We recently caught up with Ruscombe mental health therapist Elizabeth McCarthy, MS, LCPC, E-RYT, to learn more about the multiple growth experiences she has created to guide us to our inner strength and wisdom.
Ruscombe: Thanks for the many outreach programs you are offering these days, Elizabeth. Tell us why you brought your practice to Ruscombe?
Elizabeth McCarthy: It is an honor to be a part of the dynamic Ruscombe Community as a private practice licensed mental health therapist. I am the proud owner, or should I say kaleidoscope operator, of Healing Self Wellness, whose mission is to guide those interested, into their inner wisdom through movement, parts work (Internal Family Systems), nature-informed therapy, mindfulness, breathwork, and other expressive modalities to teach themselves how to live a life of awe. I was drawn to Ruscombe by its sheer boundless positive, healing energy, no kidding. A colleague brought me to the property, and I was memorized by the vibrational pulse of every aspect of the place: from the people, to the mission, the history of the space, the pond, the neighborhood, and the gardens and greenhouse, just to name a few aspects. It resonated with me so strongly and my practice that I stayed. My plants love it, as well.
I grew up near and in the Appalachian Mountains, received my BA in Cultural Anthropology from Appalachian State University with a minor in Sustainable Development; MS from Johns Hopkins University in Clinical Community Counseling; received my Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor license in 2006; many, many continuing education credits over the past almost 20 years, most notably a certificate in mindfulness-based stress reduction, nature-informed therapy, poly-vagal nerve theory, and training in Internal Family Systems. My most recent enjoyments are intertwining yoga teacher training into my practice, offering individual and group sessions. I am a 200-hour E-RYT with Yoga Alliance. I focus on poly-vagal nerve, trauma-informed care which comes from a 40-hour Foundational Training in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga from the Justice Resource Institute’s Center for trauma and embodiment. I’m looking forward to gaining more knowledge and wisdom from upcoming yoga ecology, nutrition, and poly-vagal nerve yoga training to continue to best serve my clients.
R: How did you come to your specific practice?
E: I started Healing Self Wellness after being in a group practice for a couple of years, and noticing a gap between mind/body practices and talk therapy. We now have a vast bank of research validating mind/body practices in mental health therapy, which lends to longer-term positive outcomes. Working at Johns Hopkins Bayview Community Psychiatry Program for seven years, I also learned to value a strengths-based, holistic approach, very different from the Western medical model of dis-ease. Healing Self is committed to helping folx understand and befriend their authentic selves to get the most out of their human and more-than-human experience through all areas of wellness: cognitively, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.
R: What is new for Healing Self Wellness?
E: We recently hired two new amazing therapists: Carl A. Carlton and Shira Katz, who are taking new clients virtually and in-person at Ruscombe. At Ruscombe, we are not only blessed with beautiful office space, but clients and their therapists can walk the grounds, if they chose, to soak in the healing effects of nature. Go to https://www.thehealingself.com/meet-us to learn more about our growing practice and find a great therapist for yourself! We take most insurance, and use Simple Practice EHR for seamless, HIPAA compliant professional care.
R: Tell us more about the Full Moon Circles at Ruscombe.
E: It’s a dream come true to guide the Full Moon Circles at Ruscombe each month, giving us lunar lovers a space to call down her energy, and gratefully send it out to the world for healing and rejuvenation. The full moons are a time of rebirth, creativity, and many festivals around the world. We celebrate these festivals, goddesses, and nature-based spiritualities in a safe community usually by the Mansion pond, weather permitting. We invite all to bring a small offering, and join us for evenings of peace, renewal, and connection. You can visit our Eventbrite page at https://tinyurl.com/mrx7e5x3 to learn more. I’m looking forward to helping more at Ruscombe, with the garden, hopefully more yoga classes, and an art installation in the Community Hall in the fall. I taught three series of gentle, trauma-informed yoga at Ruscombe within the past year.
Speaking of “in the fall” I can’t forget to mention our Fall Women’s Reset in Nature Retreat at Shepherd Spring Retreat Center from Friday October 25th – Sunday October 27th. This is our third year of deep immersion into Nature’s Healing Power as we reconnect through formal and informal nature informed therapy activities in a safe and receptive environment. To learn more go to https://nurtured-well.com/womens-wellness-retreat-for-burnout/.
R: How do you stay grounded and balanced with so much going on?
E: I honestly don’t have a lot of spare time these days, but all this really keeps me uplifted and in flow. My mindfulness and yoga practice are the cornerstones of my wellness. whether I’m doing Ujjayi breath throughout the day, or my formal practice in the morning outside. I also bow to nature in all her gifts to maintain my sanity, through nutrition, naturopathy/herbology, and foraging. I love to camp, ride bikes, swing on swings, knit/crochet, garden, and spend time with family, friends, and my two cats. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the strong healing community that is Ruscombe. Blessed Be.
Learn more about the kaleidoscope that is Healing Self Wellness at www.thehealingself.com.