Justyna Wawrzonek shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Justyna, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
I feel true joy whenever I know I’m making an impact—when someone feels safe, seen, and free to be themselves. Lately, I’ve been experiencing that joy most deeply through offering sound bath meditations.
There’s something profoundly meaningful about creating a space where people can drop into their bodies, take that deep sigh of relief, and simply be. It warms my heart to hear feedback from participants who felt safe enough to relax, to meet themselves honestly, to sit with their thoughts, or to allow tears to flow.
Supporting people in reconnecting with their authentic selves lights me up and makes me jump with joy. I feel so grateful that I get to do this through something I genuinely love—playing my crystal alchemy bowls and holding space.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Justyna, and I’ve been a psychotherapist for over a decade, specializing in trauma and sex therapy. Both personally and professionally, I’ve always been deeply interested in the mind–body connection. Over the years, I’ve studied yoga, somatic therapy, and movement-based modalities, continually looking for ways to bring the body into the psychotherapy space—because trauma, healing, and truth don’t live only in words.
More recently, I found a way to recreate the container of therapy—the safety, intention, and integrity—while allowing for movement, expression, and community. That’s how Embodied Truth + Power was born.
Embodied Truth + Power is a movement space in North Park, San Diego, rooted in the belief that movement can be a powerful pathway back to ourselves. Through strength training, boxing, yoga, sound meditation, and intentional community experiences, we support people in reconnecting with their bodies, owning the truth of who they are, and stepping into the power that comes from living authentically.
What makes this space unique is that it bridges mental health and movement in a way that’s grounded, trauma-informed, and deeply human. It’s not about performance or perfection—it’s about presence, truth, and embodied self-trust.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My work ethic comes from my parents. Watching how hard they worked their entire lives shaped me in ways I still carry every day. Growing up in Poland with very limited resources and then immigrating to the United States as a child teaches you a kind of strength and resilience that comes from pure drive—the drive to survive, to adapt, and to create a better life.
I saw firsthand the sacrifices my parents made, often quietly and without recognition, all with the hope of providing more opportunities for their children. That level of commitment, perseverance, and selflessness deeply influenced me, instilling both gratitude and a strong sense of responsibility to use my gifts, abilities, and talents to their fullest potential—knowing that the opportunities available to me exist because of their hard work.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
It hasn’t been fear as much as self-doubt. For a long time, I carried the belief that I wasn’t “good enough”—and it took me years to realize that belief wasn’t actually true. I spent a lot of time hiding, shrinking, and not taking up space because I assumed there was always someone more qualified, more knowledgeable, or more deserving of a voice than me. Without realizing it, I kept giving up my seat at the table.
Over time, I’ve come to understand that being myself—open, honest, and speaking authentically—is my superpower. I no longer feel the need to prove anything. Who I am is enough. I deserve to take up space, have a voice, and be fully seen. Letting go of that self-doubt has been incredibly liberating and has allowed me to start living freely, exactly as I am.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. The public version of me is the real me. The people who know me across different settings know that I’m an emotional creature—I laugh, cry, joke, and can be silly and goofy, and I don’t really know how to hide any of that. There have been plenty of professional meetings where I’ve cried or shown up raw and honest because that’s what felt true in the moment.
Whether personal or professional, I can’t follow a script. I speak from the heart, whether it lands perfectly or not. Being real isn’t always easy—sometimes it means being the one who feels messy, the one who cries, or the one who says what others might be thinking but don’t want to say. I do my best to show up with honesty, kindness, and consideration.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who loved deeply and fiercely, and who made others feel safe and truly seen. I hope they remember feeling lighter around me—smiling more, feeling loved, and feeling more connected to who they really are.
More than anything, I hope people felt empowered, encouraged, and inspired to be themselves in my presence. I’ve always tried to support and cheer people on, whether in my personal life or my professional work. At the core, it’s the same intention: I want people to feel that I believed in them.
If people think of me and feel the energy of love, then I’ll know I lived the life I was meant to live.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.embodiedgym.com
- Instagram: @embodiedgym
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyna-wawrzonek-dsw-lcsw-a41a40313
