Beyond the Diagnosis: A Holistic Framework for Treating Anxiety in Clinical Practice

$60  |  Three (3) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for licensed social workers, professional counselors, marriage & family therapists*

Too many clients aren’t getting better. Integrative approaches — nervous system science, somatic practices, nutritional neuroscience, and trauma-informed care — are changing that.

Join us to learn the holistic frameworks transforming anxiety treatment and delivering sustainable wellness for your clients.

Brief Overview

This presentation uses “holistic” intentionally — not as a buzzword, but as a framework. It refers to the whole body as an interconnected system, where biology, environment, and lived experience all shape our mood, cognitive functioning, and behavior: the central elements of mental healthcare.

From this lens, symptoms are not problems to be eliminated. They are messages from the body — signals asking for attention, nurturing, and a path back to its natural state of ease. This perspective opens new possibilities for therapists: richer assessment, fresh techniques, and a deeper way of meeting clients who are yearning for relief.

Learning Objectives

The learning objectives of our three-hour professional development event are:

• Gain understanding of the term ‘holistic’ in reference to mental health assessment and treatment
• Understand the difference between conventional, complimentary, alternative, functional,  integrative and nutritional mental health approaches
• Learn about the interconnectivity between the autonomic nervous system and enteric nervous system
• Understand the importance of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) state and possible causes of chronic SNS engagement
• Learn about the risks in sedating anxiety with common anxyliotics and SSRIs
• Learn at least 5 possible root causes of anxiety
• Review one assessment tool professionals can use to highlight possible root causes of chronic anxiety
• Practice and experience nervous system regulation with two different somatic techniques

Presenters

Our presenters are holistic health professionals with over 30 years of combined experience. They specialize in functional, integrative, somatic, and nutritional protocols — all grounded in evidence-based practice.

Cyndi Collen, LCSW-S, CIMHP, CKYT   — Psychotherapist and the Clinical Director and Owner of Flourish Holistic Mental Wellness with 13+ years of experience practicing holistic, integrative, mindful, and trauma-informed care long before it became a mainstream conversation.

Brenda Gregory, MS, FDN-P, AQB-P –  Functional Medicine Nutritionist with over a decade of experience supporting clients with complex health, mood, and energy challenges, Brenda blends nutrition, functional lab analysis, quantum biology, and nervous system work to help people reconnect with their bodies and feel like themselves again.

Vanessa Bighinatti, CFHC, EFT / TFT Practitioner – Vanessa is a nervous system coach and health advocate who healed herself from over 50 symptoms, including chronic Lyme, POTS, and gut issues. She now guides women out of chronic stress, anxiety, and dysregulation into peace, vitality, and joy. She works with clients through somatic tools, emotional guidance, and nervous system regulation.