by Linda Sechrist

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” ~Buddha

Carol Roldan was certain that her life had been blessed when she landed an ideal counseling position with The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, in Naples. For two years, the owner of Revive Psychology worked with seven families that lived in transitional housing. “These are homes that a family rents for two years, during which they receive counseling and group therapy on a weekly basis. It was so personally fulfilling for me to observe the personal growth and positive changes in the individual family members and in their relationships with each other. Generally, a therapist gets to counsel individuals and families for only four to eight sessions. Following them for two years is very rare. The Shelter’s programs are exceptional, encouraging the women to make changes and turn their stories of defeat into strength and power,” says the holistic registered mental health counselor who resides in Naples. 

Roldan moved to Florida after 10 years of directing her holistic counseling center in Puerto Rico. “I create customized treatment plans for individuals and couples in order to help them live a more balanced life. When clients implement a plan that includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects, they are more likely to enjoy long-lasting rather than short-lived effects. For example, individuals feel wonderful after attending a weekend retreat, but that feeling dissipates after a week or two without a long-term plan that includes all the elements of the self. A planned holistic approach is intended to reach the root of the problem that is impacting the mind or body, making the probability of long-lasting change much higher,” says Roldan, who is also a reiki master, hypnotherapist, yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner. 

Roldan offers all modalities to clients that are open to them. “Not everyone understands energy therapy or appreciates the use of hypnotherapy. I offer to teach clients yoga breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation. Although I’m not a nutritionist, I suggest that individuals include healthy diets as part of their treatment. We cannot divorce mind from body, especially now that we understand how eating habits affect moods and sleep,” she says.  

Roldan’s love of a holistic approach to life began to take shape at around age 15, when she started meditating and studying various philosophies. “Meditation, which was considered New Age when I was 15, helped me remarkably. Today, thanks to excellent research, we know how beneficial mindfulness is to overall health,” notes Roldan. 

In adulthood, Roldan expanded her holistic approach to mental health. “In my center in Puerto Rico, I included therapeutic oriental dance, helping individuals to joyfully connect with their body. Belly dancing is therapeutic, and the perfect dance to help women heal their body. The movement lifts the energy to the first and second energy centers and helps to clear stagnant energy. It also improves a woman’s self-esteem and self-worth. I encourage women to dance because it creates a sense of self-empowerment. I don’t have a center now, so I teach private dance lessons to clients,” advises Roldan.    

Two recent additions to Roldan’s services are helping clients to create mind movies that help to program the subconscious and creating sologamy training and ceremonial vows. Sologamy, known as self-marriage, gives an individual the opportunity to commit to themselves, reaffirm faith in their endeavors and promise to keep their best interests at heart. It’s considered an act of self-love. Even though sologamy is not recognized by any state, the clients that Roldan is helping believe that it affirms their value and can lead to a happier life. 

Roldan exudes great enthusiasm for her work. “It’s my calling and my life’s mission to help eliminate human suffering. Everyone deserves love and affection. Teaching people how to create a healthier body, mind and spirit reduces the toxicity in their lives and relationships, allowing for more love and affection, which definitely helps to eliminate psychological suffering,” says Roldan.

Revive Psychology is located at 4933 Tamiami Tr. N., Ste. 200, in Naples. For more information call 239-330-5397. Visit Facebook.com/ReviveOnline111.