Cyndi Collen

Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or discouraged by approaches that seem to only address part of the picture. They may be trying to manage anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, depression, grief, or relationship challenges but wonder why past therapy, books, podcasts, insight,  medication or other treatments have not created lasting relief.

My work is rooted in the belief that we are more than diagnoses, and that emotional suffering cannot always be understood through the brain alone. Healing often involves the nervous system, the body, relationships, lifestyle, and the adaptations we have made in order to survive.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, I bring both clinical depth and a whole-person perspective to my work. I hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin and am licensed in Texas, Maryland, and Minnesota. I am also a certified HeartMath practitioner and Kundalini Yoga Teacher.

My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and practical. Drawing from polyvagal theory, attachment theory, Internal Family Systems, NARM, CBT, somatic therapy, mindfulness-based practices, and integrative mental health, I help clients build awareness, strengthen regulation, and develop tools for meaningful change. My goal is not to keep people in endless talk therapy but to help them move from coping to flourishing.

At the center of my work is the Flourish 5-Pillar Mental Wellness Framework – a whole-person method that integrates emotional regulation, environment and lifestyle, social and relational health, mind-body connection, and the deeper threads of mindfulness, purpose, and meaning.

What many clients appreciate most is that I bring both depth and humanity to the process. I strive to be thoughtful, grounded, and deeply attuned, while helping people better understand themselves, create healthier patterns, and move toward lasting healing. My style is relational, empathetic, sometimes humorous and, if the client consents, challenging. 

When I’m not working or learning, I love to cook for myself and others, take my canine companion on walks and errands,  spend quality time outside admiring mother nature, laugh until my cheeks hurt, and continue the mindfulness and somatic movement practices that have shaped my life for over 20 years.