corn :

Place your hands somewhere along your body that you wanna make a connection with. Breathe. How many conscious breaths can you take?

There is no separation between the mind and the body. Everything that we think, feel, or experience has an effect on our cellular structure. Our response to the world is a byproduct of what it is that we internalized, and because of that internalization, we have suppressed emotion, and that has an impact on our central nervous system and the brain. It influences the choices that we make, how we perceive the world, and our ability to be present, especially in the face of conflict and crisis. Everything is an embodied exercise that elicits a response from our own lived experiences.

Breathe.

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

08/14/2025

As the Mental Health Expert Contributor, I have a new article published in Scituate Living Magazine: BACK TO SCHOOL TRANSITION TIPS FOR PARENTS.

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

08/03/2025

Sunflowers are often seen as a symbol of faith and devotion, spreading optimistic vibes and a sense of hope. In some Eastern religions like Buddhism, they’re even considered sacred and represent spiritual enlightenment. The way they naturally turn toward the sun is a reminder of our own journey toward growth, self-discovery, and something bigger than ourselves.

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

05/21/2025

From Outer Chaos to Inner Calm: A 6-Week Virtual Healing Series for Women

Begins June 10. Registration is now open!

Are you holding it all together on the outside but feeling overwhelmed or untethered inside? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay in survival mode.

This live, virtual series is designed for women ready to reconnect with themselves, release what’s been weighing them down, and rediscover a sense of calm, clarity, and inner steadiness.

Each week, we’ll gather in a supportive community to explore trauma-informed yoga, mindfulness, nervous system support, journaling, and guided self-inquiry. No yoga experience needed, just a willingness to show up as you are.

You’ll learn simple, repeatable practices to:
• Calm your nervous system
• Reconnect with your body and breath
• Quiet internal pressure and overthinking
• Feel more grounded, present, and whole

This is more than a yoga class or a therapy session; it’s a healing experience that honors your full humanity. You'll also receive special bonuses.

Tuesdays at 6:30pm ET, starting June 10 for 6 weeks
Live on Zoom | 75 minutes each week
Led by Joanna Barrett, LMHC, LPC, NCC, E-RYT

Learn more and register at: www.joannabarrett.com/yoga