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    Meet the Therapist,
    Abigail "Abbey" Smith (she/they)

    MSW, LMSW, LISW

    Hello there! Welcome to The Grounded Grove.

         As long as I can remember, I have been a person who can easily feel others’ emotions and sense their intentions. I didn’t have the words for this as a child, though, which meant that I often felt incredibly overwhelmed and acted painfully shy. The times I felt most safe, seen, and celebrated were when I was communing with nature. From excitedly exploring the tadpole-laden creek in the woods to regularly visiting with the large, gentle Birch tree in my parents’ backyard, nature always felt like kin. This kinship served as an anchor throughout every season of my life and has played a key role in understanding who I am and how I want to exist in this world. It is probably no surprise to the folks who love me that I am now an Ecotherapist.

         I didn’t begin here, though. After undergrad, I worked in community mental health for a handful of years before attending graduate school, after which I entered the field of private practice. Initially, it was quite meaningful to support folks on their healing journey in this capacity. However, it quickly became demoralizing to watch them invest in therapy only to continue being overworked, underpaid, exhausted, detached, lonely, and taken advantage of on numerous levels. I realized that this wasn’t the business of healing, but rather the business of teaching people how to relentlessly cope with systems that are not made to genuinely support human wellbeing. That’s when I knew I needed to change the way I was approaching things.

         I want to live in a world where value extends to all living beings, and fear and lack do not rule our relationships with each other and the Earth. Enter: Ecotherapy and Reiki. The heart of Ecotherapy is about unlearning the many harmful ways we’ve been taught to interact with ourselves, others, and the natural world. In turn, we make changes that allow you to live a more aligned, whole, and authentic life. Reiki can be a wonderful tool in this process, as it supports change on a cellular level. I am happy to work with you using either modality separately or together.

         I recognize that we still exist within harmful systems and that they will not change overnight. However, I do think that such change is possible, and it starts with each of us taking accountability for our own healing. I think this work is more important now than ever, which is why I created The Grounded Grove. I am deeply passionate about what I do, and I hope you see that as you browse the website. I will never ask you to be perfect or without doubt in this process. I only ask that you show up authentically, and I will meet you there.

    For a deeper look at Ecotherapy and Reiki, please head over to the FAQs.

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    The Grounded Grove

    Reconnecting to Self, Place, and Belonging Through Ecotherapy & Reiki

    Meet Abbey
    Why

    Why Ecotherapy & Reiki?

    At a Glance, They Can Help With

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    Stress & Anxiety

    Ecotherapy and Reiki are two tools that work in tandem to alleviate stress, anxiety, and emotional imbalances. Therapy can create long-term, sustainable changes mentally and emotionally, while Reiki can create long-term changes energetically and physically.

    Emotional Healing

    Ecotherapy creates space for deep emotional healing through connection with Nature, fostering a reciprocal relationship that leads to inner growth, lifestyle changes, and new perspectives.

    Mind-Body Connection

    Reiki is a wonderful somatic tool. Short term, Reiki allows you to experience a sense of deep peace in your body. Long-term repeated use with a practitioner you trust can retrain your body to respond rather than react to stressors. It can also lead to a greater sense of safety within your body. Enhancing the mind-body connection is an important step in increasing our capacity to cope with all that life throws at us.

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    Spiritual Renewal

    Ecotherapy and Reiki are compatible with all spiritualities or lack thereof. Ecotherapy invites us to consider what it means to be part of something greater than ourselves (i.e. Nature or the more-than-human-world). We are then invited to deepen this connection and allow it to move us toward action and communal healing.

    Reiki is not a spiritual practice, but it can allow folks to feel connected to something larger than themself, if that fits into their worldview.

    Energy Balance

    Reiki promotes deep relaxation by balancing your body's energy centers, which can leave you feeling rested and replenished. Ecotherapy involves reflecting on where/how we spend our energy and redistributing appropriately. 

    Inner Peace

    We cannot face the horrors of this world if we are unable to cultivate and access a sense of inner peace. We cannot protect each other adequately if we are always stuck in fight-or-flight. Ecotherapy and Reiki, on their own, but especially together, allow us to meet the current poly-crises in a sustainable, embodied, and empowered way.

    Client Stories

    "I’ve always been interested in reiki but never knew much about it or where to go. When I saw that Abbey was a reiki provider I jumped at the opportunity for a session with her. We knew each other growing up, so I thought if nothing else I’ll be in safe hands. As a first timer, Abbey talked me through what to expect before we started. Our session was done virtually and I was a little skeptical about if you could still have a good experience that way. I shouldn’t have doubted!

     

    When we wrapped the session and Abbey talked through everything she did, saw, and felt while she worked. I noted certain things I had felt and she explained what happened on her end. She even noted things that I didn’t mention to her but I had felt during the session. The experience was both deeply personal and professional. A balance that can be rare in care providers. There was nothing generic about the session either. While Abbey might not have known what specific imagery or feelings meant to me, there was no doubt in my mind that what she told me could only have been for me.

     

    I will absolutely be going back for more sessions with Abbey. If you’ve ever thought “maybe I’ll give it a try” I promise it’s worth it. Abbey has a gift and I’m grateful to have been able to receive the care from her. Also take her advice and prep before! Drink lots of water and do not make other plans for after. You need the energy rest (and probably delivery for dinner.)"

    - Anika P

    Stay In Touch

    Phone

    919-438-1674

    Email

    Address

    2535 E Mount Hope Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

    We are in the Psychological & Behavioral Counseling building.

    Please see the FAQs to learn more about parking and building details.

    Contact

    The Grounded Grove is queer-owned and woman-owned. This is a space for all people.

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