Colleen currently has immediate availability for new clients but has limited spots available––reach out soon to schedule!
Colleen Conklin
MA, LPC-MHSP, RYT; she/her
therapist + director of development
Being a creative is both wonderful AND hard.
Whether you’re a touring music industry professional, dancer, musician, writer, artist, actor, or work in another creative field, you know that doing work that’s both your passion and your livelihood comes with challenges that many people don’t understand.
As a former professional dancer, published author, and wife of a touring audio engineer, I have firsthand knowledge that working in these industries can be both a dream come true and a recipe for a wide variety of mental health challenges.
But the good news is that you can do what you love AND have a life where you feel connected, grounded, and healthy…you just may need a little support to get there.
I also believe that…
Connection is essential to overall wellbeing, and it also looks different for everyone. If you’re on a tour bus, in the studio, on a stage, or working on your next manuscript, finding time to connect with the ones you love has an added layer of difficulty. Your creativity is a gift that can help you find meaningful ways to connect, even with these challenges.
Creative industries can add extra fuel to the fire of challenges like disordered eating and substance use. Whether it’s pressure to lose weight to fit into a costume, normalized binge drinking that comes with being on tour, or trying to numb out from stressors you’re facing, it can feel impossible to free yourself from these behaviors.
Just because there are challenges to working in a creative industry doesn’t mean you have to make a career change. Of course, if you’re looking to make a career change, therapy can be a great place to explore that! But, if you’re looking to find a way to stay in the industry you love while also working on your mental health, therapy is an excellent space for that as well.
The tired old script in the music industry of “it has to be this way because it’s always been this way,” doesn’t have to be your story. You don’t have to suffer in silence or “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” just because that’s what’s always been done.
Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice. Everyone heals in different ways, and it’s important for us to collaborate to find what works best for you.
All bodies are good bodies. Our culture has a lot of distorted ideas around bodies and health. I believe that health can’t be determined by a person’s weight or size, and all bodies are worthy of respect.
Our bodies and minds hold a wealth of inner wisdom that deserves to be honored, explored, and often requires going beyond just trying to “logic” our way out of things.
These beliefs and my approach to therapy has been formed out of not just textbook knowledge and trainings (which are important) but also my own lived experience and that of the many clients I've had the privilege of working with. I am always striving to learn, grow, and evolve, both as a therapist and just as a messy, imperfect human.
My purpose with The Gaia Center is to provide a welcoming, non-judgmental space where you can be your most authentic self, feel deeply seen and heard, and live your dreams while also having a sense of true wellbeing.
I am most passionate about supporting folks working in creative industries, such as touring music industry professionals, dancers, writers, musicians, actors, and artists.
I also love working with folks who are navigating eating disorders and/or trauma.
My lived experience of an eating disorder is why I left my professional dance career, which has led to my desire to help fellow creatives stay in the industry they love while also protecting their mental health.
I’m married to a touring audio engineer who has worked with a wide variety of artists, ranging from folks who are just starting out, up to A-level artists. Through learning about his experiences, I have gained a wealth of knowledge about this unique industry.
I am also neurodivergent (autistic + ADHD) and queer, and I love supporting folks who share these identities.
In my work with clients, I take a whole-person approach for mind + body integration and trauma resolution, utilizing a variety of approaches including EMDR, Brainspotting, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), writing, trauma-sensitive yoga, and somatic + experiential techniques, based on each person’s unique needs.
Certifications & Trainings
EMDR Basic Training
EMDR for Complex Trauma
Onsite Psychodrama Training Institute
Comprehensive DBT 40 Hour Foundational Training with Shaelene Lauriano and Kathryn Butts, DBT-LBC Certified Clinicians
Radically Open DBT Levels 1 and 2
Brainspotting Phases 1 and 2
Family Based Treatment for Eating Disorders Introductory Training with Lauren Muhlheim
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Trauma
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) with Yoga Alliance (including trauma-sensitive and body-inclusive training)
Human First…
When I'm not working, you can find me writing romance novels, listening to Harry Styles/One Direction, doing Pilates or yoga, reading, or going on walks with my husband. You can keep up with my offerings and shenanigans here or on Instagram @colleenmwerner.
Do you want to schedule an initial session or phone consultation with Colleen?
Colleen works with adults (individuals and couples) and adolescents 12+.
Fill out the form on our contact page, or reach out to us at hello@gaiacenter.co or 615.270.8117 (call or text). We’ll respond within 24 business hours.
Hours & Rates…
🌱 Typically sees clients in office on Tuesdays and Fridays, with additional virtual availability on Wednesdays.
🌱 Individual 50-minute session is $165 ($185 for couples)
🌱 Individual 75-minute session is $245 ($275 for couples)
🌱 Colleen reserves several reduced-fee spots for clients in financial need, reach out via our contact form to see if any are currently available. Reduced fee services are also available with graduate interns at The Gaia Center.