Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa-gissele Holliman
Hi Vanessa-Gissele, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
This initial question, may be an easy answer for most, but I really had to sit with this. Since I can remember, I’ve known my purpose was to help others lessen their suffering, bring a shining light and share my innate wisdom. As a child my mother engaged me in community service by volunteering to provide meals for the unhoused and donating gifts and essential needs to non-profit agencies. At 17 years old, the light in my life dimmed after experiencing my first sexual assault. I knew this single act was going to change the trajectory of my life, but I had no idea how. My experience of sexual violence lead to a path of advocacy and support. There are many services for those who experience domestic violence, but to experience a violent sexual assault, requires a different type of help that is not commonly discussed, well at least not when I entered the mental health field back in 2009, prior to the MeToo movement. It was my need for my own healing and inability to access it, that I started a mission of self-healing and transformation that combined the clinical experience I received from being a social worker and a need to end my own suffering through spirituality. I knew women needed to have both clinical support and feel connected to something higher than themselves to feel a sense of Self, a connection and Soul nurturing to heal from violent sexual traumatic experiences. So I decided to be the bridge between the science and the spiritual and combine both in my clinical practice.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road has always been far from smooth. I was born breech with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck, so it feels my story is often “grasping for air.” After my sexual assault and gaining some functionality, I went to college and began my career in community mental health. Around 26 years old, I found myself in a domestic violence relationship that almost ended my life by strangulation, so again, I tried traditional support and was unable to find a sense of self, hope or joy. After a state of functional freeze, I met my second husband who was an officer in a Motorcycle Gang, yes think, Sons of Anarchy and I’m Tara, trying to balance the line of feeling false safety, being surrounding by toxic masculinity and guiding others on their trauma journey. For obvious reason, this relationship wasn’t going to survive as I continued to work through my Shadow parts and when I decided to leave, he ensured my road was not easy. This relationship was filled with emotional manipulation, physical intimidation and sexual abuse through coercion. Fortunately for me, I have experienced trauma before so I felt I had a better idea of how to support myself, through clinical resilience skills and spirituality. In 2019, my need for connection and my sense of Self peaked, which led me to a deeper dive into astrology, crystal healing, energy transmutation and elemental practices. These practices and my clinical background created BEing Wholistic.
As you know, we’re big fans of BEing Wholistic. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At BEing Wholistic, we empower trauma navigators with resilience skills and spiritual practices to reclaim their voice, power, and sense of Self. Rooted in the wisdom of AstroPsychology, somatic healing, and integrative mind-body-spirit care, our mission is to guide individuals toward intentional, authentic living.
We bridge the mystical and the clinical, illuminating the interconnectedness of ancient spiritual traditions and modern neuroscience. Through astrology, cognitive reframing, Reiki, embodiment, and ritual, we provide a pathway to nervous system regulation, meaning-making, and profound self-connection.
Our work is not about reliving the past—it is about rewriting the present. We equip individuals with the tools to detach from trauma narratives, cultivate self-awareness, and embody resilience. Through education, consulting, and ethical integration of spiritual practices into psychotherapy, we envision a world where serenity, laughter, and deep connection replace survival mode.
At BEing Wholistic, healing is not just about processing pain—it’s about rediscovering who you are beyond it.
What I really want your readers to know is that therapy, trauma recovery and healing doesn’t have to be mundane. I want to introduce Healing Beyond Therapy: Spiritual & Embodied Resilience. A space where ancient wisdom meets modern healing, and your journey toward empowerment becomes a co-creative, transformative experience with AstroPsychotherapy – aligning with the stars to uncover your unique path to healing through a blend of astrology and therapeutic techniques; Crystal Healing – harnessing the energetic magic of crystals to balance your body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in ancient traditions, crystal healing uses the natural energetic properties of crystals to support the body’s energy fields, promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being; Oracle cards – tapping into your unconscious with sacred symbols that reveal hidden truths; Symbolic Rituals – creating intentional practices that bridge your inner world and outer reality; Nutritional Trauma Recovery – addressing nutritional imbalances that hinder your body’s natural healing. Trauma profoundly impacts the body’s systems, depleting vital nutrients and disrupting natural healing processes. By focusing on nutritional deficiencies and their relationship to symptoms, we identify specific needs to support cellular repair and energy balance; Intuitive Healing – reclaim your inner wisdom and trust your own voice; Essential Oils – awaken your senses and harmonize your emotions with nature’s fragrant gifts; Sound Healing -let therapeutic frequencies align your energy and soothe your soul; Reiki-Assisted Social Work: Deepen emotional awareness and access repressed patterns through the calming embrace of energy work.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have never really aligned with therapy or the identity of being a therapist, despite being a therapist for the past 6 years. I entered the behavioral health field as a social worker back in 2009 and I look forward to transitioning back to providing social worker in the lens of Integrative Mind-Body-Spirit Social Work after years of learning how to integrate my personal story with clinical theory and that I don’t consider myself an “expert” or “specialist” despite navigating the trauma world for the past 10 years. This is because we are constantly learning how much we truly don’t know about how the mind and body processes it’s external experience. It is my acceptance of being an ever-evolving practitioner, that drives my need to innovate how I bring healing and recovery to the world.
Pricing:
- Integrative Mind-Body-Spirit Social Work (60-90 mins): $180-220
- AstroPsychotherapy Readings: $333/session (90 min sessions)
- Psychotherapeutic Reiki packages: $180/session (75 mins)
- Trauma Partner Support (Couples coaching/consultation): $220 (90 min sessions)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beingwhol-istic.com/my-approaches/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingwholistic/
- Other: https://kangaroo-mouse-kyac.squarespace.com/shop
Image Credits
Headshot: Kristina Lee with Poppi Photography
Digital Media Thumbnails: Erikaa Briones with Bechingonamedia
