EP: 24 Healing Trauma Through Movement and Emotional Awareness

In this episode of Soul Therapy, with Chelle, I’m joined by the gorgeous and grounded Vanessa Leone, a movement therapist and host of the Meant to Move podcast. We explore the powerful link between movement, emotion and psychological safety — especially for those of us navigating anxiety, trauma or burnout. Vanessa invites us to rethink how we view exercise, shifting it from something daunting or rigid to a more personal, healing experience. As we chatted, I realised how often I’ve resisted movement myself, and how much of that comes from old conditioning and fear rather than the act of moving.

We also unpack Vanessa’s brilliant concept of “slowgress” — a gentle, sustainable way to build progress through small, consistent steps. She shares openly about living with an autoimmune condition and the challenges of perfectionism. Together, we talk about the importance of meeting ourselves where we’re at, creating safety in our bodies, and embracing movement as a form of self-care. This episode offers personal reflections, relatable moments and empowering reminders that I know will really resonate with so many of you. Tune into the next episode for the second half of our conversation, where Vanessa shares her personal journey and how movement became her medicine.

Connect with Vanessa Leone:
Instagram: @‌vlmovementtherapist
Facebook: Vanessa Leone – Movement Therapist
LinkedIn: Vanessa Leone
Website: vlmovementtherapy.com

Connect with Me:
Instagram: @_chellegriffin_
Facebook: Michelle Griffin Psychotherapist & Intuitive Guide
TikTok: @‌soultherapy.with
LinkedIn: michelle-griffin-325075127
Website: http://www.chellegriffin.com