Panelists: Michelle Hirschman (she), LCSW, Vanessa Holliman (she), LCSW, Katie Fields (she), PhD, LMHC, LMFT, Meg Reinis (she), LMFT & Ektha Aggarwal (she), LCSW
Virtual Panel: Creative Healing: Alternative Modalities of Care
Humanity is suffering more than it ever has (suicide rates and addiction rates are not getting better) and traditional models of support can flat line after extended use. There is a need to go beyond traditional therapeutic modalities and begin to integrate non-traditional modes of healing, learning and growing. We will have discussion with 4 licensed therapists who are integrating alternative methods into their assessments and practices in ethical ways. Each clinician on the panel will explain how their alternative practices are accelerating the healing process of their clients. Modalities such as; astrology, human design, enneagram, chakra nutrition, reiki, sound bath, crystals, tarot, energy healing and more will be discussed. Insurance reimbursement and integrating these practices ethically will also be discussed.
Where you can see our panel:
California Pathways to Practice Symposium, Virtual Speaker Series
Friday, April 10, 2026
9:00-10:00 am Pacific Time
This event is intended to be accessible to all. If financial barriers would otherwise prevent your attendance, please reach out to Robyn@alignedcarecenter.com to discuss financial accommodations. For other accommodations, please click here for more information.
We extend our gratitude to the sponsor of this presentation for making it possible for us to compensate the speaker and make this event accessible. ​
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About Michelle Hirschman (she/her), LCSW
Michelle is a clinical professional with extensive experience in adult mental health and addiction. Her career spans diverse settings, from treatment centers in California to Ho, a town in Ghana, West Africa, where she provided case management services in a psychiatric unit treating individuals with addiction and alcoholism. In Ghana, she also pioneered an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting, educating local staff about the disease of addiction and sharing AA literature they had never seen before. Michelle’s international work continued in Vietnam, where she helped launch an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for those struggling with drug addiction.
Michelle’s journey into therapy began with a counseling internship as an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. During this time, she gained valuable experience in hospice work, psychiatric social work, and counseling at a transitional living home serving clients with co-occurring disorders. She earned her Master’s of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in 1999.
Following her graduate studies, Michelle embarked on a diverse professional path. She worked on Capitol Hill, supporting various Senators and non-profits in legislative and lobbying efforts related to women’s issues. She then transitioned to serving the homeless population in Washington, D.C., where she worked primarily with individuals struggling with chronic mental illness, alcoholism, and addiction. After returning to California, Michelle contributed to the Suicide Prevention Center and started her own nutritional consulting business. Through this business, she educated athletes, newly sober individuals, and those with eating disorders on nutrition and supplements. Over the years, she has worked with clients at all levels of care, including outpatient, extended, and residential treatment programs.
Michelle also created the “My Sober Coach” concept, which is now part of the services offered by Hirschman Clinical. This coaching model was designed to bridge the gap between treatment and independent living, focusing on life skills development. The coach’s role is to empower clients, inspire them, and provide resources that help them find passion and purpose in their lives.
“Recovery from mental health and addiction can be a painful process without the right supports. Having a professional coach to help with daily, sometimes hourly challenges is crucial—not just for preventing crisis or relapse, but for supporting a more peaceful, happy existence,” Michelle says.
In 2024, Michelle launched the Creative Healing Membership, an initiative to educate the public about the services of holistic healers across various modalities. She interviews new healers weekly, creating community and fostering discussions that help individuals craft personalized creative healing plans. The membership also hosts community groups to support ongoing conversations and connections. Additionally, Michelle now offers workshops on rituals and ceremony practices, designed to help individuals stay grounded and build presence in their lives.
Michelle enjoys spending time with her three teenage sons and watching cooking shows with her husband. She also makes time to walk in nature throughout the week, finding peace and tranquility in the experience. She brings this sense of peace into all that she does.
About Vanessa Holliman (she/her), LCSW
Vanessa Holliman, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, founder of BEing Wholistic and practices Integrative Mind-Body-Spirit Social Work. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing trauma, especially the niche of adult sexual trauma, requires addressing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. With training in psychotherapy, holistic nutrition, functional movement, astrology, and energy modalities like Usui & Holy Fire Reiki, she’s developed an integrated approach to help beings reconnect with their true self.
She blends clinical trauma theories with holistic and spiritual practices, using tools like therapeutic Astrology, crystal amplification, Reiki, chakra-based wisdom and symbolic rituals to create a personalized healing journey. Her passion lies in guiding survivors of trauma toward wholeness by merging evidence-based practices with the profound wisdom of holistic and spiritual living. Her mission is to help beings navigate life’s transitions, break free from limiting beliefs, and align with the life they’re meant to live.
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Oregon/L# L11078
California/LCSW 120400
About Katie Fields,(she/her), PhD, LMHC, LMFT
Katie Fields is the creator of CounSouling, a psycho-spiritual model of therapy that engages a developmental perspective of the dynamic between Ego and Soul. Inspired by Internal Family Systems therapy and EMDR, and infused with Reiki and the spiritual assessments of the Enneagram, Numerology, Human Design, and Akashic Records, CounSouling guides clients to become Soul-led, healing and living authentically.
Katie earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Florida and is licensed to practice psychotherapy in Florida, Colorado, and North Carolina. Katie resides in Gainesville, Florida with her husband and two daughters, who help her explore and expand her CounSouling model first hand every day. Katie is currently writing a book on the concepts involved in her CounSouling model and plans to publish it this year, 2025, through Soul Purpose Publishing.
About Meg Reinis, (she/her), LMFT
Meg Reinis, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of The Hive Therapy & Wellness Boutique, a community-centered space for integrative healing. She is licensed in California, Colorado, and Florida, and specializes in treating trauma through somatic modalities such as TRM and Brainspotting. Meg has also studied psychedelic-assisted therapy and is passionate about the power of expanded states of consciousness for deep healing.
In her own life, Meg found that therapy alone wasn't enough—and through her personal healing journey, she discovered the profound support of spiritual practices, movement, and meditation. This led her to become certified in sound healing, a practice she now shares with others as a gentle, yet powerful tool for nervous system regulation, deep relaxation, and inner harmony.
She believes in creating healing spaces where people can simply receive—where the body, mind, and spirit are invited into balance without the need to do more. Meg’s work is rooted in love, presence, and the belief that wellness practices are essential for a life of healing, connection, and wholeness. She lives in Marina del Rey with her partner, son, and two pups.
About Ektha Aggarwal (she/her), LCSW
Ektha Aggarwal is a licensed psychotherapist, keynote speaker, and founder of Shakti Therapy & Healing Services and non-profit JiVA Mental Health. She leads with a vision that blends modern psychology, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and Vedic healing principles to offer deep, integrative care for the mind, body, and spirit.
Ektha specializes in trauma, somatic therapy, and nervous system repair—and is trained in psychedelic modalities that support long-term, soul-rooted transformation. As the practice name suggests, Shakti—from Sanskrit—represents the divine feminine life force within each of us. Ektha’s mission is to help clients awaken this inner healer, break generational cycles, and reclaim their personal power from this force.
Beyond therapy, she’s fiercely committed to building the next wave of clinicians—ones who break from clinical detachment and instead lead with heart, cultural humility, and consciousness. Her leadership challenges outdated norms, and reimagines therapy as a sacred, liberating, and culturally inclusive space. She has led several large-scale wellness events, speaks regularly on mental health and identity, and is known for creating spaces where people feel seen, energized, and empowered.
Outside the therapy room, Ektha is either dancing to Bollywood, punching it out in Muay Thai, practicing light magic—because healing deserves play, strength, and a little sparkle.