We were lucky to catch up with Julie Fernandez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Julie, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Truthfully, confidence was a byproduct and not my end goal. When I was younger, I used to think that it was never possible for me to feel confident so instead I focused on healing from my childhood traumas, learning to like myself and eventually love myself. I committed to living a life that would make me happy. What I didn’t know is that it would require me to learn about myself – my most authentic self and live in a way that honors that. In short, my confidence comes from knowing who I am, connecting to my sense of worth, living in integrity and giving myself credit for creating a life that I am proud of.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am most passionate about supporting people in recognizing their resilience and their innate capacity to heal after experiences of chronic stress or trauma. My approach is holistic, utilizing the body and mind to understand our symptoms not as pathology, but as a normal response to difficult, life threatening or overwhelming experiences, helping people reclaim their bodies – trust in its innate wisdom, build confidence and walk with new embodied purpose.
What feels most special about my work is the creativity and the endless possibilities for the ways we invite the exploration of unsettled trauma and chronic stress in the body and work to recover and heal so they can finally move through life feeling stronger, with less anxiety and stress, more confidence, peace and connection. As a somatic practitioner, I explore all ways we can work with the body: from breathing, mindful movement, expressive dance and art, strength training, martial arts/self-defense, to even using skydiving and endurance training as therapy.
I am excited to share about a new program that I am currently developing for folks who want to use running as a way to connect more deeply with their body and spirit, heal from trauma and learn to respond differently to difficulty and stress. I will be sharing more details this fall!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My curiosity is, I believe, my greatest and most important trait. It’s what led me into and guided me on my healing journey. It is at the root of any other quality, skill or area of knowledge that we can acquire. Curiosity encourages emotional regulation, which is another great skill; it guides us out of the cycle of reacting and instead explore our emotions with compassion by getting curious about our emotions and why we feel the way we do. Curiosity also empowers resilience, which is a skill that needs to be practiced regularly. When we get curious instead of reactive, we are more likely to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth.
My best advice is to get curious which allows us to take an active role in our own healing journey. It empowers us to make choices, set goals, and take steps towards personal growth.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
The clients that I work with have experienced various forms of childhood trauma, whether physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence in their home or community and they are actively seeking healing and recovery from the impact of their traumatic experiences. They are committed to addressing their trauma and are looking for effective ways to do so beyond traditional talk therapy. They have a strong desire to regain control over their life and regain their personal power. They want to grow, evolve, and thrive beyond their past experiences. They also possess a degree of resilience and determination, which is vital for the healing process. They are willing to put in the effort required to overcome their trauma.
Typically, they may struggle with managing unresolved emotional triggers related to their trauma and experience constant stress and anxiety which can manifest physically and cause sleep disturbances. Their traumatic experiences can impact their ability to perform daily tasks or pursue their goals and passions leaving them feeling stuck or unable to move forward partly due to their deep-seated beliefs about their worthiness, loveability, or competency. Surprisingly, some clients may have an unconscious fear of success. They may worry that healing and empowerment will change their identity or relationships, which can create resistance to progress. They usually come to work with me when the tools they’ve been using to cope and manage their symptoms are no longer working. When we work together, we are working to heal at the root of the trauma rather than managing symptoms.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mettahealingarts.com
- Instagram: @jules_mettahealing
Image Credits
Malena Lloyd
