Consultations
Are you grieving?
Are you navigating a significant life transition?
Do you need a compassionate/mindful heart to hold space for you?
Holding Space Consultants work within a specific scope of practice ~ offering up their compassionate presence in a way that integrates mindful breathing, reflective listening, a focus on the body’s wisdom/sensations, and meditation.
*Holding Space Consultations are distinct from formal mental health counseling.
$120 per session
Institute members pay $60
*Pro-bono consults are available
Schedule a consultation
HOLDING SPACE CONSULTANTS
AVAILABLE FOR March 2023
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Heather Tolley holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Utah, has completed graduate level counseling training as an interfaith healthcare chaplain (Clinical Pastoral Education), and specialized training in supporting survivors of abuse and sexual assault. Heather offers compassion and skilled emotional support to those going through life’s most challenging experiences and specializes in assisting individuals and families who are in the midst of crisis and grief. Through her work as an interfaith hospice chaplain, she has helped many people transition through physical decline and prepare for the end of life. Having also trained as a birth and bereavement doula, Heather has offered support to individuals and families through both birth and death. Heather is honored to support those experiencing faith crisis, spiritual transition, and survivors of religious trauma. She supports the healing process by bringing softness to sharp moments through skilled listening and loving kindness.
Paule Johanne Toussaint-Parrish (Joie) ~ (she/her) holds an Ed.S in Counseling from Rider University. Joie is the founder of Joie de Vivre Family Services. She is a Master Teacher, Educator, Birth Doula, Life coach, Parent Coach, Wife, and Mother. Joie holds an Administrative
Laura Tashjian holds an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy with a focus in humanitarian studies, gender and conflict resolution and completed a certification in Global Nutrition Programming. She works in the field of gender justice and is a professional birth doula, lactation counselor and trained in bereavement and trauma-informed yoga therapy. Laura is deeply rooted in practices of meditation and somatic explorations through yoga, sound/music and mindful intuitive movement. She anchors her work around themes of sacred connection, cultivating healing through loss, inter-generational trauma, and navigating the vulnerable edges of cultural identity and social injustice. Laura accompanies individuals with compassion, deep listening and an open heart. Learn more.
Tobie Spears holds a BA in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Utah and has completed a Certificate in Criminology from the University of Utah. Tobie is the Founder of the nonprofit Be Humanitarian where she leads humanitarian-minded expeditions to explore Guatemala while paying it forward. Since 2007, Tobie has been working as a birth and postpartum doula where she has volunteered with the Utah Doula Association as President, Vice-President, Mentoring Chair, and Retreat Chair in service to birth and postpartum doulas across the state of Utah. Tobie has assisted families through the excitement of birth, the sorrow of loss, and has a particular focus/expertise in supporting people through postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Tobie is honored to be able to offer private consultations for individuals as they travel through life’s journey as a Holding Space Consultant for The Institute. Learn more.
Kathleen Putnam holds an MS from Bastyr University and founder of NutritionWorks, with a specialty in nutrition science, mindfulness, and lifestyle coaching in Seattle WA. Kathleen is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Parent Coach, Educator, Group Facilitator, Food Therapist, Certified Death Doula, and Life Coach specializing in Life’s Transitions through Grief and Loss. Kathleen supervises graduate students at Bastyr Natural Health Clinic and has served as Associate Professor of Nutrition and Human Development in multiple higher education institutions in the Seattle area. With decades of work as a trainer and provider with the Dean Ornish Lifestyle Medicine and Laurel Mellin’s Emotional Brain Training programs, Kathleen has built a foundation of skills and tools of mindfulness, responsive education, group facilitation, and coaching that has led to the desire to be a healing presence for those experiencing transitions through loss, grief, and end of life. Kathleen’s known for her ability to meet people where they’re at while creating a safe and loving space free of shame and stigma. As a parent, partner, sister, daughter, and a survivor of divorce, Kathleen welcomes the opportunity to join the community of Amy Wright Glenn as we collectively and individually learn and grow to hold space for those in need. In a fun side project, Kathleen and her friends developed the nutrition bar, Zing. Kathleen offers coaching for individuals, parents, and families going through life transitions of loss, health, and end-of-life transitions and facilitates grief groups. Learn more.
Melinda Hitchcock ~ (she/her) holds an MSW from Fordham University. In the last 20 years she has worked with families and individuals battling homelessness and addiction. At Little Sisters of the Assumption ~ a non- profit family health service in East Harlem, New York City ~ Melinda provided Spanish speaking services and support to immigrant families and refugees of all faiths to help them meet their most fundamental needs. At Angels at Risk in Los Angeles, California she helped guide students and their parents through life struggles and helped them build foundations for long term social stability. At In Balance Academy in Tucson, Arizona, a therapeutic boarding school for young men, Melinda used an array of experiential treatment modalities, including equine therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy. Melinda now lives in upstate New York, while mentoring women in her community who are struggling with addiction and basic coping skills. Melinda’s life contains a myriad of experiences that, through triumphs and tragedies, have brought her to the reality of living her desires and being of service to others. Her focus is specifically on the development of the individual and the healing and strength of family relations through positive solutions. Her passion for her work extends beyond self, and her education. Her goal is to provide guidance and hope for all those who come under her care.
Anne Ferrier Crook ~ (she/her) holds a B.A. from American University in French Language and Western European Studies. She is a Certified Integrative Health Coach, AADP, Holding Space Consultant, Certified Birth Doula, CD(DONA), and Certified Medical Interpreter, CMI-Spanish. She has worked in many facets of healthcare for the past 22 years with regard to holding space for life’s sacred thresholds. Anne is passionate about supporting clients to heal and transform their body-mind-spirit through an integrative approach so they can shift from “surviving” to fully thriving. She specializes in anxiety/depression, hormonal imbalances, sleep issues, posttraumatic stress, and women facing breast cancer. Anne is also a consultant with Institute for The Study of Birth, Breath, and Death where she supports others navigating grief/loss and significant life changes through private consultations and support groups. She brings a compassionate presence and empowers clients to re-ignite their inner healer for greater joy and vitality. She has been featured in online publications, podcasts, a global docuseries, and 2 best-seller books called “The Global Resilience Project” and “Thresholds: 75 Stories of How Changing Your Perspective Can Change Your Life.” Learn more.
Beth Anne Fisher (she/her) holds a BA and Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Colorado. She also holds relevant certifications and training in Holistic Pelvic Care, Maya abdominal therapy, health coaching, HeartMath, spiritual direction/ soul care, and a mindful movement practice (MELT Method L2). Beth Anne provides holistic pelvic health physical therapy services to those in female bodies using an integration of the above skills with an emphasis on gentle manual therapies and holding space for pelvic bowl stories of all kinds. Beth Anne sees the womb space in the female body as a “sanctuary” of sorts, and therefore identifies most with being a chaplain of that womb space. While tending to the physical symptoms, Beth Anne intentionally and gently supports the connection between energy, emotions, and stories that women’s bodies hold including themes such as pregnancy loss, fertility challenge, trauma from difficult birth experiences, pain from pelvic challenges such as endometriosis, and difficulty moving through thresholds of female body experience such as the menopausal transition. Beth Anne is passionate about supporting others through gentle bodywork and/ or supportive listening practices to tend the messages and wisdom of their bodies while experiencing any kind of grief or loss through private consultations. Learn More