About Me
Transforming Life Transitions into Life Upgrades
Even though today my heart feels expansive and I am able to process the difficult emotions that arise when unexpected change happens, some years ago my heart was shut down, frozen. I was disconnected from my emotions and from others, afraid to experience the grief and disappointment that comes when situations change and relationships end. You see, I was sent to live in the US from Brasil when I was 14 by my narcissistic father. The grief of losing all my friends, being away from my mother for the first time and having to adapt to a foreign culture was overwhelming and unbearable. My escape was food.
During the first year, I gained more than 50 lbs and became depressed. My body’s response was to halt my menstruation for an entire year. When I went home for Christmas, my mother did not even recognize me at the airport. This deep shame kept me from connecting with my lifelong friends. By the time I was in my early 20s I had already barricaded my heart. I used smoking to keep myself from feeling my emotions.
By the time I was in my early 20s I had already barricaded my heart. I used smoking to keep myself from feeling my emotions. When my mother developed cancer, she came to the Bay Area where I was living for chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She died in my arms two years after her diagnosis. I fell even deeper into depression and blamed myself for her death.
Once again, unable to grieve, my heart frozen solid, I became dissociated and disconnected from life and others. I hid the pain from myself as well as those around me. Maintaining a neurotic schedule by volunteering all of my free time to a spiritual community seemed like a good way to keep myself from being with and feeling the avalanche of emotions I was drowning in.
My heart was closed off to joy, happiness and love. For 30 years, I went through life as though half dead, carrying regret, shame and guilt that poisoned my life. This affected my relationships, my ability to feel joy and my sense of worthiness. When I was 34, I married a guy who was an alcoholic, emotionally unavailable and shut down as I was. Nine years later we were divorced.
Two years before the breakup, we had moved from California to Florida to start a new life after the death of my father. So, even though the decision was mine, I found myself without a support system, feeling completely abandoned. This time I cried for 2 years, alone, hiding my tears. My heart was broken in a million pieces, and I was too ashamed to let anyone know how much I was suffering. That was 2004.
When I finally started the process of healing my heart, grieving what could have been and what was, as well as releasing all the shame, regret and guilt, the enormity of what I had hidden from myself was such that I needed time and space to just be. The process was slow and painful. How could I have done this to myself?
Fortunately, I was working with a therapist who was able to guide me gently as I faced my past and my shadow. It was the most difficult but transformative period. Using all the tools I have used with my clients such as Emotional Release Technique, Inner Child Healing, and Heart Expansion Meditation was how I navigated this delicate time.
Then on April 3, 2023, I held my brother in my arms as he took his last breath. Once again, the grief was overwhelming. Although we had an intense and tumultuous relationship, he was the one person who believed in me. This time I was able to experience the grieving process naturally without suppressing any of the heartache or guilt. After several months of deep healing, I experienced an unexpected and powerful heart expansion. It was amazing to feel such deep love like I had never felt before.
On September 30, it was time to let go of my dog who was suffering from a variety of conditions. I had been dreading this moment and wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to handle another loss. For 4 days, I stayed by his side and cared for him exclusively. It was beautiful to show him how much I loved him and thanked him for being my companion through the most difficult 3 years. It was just as painful knowing that soon he would cross the Rainbow Bridge. Despite the heartache, I feel tremendous inner strength and feel deep gratitude in my heart for having had so much love in my life.
Transcending Grief: Awaken Your Heart includes:
BodyTalk™™ (Mind / Body Medicine) gives the entire body – brain and heart a voice in how to bring the person back into balance, release specific traumas as well as emotional blockages.
- Spiritual Coaching is an opportunity to perceive a deeper understanding of the meaning of loss or trauma in a person’s life.
- There is no bypassing grief but there is a way to support the grieving process gently and compassionately through energy healing.
- The first step is to have a healed heart able to receive and give love unconditionally.
- The goal is to use the grieving process as a catalyst for deeper transformation and renewal to step into a new identity.
- Certified Adv. BodyTalk Practitioner (2011)
- Certified Avazzia Microcurrent Biofeedback Therapist
- BioResonance Biofeedback & Spooky2 Practitioner
- Spiritual Dowsing - Raymon Grace
- SourcePoint Therapy Practitioner
- Gabor Mate - Master Class for Healers
- Emotional Release Technique – Lester Levinson
- Innate Healer Program for Spiritual Healing - Leonie David
- Human Design LYD Course
- Access Consciousness – The Bars
- Linking Awareness Intercellular Communication
- Holographic Kinetics - Steve Richards
- Healing Touch for Animals
- Theta Healing
- Bach Flower Essences
- doTerra Essential Oils
Juana was born in Bogota, Colombia and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. She has lived in Switzerland, Spain and Italy and traveled extensively throughout Europe, India, Japan, Thailand and Bali.
Juana received a degree as a Simultaneous Translator (English / Spanish / French) from Ecole Polyglotte, Switzerland (1979). In 1997, she received a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from San Francisco State University.
Why Choose Us?
Holistic Approach:
Our methods address mental, emotional, and physical well-being, ensuring a complete and balanced healing experience.
Experienced Support:
With personal experience and professional expertise in trauma recovery, we bring insight and empathy to every session.
Innovative Techniques:
Utilizing BodyTalk™, Inner Child Healing, and Emotional Release, we help you navigate grief and trauma for lasting resilience.
Safe Environment:
We create a warm, non-judgmental space where you can express, process, and rediscover yourself authentically.
