FEATURE 17 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN Charleston's mental health landscape is transforming. Where traditional talk therapy once dominated, a new wave of holistic, trauma-informed treatment centers now offers women comprehensive care that addresses mind, body and spirit. From specialized trauma therapy to immersive residential programs, the Lowcountry provides more options than ever for women seeking mental wellness support. TREATING THE WHOLE PERSON "I grew up in a family system deeply impacted by trauma and addiction," says Andrea Meier, owner of Andrea Meier Holistic Wellness in Mount Pleasant. "From a young age, I felt called to help others navigate similar struggles. My approach is grounded in the belief that people heal best when the whole person—mind, body and spirit—is supported." In just two years since opening in 2023, Meier's model supports 195 clients with needs that include nervous system regulation, building healthy secure connections with themselves and others and healing from trauma and family-of-origin patterns. "We integrate specialized approaches— such as internal family systems, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy and somatic therapies—to create a tailored treatment plan for each individual," Meier says. "By regulating the nervous system and supporting the whole person, clients experience deeper, more sustainable healing than traditional talk therapy alone often provides." HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY COMES TO CHARLESTON This positive, whole-person methodology led psychotherapist Kelsey Schwab of Chicago to expand The Intuitive Counseling Group into Charleston in 2024. Headed by Drs. Leigh Rzepecki and Jennie Ozan, Schwab and her TICG team saw approximately 5,500 client sessions in 2025 alone. "Our practice works with adults and teenagers— we sometimes see clients as young as 12 with eating disorders," Dr. Ozan says. "Psychotherapy is a holistic approach that our entire team has dedicated their professional lives to." Like Meier, Dr. Rzepecki emphasizes that she and her colleagues treat the whole person, not just an acute symptom. Local therapists and treatment centers offer holistic, trauma-informed approaches to mental wellness BY L.C. LEACH III HEALING THE WHOLE PERSON Amanda Mullen, left and Kelsey Schwab are two integral members with The Intuitive Counseling Group in Charleston, S.C. Hammocks on the Edisto relies on its environment and setting to aid in women's mental health recovery.
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