Please introduce yourself (name/nickname, age, occupation and fun fact):

My name is Rachelle Pean (Chelle), I'm (newly!) 28, and work as a trauma informed therapist/social worker/yoga teacher. A fun fact about me is that I'm an only child! That's a super regular fact for me but I've noticed when I tell other people that they look at me like I'm an alien, so I guess it's fun.

What moment started your interest in social work?

I don't know that it was a moment, but it definitely was an accumulation of life experiences. I know from a very young age I had an up close and personal view of mental health issues with several family members, and I always wondered why some would recover or stabilize when others couldn't. That peaked my curiosity into the mental health world, and I have always been the friend that people come to to talk to, so after several years of that I realized that this was the work I was supposed to do.

Why social work?

Initially? To be honest I didn't want to take the GRE's and wanted to be a psychologist! (lol). I am SO grateful I landed in social work, because the more I learned about it the more I found it fit my personality and viewpoint. You have so much flexibility in the kind of helping work you do when you are a social worker; whether it's individual work, group work, or even policy work. I also find this is one of the few professions that has a holistic viewpoint built into it's training: you learn about the intersectionality of the different "ism's" and how that impacts an individual's functioning, as well as their own individual experiences and how that shapes their world experience.

Advice you have for folks who want to pursue social work?

DO NOT buy into the rhetoric that "we aren't in it for the money". You can be profitable and be a social worker. You are allowed to help others and also live a life that is comfortable. Know that this profession will change you for the better, that it will be uncomfortable at times, but that it is very rewarding. I'd also say that to do this work you need to be doing the work on yourself as well, because your own stuff will most certainly come to the surface as you help others work through theirs!

What are some of your self care routines?

I have a morning gym and yoga routine I aim to do about 4x a week. I also like to have several sources of inspiration that I can easily turn to so I keep my own well full (podcasts and books). I hear about some of the darkest parts of the human experience, so it's also super important to me that I do light and fun things, whether that's having fun with friends, or following a TV series.

Who has motivated to pursue your goals?

Several people along the way! I'd say my father always pushed for ongoing education and having a stable career, so he was part of the reason I continued to pursue my Master's degree. While in graduate school, I had a teacher that I looked up to very much. He had such a professional, educated, yet kind and caring presence, and modeled for me the type of social worker I wanted to be.

Describe one of the "free"est moment you've experienced in your life?

I love this question! I'd have to say it's come recently. I have had several experiences recently where it registers that I define my value and no one else does. I think when I was younger I felt I needed to measure up to some external person's standards, but as I grow in my life and this profession I realize that I am the one that defines the value of my experience, and nobody else. I'm allowed to carve out what this experience is supposed to be for me. That is freedom to me!

What is your greatest struggle right now? Dopest accomplishment right now?

My greatest struggle right now is being intentional about where I put my energy; there are many opportunities out there, but I can't be involved in everything and I want to be purposeful about what I choose to align with. Energy goes where attention flows, so it's important to me that I'm thinking about what direction I'd like to go in, but it's definitely a learning process for me.

My dopest accomplishment right now is that I've found my niche. I have started being mentored by an expert in the eating disorder treatment field to treat people with eating disorders at my clinic, and I am learning SO much about working with this population. I also recently started teaching a trauma informed yoga class at the YWCA, a supportive housing facility for women and children, and am really excited about this opportunity to provide a healing space there.

What is healing to you? What has helped you along your journey of healing?

Healing to me is the act of clearing out an infected emotional wound; it hurts SO badly when you pay attention to it, and we just want to cover it up and pretend it's not there, but that often makes things worse. We have to clear it out so we can heal back to our whole selves. The scar is there, but it just means we survived something and doesn't have to define us.

Yoga has been such a huge part of my healing journey. Talking helps, but for me, having an experience where I'm in my body and feeling freedom and love within my body has really helped me heal through pain.

1 book and 1 movie that you can read and watch repeatedly.

The Alchemist! Ohmagaw so good. It means something different depending what stage of life I'm at when I read it, and I always walk away with a new lesson.

City of God; it's so beautiful and jarring. I could watch it again and again. And the Lion King, I don't think I even have to explain why.

Shameless plug:

Describe your business, social media plugs, and projects that you'd like to promote.

Chelle Marie Wellness: All things holistic healing for the mind, body, and soul. Using talk therapy and yoga, I work with people to remove blockages in their life to move towards self love and feeling whole.

ig: chellemariewellness

website: www.chellemariewellness.com (My blog is on there #vibratehigher: articles about vulnerability, mental health, and self care)

You can come flow with me for #NamaslaySunday every Sunday at Yoga Bliss on the Blvd. (140 Erie Blvd. in Schenectady) at 12pm. 1 hour of self care yoga with a hip hop soundtrack!

Lada: What can I say about Chelle? We met briefly and I was so impressed. She is such an amazing spirit and so passionate. about what she does. Her yoga classes are dope, def check those out! Thank you so much for doing this Chelle <3