Meet Michelle Rathburn, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Yoga Instructor, and Founder/Owner of Soma Counseling and Wellness. Michelle is a Mom to Brooke (13) and Taylor (11), and wife to Aaron. In our Q&A below, Michelle shares what inspired her to become a Therapist, “specializing in depression, anxiety, relational conflict, burnout, and partner betrayal trauma and affair recovery”, along with some great Mom Advice!
Q&A
Where are you from?
I was raised in Santa Paula, a small Southern California town where 5 generations of my family have called home.
Tell us about your career? I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher. My husband’s career in the U.S. Navy and as a civilian Federal Government Employee has afforded us the opportunity to travel and live in different parts of the country, allowing me to diversify myself professionally.
Throughout my career I have worked with children, couples, individuals and families in a variety of settings including foster care, juvenile justice, those facing homelessness, domestic violence, trauma, abuse and within the pediatric healthcare setting as an educator and promoter of infant and parental mental health. Since living in Georgia, I have been in private practice specializing in depression, anxiety, relational conflict, burnout, and partner betrayal trauma and affair recovery. More recently, I completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training and post training certification in Prenatal Yoga. I teach publicly at Sozo Yoga Studio in the Town of Trilith and also offer one on one yoga sessions out of my private practice.
What called you to become a Marriage and Family Therapist and Yoga Teacher? Communication is always happening, emotions and thoughts are in constant motion, and life experiences are always writing a story within us. I have an insatiable curiosity of these patterns and the impact they have on someone individually and and relationally across the lifespan. My early childhood experience of divorce, being part of a blended family, and the complexity of interethnic parental influences on my developing identity led to a growing interest in counseling psychology.
What is the best thing about your job?
I have a true appreciation for the art and science of Marriage and Family Therapy. Therapists are invited into conversations that present unique opportunities to guide clients on an exploration of their emotional world and the part they play in it. I am truly honored and amazed by the clients that put their trust in me to walk alongside them in their counseling journey. Many of them are marked by experiences of deep emotional pain, loss, doubt, fear, and stress. Through it all, I get to witness transformation, hope, restoration and healing.
I have been a long time student of yoga and I knew at some point, teaching would be something that I would pursue. There is an intricate connection between the body and the mind. Our bodies are a container of our life experiences and the emotions connected to those experiences. Throughout my clinical work with clients, I often hear them describe the physical manifestation of their emotions. It can be challenging to identify how these experiences land within the inner landscape of the body and impact your social and emotional world. Which is what called me into learning more about the ancient practice of yoga and integrating it into my clinical work. Teaching publicly at Sozo has been a wonderful opportunity that has allowed me to share my love of the practice with our community.
What do you love about Peachtree City and surrounding areas?
We moved to Peachtree City in 2011 and since then I have loved the beauty of the area, the richness of community, and the miles and miles of golf cart paths that create a sense of peace and connection to nature.
What is your favorite “working mom” tip? Discover your family’s favorite meals and put them on rotation! As your kids mature, start teaching them how to prepare those meals so they can help. Some Rathburn Family favorites include “Taco Tuesday”, “Brinner” (aka Breakfast for Dinner), “Spaghetti Saturday” and “Sunday soup/chili”.
Advice for Mom’s you’d like to share:
- Being a mom comes with many highs and lows. While we work so hard to teach our kids valuable life lessons, take some time to pay attention to what THEY are teaching YOU.
- Raising kids takes a village – cultivate your village! Invest in friendships and seek a community where you can grow, receive support and extend support to others.
What Netflix Shows, Movies, Podcasts are you currently enjoying?
I am a sucker for true crime documentaries! I am waiting on pins and needles for the next season of Yellowstone to be released. Currently, my husband and I are watching Billions. One of the main characters is a psychologist which is why I think it piqued my interest.
The podcasts I love are The Huberman Lab, Mel Robbins, NPR Life Kit, and Practice You with Elena Brower.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our local Mom readers?
If you haven’t tried counseling or have been wondering how it can help you, let’s talk! It’s ok to ask for help. You don’t have to face things alone. Counseling can be the next right step towards positive change and personal growth. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]
For more information or to schedule a session, visit www.somacounselingwellness.com.
