Emotional and Physical Wellness

Wellbeing is an important barometer for all ages on the journey toward better futures. At LifeWise StL we take a holistic approach to helping children and adults better understand the connections between their emotional health, physical health, and ability to flourish in life.

The LifeWise StL Emotional and Physical Wellness team is made up of highly credentialed and trained professionals who work with adults, youth, children, and staff to provide mental and physical health services as well as promote wellness throughout all programming at LifeWise. We are committed to making emotional wellness services accessible. To this end we also provide consultation and serve as program assistants in national training so clinicians are better equipped with the cultural competence to work with marginalized communities. Support is offered in a variety of formats including: classes, therapeutic groups, support groups, one-on-one coaching, individual therapy, care coordination, and staff support.

Physical Wellness Programs

Exercise Classes

Exercise Classes, such as Zumba, cardio, bootcamp, yoga, are offered weeknights from 6-7pm. Childcare is available all nights except Fridays.

Nutrition & Health Classes

Partnering with students from Saint Louis University, Goldfarb School of Nursing, and Washington University, we offer episodic classes that include (not limited to): Project LEAN, Chronic Disease Management, Self-Care, Mindfulness, Cooking Matters.

Emotional Wellness Programs

Emotional Wellness programs are open to any interested individuals. These are our areas of focus and expertise:

Populations

  • Communities and individuals experiencing intergenerational and historical trauma
  • Perinatal Women and mothering women
  • Adults and children with PTSD
  • Children of immigrants
  • Immigrant and foreign born populations, Latinx and Somali in particular

Interventions

  • Internal Family Systems
  • EMDR
  • Trauma Focused CBT
  • Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
  • Mindfulness
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Parent Child Interaction Therapy
  • Body Neutrality

Adult Emotional Wellness & Mental Health

Navigating life challenges is difficult for us all, it is even more difficult when we have experienced traumatic events, lack of support, and are marginalized in our communities. LifeWise StL knows that our emotional well-being is foundational to one’s ability to do everything else in our lives, and believes we all deserve access to a welcoming, safe space to receive evidence-based support. We specialize in providing trauma-informed evidence-based therapy treatment for chronic stress, the impact of trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and depression. In this past year, through this evidence based treatment 100% of participants saw improvement in their symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.

We also know that we all heal in community and for this reason we offer therapy groups. Our participants report to us that being a part of these groups and hearing about others’ experiences are often the first time that they realize they are not alone in their struggles and feel connected to others. Our participants also describe that learning the coping skills taught in groups have changed the way they parent and/or move through their lives.

Maternal Mental Health

A mother’s mental wellbeing is critical. The consequences of maternal depression affect the whole family. The risk of depression and anxiety is higher among mothers without the tools or support systems to manage the inherent stress of motherhood.

The LifeWise Maternal Mental Health program provides mothers and those in mothering roles with the space to gather and gain strength from professionals and peers (also known as social capital). Through coaching, therapy, support and therapeutic groups, mothers find emotional and practical help. They gain knowledge on relevant topics, driven by their own needs and interests, including mother-child attachment, socialization, and information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Apoyo y Cariño (Support and Care) is a targeted initiative focused on Latina mothers who are pregnant or parenting. We provide a weekly support group in Spanish that allows mothers to find space for themselves, better understand their needs, and connect with one another.

Project BEGIN: Be.Grow.Invest is another targeted initiative centered on maternity leave planning for working or studying mothers. Working mothers are assisted with all aspects of leave planning, such as financial coaching, benefits applications, emotional and physical wellness tools, and more. The goal of the program is to reduce stress for new mothers, so they can dedicate their precious leave time to developing healthy bonds with their babies. *In 2023 we will pilot a matched savings account in collaboration with Economic Wellness for pregnant women who are working to save money to use during their leave.

Mamas y Bebes/Mothers and Babies, CBT based psychoeducational group for perinatal women: Using this evidence-based curriculum, we teach perinatal women ways to identify their moods and what affects them. These 6 week courses are offered episodically in English and Spanish.

Program Calendar

View Calendar for up-to-date schedule.

Sign up for Programming

If you would like to participate in our programming, please complete our interest form.

Contact Us

For more information about participating in our programs, please call Claudia Rivera, Mental Health Coordinator, at 314-627-9827 or crivera@lifewisestl.org, or complete our interest form.

For clinical questions or inquiries, please contact Sara Johnson-Cardona, Clinical Director, at 314-260-6394 or sjohnsoncardona@lifewisestl.org.

For questions about partnerships or program development, please contact Sarah Caldera Wimmer, Director of Emotional & Physical Wellness, at 314-260-6382 or scaldera@lifewisestl.org.