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It today's episode, Holistic Healing and Wellness with Valerie Hemming, we slow down long enough to notice what our bodies have been carrying and why “I’m fine” can be a nervous system habit, not the truth. With Valerie from Salt and Light Wellness Spa, we connect polyvagal theory, rest and digest, and practical wellness modalities to one clear takeaway: safety is something we can practice.
• chronic tension that starts to feel normal
• nervous system threat vs safety and why small moments matter
• the gap between saying “everything is fine” and feeling fine
• learning to rest when rest feels unsafe
• a simple “pretend to sleep” practice to calm the body
• Mandala Hills and the path to building Salt and Light
• grounding explained and a quick body scan listeners can try
• mind vs brain and how imagery changes physiology
• sympathetic vs parasympathetic and why digestion and mood shift
• feeling feelings without adding insult to injury
• halotherapy, sound therapy, infrared, red light, and hydrogen for overall wellness
Show Guest:
Valerie Hemming is the founder of Salt & Light Wellness Spa, a compassionate, trauma-informed wellness space created to help people slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and find greater ease in their nervous systems.
Drawing from years of training in somatic and body-mind therapies, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed practice, Valerie brings together a range of integrative wellness modalities designed to support physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. Her work is rooted not only in professional training, but in her own healing journey through complex trauma and the survival patterns that once kept her moving, bracing, and pushing through.
That experience inspired Valerie to create the kind of space she once needed herself—one where people can arrive exactly as they are, feel supported rather than pressured, and give their bodies and minds permission to rest, repair, and restore.
Before founding Salt & Light, Valerie created Mandala Hills, a healing sanctuary on her private land where people could experience nature, community, classes, private sessions, and the simple power of slowing down. Today, she continues that mission through Salt & Light, helping others recognize the difference between surviving and truly living.
At the heart of Valerie’s work is a simple invitation: slow down, come home to yourself, and discover what becomes possible when your nervous system finally has room to exhale.
You can connect with Valerie at:
www.saltandlightatx.com, On Instagram and on Facebook
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Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:
- US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- UK: Samaritans at 116 123
- Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
- Or find local resources through findahelpline.com
You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.
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Show hosted by:
Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A
Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S
You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com
and
To become a client visit- catiaholm.com
