Charlena Marcuccio

Through sharing our story, we practice self acceptance. We teach ourselves that we, like everyone else, are human and deserving of love, compassion, connection, and celebration. For as long as I can remember, I've been inspired by the idea of healing. I started my academic career focused in the hard sciences inspired by a passion for nutrition, and later, sports medicine. While what was driving me was in part genuine, I was also in part driven by body image issues and disordered eating, and a need to make my parents proud, which I wasn't fully aware of at the time. I decided to apply to medical school, driven again by different parts within me trying to get their needs met. Luckily, after having a friend in medical school highlight for me that "doctors don't do healing", I changed my aim to holistic health: naturopathic medicine. While studying I experienced a health crisis, which opened me up to western philosophies, spirituality, energetics, and psychology. My healing journey, which began in what felt like hell, allowed me to pay attention to the voice inside that would say "there has to be another way [than what I've been taught]", and illuminated important questions like "am I suppressing my emotions to be liked and accepted by others? If I am, is this affecting my health?"

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In my relationships, platonic and romantic, I experienced attachment issues and struggled to feel safe in being fully seen, setting boundaries, taking up space, and understanding my needs. I would see patterns repeat themselves and think to myself that something must be wrong with me. It wasn't until I began therapy that I was able to see my struggles from a more nuanced and compassionate perspective, which gradually led to embodied change. Therapy is a slow process; beyond traumas in this life, we're carrying the weight of our ancestors on our backs (although they impart gifts as well). Looking back from where I am now, I am amazed and grateful for how much more authentic, spontaneous, and alive I am (overall).

Specific things about me you may be curious about: I have experience in the ethical non-monogamy space as well as the kink space, I am deeply passionate about how our early childhood experiences affect us today, and am passionate about exploring the trials and tribulations of what sexual empowerment looks like for women.