I often reflect on my life and how it has evolved into what it is today. There are days I ask myself, “How did I get here?” Then, somehow, something happens that shows me how all the dots in my life are connected, and I am reminded that I have been divinely guided to be right where I am—in my career, my relationships, my journey.

I have always had a strong desire to help others and have committed the majority of my life to doing so in one way or another. At a very young age, I felt drawn to working with youth, particularly those often mischaracterized as “challenging.” As someone who had my fair share of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), I realized early on that the youth I was most drawn to were simply misunderstood. Having faced my own emotional struggles early on, I became passionate about supporting others facing similar challenges.

While I was completing my undergraduate studies in psychology, there was a high demand for educators in my area. Knowing my heart was drawn to working with youth, I decided to double major in education. Immediately after graduating from college, I was hired as a teacher, walking away from the therapy world I once envisioned. I spent twenty years working in public education, developing systems of social-emotional and behavioral support, advocating for youth and their families while supporting their overall well-being individually and within the broader community. I have worked in both the traditional education setting and an alternative setting. I also spent years providing  social-emotional and behavioral consultation and training to schools and educators across my state. Throughout my two-decade career in education, here’s what I learned.

Each year, more and more youth are entering the school system, unable to focus and learn, often the result of adverse childhood experiences (Aces) or complex childhood trauma. No matter how robust the system of supports within a school setting, many youth continue to struggle. In my experience, no matter how hard our team tried to help youth foster resilience, develop greater self-awareness, self-advocacy, and the ability to self-regulate their emotions, we just couldn’t seem to get to the root of the real problem—  helping youth adequately process and release the uncomfortable physical (somatic) sensations stored at the cellular level that were related to early childhood neglect, abandonment, loss, grief, or other experiences that no child should have to endure. These somatic sensations regularly sent youth into a state of “fight-flight-freeze,” causing them to feel unsafe within their environment and unsafe within their body. We also learned that no matter how much counseling was provided, students continued to have difficulty, the reason being that talking about their struggles triggered hard-felt memories and sensations that triggered a physical and emotional response. The youth continued to be anxious. Continued to show signs of grief and depression. Continued to detach from their bodies, and sometimes reality, as a means for coping. Struggles that we knew if not addressed would follow them into adulthood. It became evident that what we were doing wasn’t working and that we needed to do something different.

As a lifelong athlete, outdoor enthusiast, and proponent of holistic wellness, I knew how connecting with nature, movement, high-impact sports, yoga, mindfulness, and holistic-based practices positively affected me. I couldn't help but believe bringing a more holistic approach, including mind-body modalities, into the education setting could help. So, I decided to seek training in adventure therapy, expressive arts, more personalized and flexible learning models,  therapeutic practices like cognitive behavior therapy and polyvagal theory, and mind-body practices like yoga, mindfulness, Emotional Freedom Techniques, and compassionate care training focused on holding a supportive and safe space.  Incorporating these techniques into our alternative education program made a huge difference. Youth, and their family members who were also carrying invisible wounds, started to rebuild trust, resilience, release pent-up stress, build confidence, and gain a sense of safety. In other words. They worked.

Since having left public education, I still find myself feeling passionate about emotional wellness, holistic health, and nurturing the whole being. At Hope Flows Holistic Health & Wellness, I offer compassionate, trauma-focused care for the mind, body, and heart, supporting clients emotionally, physically, energetically, and spiritually. I help clients navigate life’s challenges with greater ease by holding safe and sacred space for their unique journey of transformation and healing.

Through connection, co-regulation, and the light-touch of energy work, craniosacral therapy, and one-to-one Restorative and Yin Yoga, I help support the clearing of old emotions, stagnant energy, and self-defeating patterns, allowing clients to come back home within their body, restoring balance, improving focus, reducing anxiety, reducing pain, enhancing nervous system regulation, promoting healthy coping mechanisms for stress, and awakening their inner knowing, or truth. Clients report feeling an overall sense of balance, deep relaxation, decreased physical discomfort, wellness, improved sleep, increased energy, increased mobility and range of motion, and feelings of clarity and peace.

I work with clients across all age spans, from adolescence to seniors, and individuals nearing the end stages of life. The bulk of my services are offered in my office at Heritage Place, 469 Main Street, Suite 203, Springvale, Maine. I also offer compassionate in-home, non-medical services for families and individuals in the end stages of life.

It would be an honor to work with you or someone you love or know.

Light & Love

Tiffany