Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nalu Cooley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nalu, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Mental health has been a thread woven through my life since childhood. I grew up in a household deeply impacted by mental illness. My mother struggled with suicidal depression, and my father battled bipolar disorder, often expressing it through uncontrollable anger. As a teenager, I ran away, trying to escape the chaos, only to find myself spiraling and hitting rock bottom.
I spent years trying to survive, navigating the corporate world, attempting to “fit in” and find security in traditional paths. But nothing felt right. At 21, I found my way into massage school, and everything changed. I became obsessed with anatomy and physiology, fascinated by the ways our bodies hold emotions and trauma. I realized that healing the body was inseparable from healing the mind and spirit. That discovery opened doors to deeper modalities of bodywork and, eventually, led me to acupuncture & functional medicine.
But even as I became a healer, mental health remained a personal journey. As a single mother and business owner, there were times I felt crushed under the weight of holding it all together, not just for my children, but for my team, my patients, and everyone who relied on me to show up strong. The truth is, I wasn’t always okay. I’ve had to confront my own mental health struggles, especially in recent years, as I unpacked deep core wounds connected to domestic violence, generational trauma, and suicide.
It’s been humbling to recognize how childhood pain can quietly echo through adulthood, especially when those same patterns start to show up in the people I love. But I no longer see that pain as something to hide. I see it as a guide. It’s shaped the way I show up for my clients, my community, and myself, with more compassion, more presence, and more truth.
Healing isn’t a straight path. It’s messy, nonlinear, and deeply human. But I’ve learned that when we allow ourselves to feel, to pause, to receive support, and to share our stories, we create space for real transformation. And that is the heart of my work today.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Nalu Healing Arts was created with a deep intention, to be a sanctuary for healing, where mind, body, and spirit are equally nurtured. We offer acupuncture, massage therapy, holistic facials, infrared sauna sessions, sound healing, and community events like yoga, breathwork, and guided meditation.
What makes NHA special is the energy we’ve cultivated. It’s not just about treatments, it’s about transformation. Every member of our team is deeply aligned in the mission of helping people reconnect with themselves and their bodies. We believe healing is not just physical, it’s emotional, energetic, and spiritual. That belief is woven into everything we do.
I’m especially passionate about mental health and pain relief, and the way emotions manifest in the body. In our treatments, we combine acupuncture with vibrational sound healing and intuitive guidance to help clients release what they’ve been holding, sometimes for years. I’ve witnessed firsthand how powerful it is when someone feels seen, safe, and supported in their healing.
Alongside my wellness practice, I co-lead Recharge Healing Retreat, a 2-day immersive experience for wellness professionals to pause, receive, and reconnect with themselves and their purpose. It’s been a dream project & a beautiful reminder that healers need healing too.
We’re currently launching a Sound Healing Course that blends the science of vibrational sound with hands-on techniques for both personal practice and client care. And most recently, we expanded our event space offerings at NHA, creating more opportunities for community healing. We now offer monthly memberships that allow guests to attend unlimited events, including sound healing, movement classes, guided meditations, and more.
At the heart of everything I do is a belief in resilience, connection, and the power of returning to yourself. Whether you’re receiving a facial, a sound bath, or an acupuncture session, my hope is that you walk away feeling a little more whole, and a little more you.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities that have been most impactful on my journey are resilience, emotional intelligence, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning.
Resilience was born out of necessity. Growing up in a household impacted by mental illness, becoming a teenage runaway, and later navigating life as a single mother and business owner, it taught me how to keep going even when everything felt uncertain. What I’ve learned is that rock bottom isn’t the end, it’s an unraveling. It’s the sacred space where all the parts of you that no longer serve your highest self begin to fall away. It’s where illusions die and truth rises. It hurts, but it clears the path. My advice to anyone early in their journey is: don’t fear the fall. Let it reveal what needs to be shed, so you can rise even stronger, more rooted, and more aligned in your power.
Emotional intelligence has allowed me to truly connect, with myself, with clients, with my team. Learning how to sit with my emotions, rather than bypass or suppress them, has been one of the most important skills in both my healing and leadership. For anyone starting out, I encourage you to slow down and really get to know yourself. Your emotions are not in the way, they are the way.
Lastly, lifelong learning has kept me inspired and evolving. From studying anatomy and the science of touch, to exploring energy medicine, business leadership, and mental health, I’ve stayed curious. I truly believe we are either growing or decaying. There is no standing still. We are meant to continuously learn, expand, and evolve, both personally and professionally. My advice is to stay humble enough to know there’s always more to discover, and passionate enough to never stop seeking. The more you learn, the more you uncover who you truly are, and the more powerfully you’ll be able to serve others from that place.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
One book that has played a powerful role in my personal and professional development is The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest. It dives deep into the concept of self-sabotage, how we often get in our own way, not because we don’t want to succeed, but because our internal beliefs and the wiring of our nervous system are still operating from old wounds and survival patterns.
The book explores how unhealed trauma can quietly drive our behaviors and decisions, and how transforming those patterns requires compassion, self-awareness, and a complete reprogramming of the nervous system. Every time I pick it up, I find a new ah-ha moment, something I didn’t fully understand the last time, or something that hits differently because of what I’m currently navigating. It always seems to meet me exactly where I am.
That’s the magic of books, they can be mirrors, teachers, and companions through every stage of growth. The Mountain Is You reminds me that the greatest mountain we ever climb is the one within, and that healing ourselves is the most powerful way to unlock our fullest potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.naluhealingarts.com
- Instagram: @naluhealingarts
- Facebook: Nalu Healing Arts
Image Credits
Richwell Correa
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