Joanna Barrett Therapy & Wellness

02/17/2026

Seventeen years ago, I stepped onto a yoga mat searching for relief from a depression that felt all-consuming. What I found was not simply a practice, but a lifeline.

Today, I am sharing a deeply personal reflection on the path that began in 2009 and continues to shape the way I live, love, teach, and serve. This new blog is an honest look at healing, devotion, and the quiet courage it takes to choose life again and again.

There was a time when I was not certain I would survive. Yoga became the place that held me until I could hold myself. Over the years, it has grown into both an anchor and a compass, guiding not only my own healing, but the way I walk alongside others as a therapist and emotional wellness yoga teacher.

This piece is for anyone who has ever wondered if change is possible… for anyone longing to feel steady, whole, and at home within themselves. Healing rarely arrives all at once. More often, it unfolds through small, brave choices that gently lead us back to our lives.

It is my hope that these words meet you exactly where you are and remind you that you do not have to walk your path alone.

“Seventeen Years on the Mat: The Yoga Practice That Became My Life” is now live on the blog.

If it resonates, I would be honored for you to read it.

https://joannabarrett.com/2026/02/16/yoga-transformed-my-life/

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

02/13/2026

On Wednesday evening, I was among a community gathered for the .usa global loving-kindness meditation, and I was reminded of something I return to again and again: peace begins within.

The atmosphere was deeply moving. You could feel the collective intention, the shared longing for healing, and the steady reminder that even small moments of mindfulness matter.

I hold deep gratitude for the Venerable Monks, and for , whose extraordinary 2,300-mile journey from Fort Worth to Washington, DC, joined by steps taken across the globe, reflects a profound devotion to awakening greater awareness and compassion in our world. Their presence felt like both an invitation and a blessing.

May we remember that the peace we hope to see is not somewhere far away. It lives within us, waiting to be practiced, nurtured, and shared. Today, and every day, may we walk in kindness. May we lead with steady hearts. May we become the peace we wish to see.�

Deep bow to the Venerable Buddhist monks, whose 2,300-mile journey has inspired my heart and the hearts of millions.

�Audio: Venerable Pannakara, Leader of the Walk for Peace (I recorded this from the closing talk at the Smith Center, Washington, DC)

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

02/11/2026

BEGIN YOUR MORNING WITH INTENTION
Take a listen to this new premium track on Insight Timer!

Begin your day feeling centered and strong with this gentle 10-minute morning meditation. You’ll be guided to connect with your inner light, set an intention for the day ahead, and awaken a sense of calm, clarity, and purpose. A peaceful practice to ground your energy and start the morning with mindful awareness. Music composed by Narek Mirzaei -- Music Of Wisdom.

https://insig.ht/j6N26YFHF0b

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

02/08/2026

Tension often gathers in the upper body without us even realizing it. This short practice is an invitation to soften what feels tight, strengthen what supports you, and reconnect with your breath.

May these movements help you create a little more space, ease, and presence, both on and off the mat.

Save this for later, return to it when your body asks for care, and let it be a reminder that tending to yourself is never wasted time.

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

02/06/2026

Joanna Barrett Therapy & Wellness is offering "Yoga for Mindful Living: Tools for Steady Presence" at the National Museum of the United States Army on Monday April 6 at 10:00am (Fort Belvoir, Virginia).

This All-levels practice offers an opportunity to slow down, breathe with awareness, and move with intention. Through mindful, unhurried movement, you will be guided to release tension while cultivating strength and flexibility in ways that support long-term wellbeing. Grounding breathwork and simple regulation practices are woven throughout to help settle the nervous system and restore a sense of steadiness. Each class is designed to provide practical tools you can return to in everyday moments, supporting clearer focus, greater resilience, and a more mindful way of living.

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Come as you are. After class, grab a coffee and healthy snacks from the Museum Cafe or take some time to explore the exhibits.

Joanna Barrett LMHC, LPC, NCC, E-RYT, is a licensed mental health therapist and an experienced, registered yoga teacher with over 1,000 hours of training, specializing in trauma-informed yoga and the intersection of yoga and mental health. With 15 years of experience in the yoga and mental health field, she brings a warm, grounded, and inclusive approach to her work, and is passionate about supporting emotional resilience, stress recovery, and holistic wellness in both clinical and community settings. She has worked with active military members, veterans, and families to support emotional healing, navigate life transitions, and build tools for resilience through both trauma-informed yoga practices and mental health counseling.

This program is hosted by The Army Historical Foundation, the non-profit organization for the Museum’s revenue generating operations and fundraising in support of the National Museum of the United States Army.

Sign up:
https://armyhistory.org/calendar/fitness-and-wellness-yoga/

02/03/2026

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

Yesterday’s Reflections (February 2, 2026): What the First 100 Days of the Walk for Peace Have Taught Me

Walking for peace is not a modern idea. It is a sacred path that has been practiced for centuries. Long before our fast-moving world, monks walked not to arrive at a destination, but to remember how to be fully present. In times of conflict, uncertainty, and collective pain, they walked. When language could no longer bridge the space between people, they allowed their steps to speak, one step at a time.

Peace does not need to be loud to be powerful. It lives within the quiet choices we make and in the way we move through the world. Each step becomes an invitation to return to the present moment. Each breath, a gentle remembering. Each mile, an offering toward something greater than ourselves.

For the past 100 days, this pilgrimage has continued forward, stretching from Texas into Virginia. One hundred days of steady movement along noisy roads. One hundred days of walking through sun, rain, snow, and the unknown. Steps rooted in patience, devotion, and presence. Strangers, both in person and across digital spaces, meeting one another with openness and humanity.

After more than 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington, DC, and 108 days of faithful steps across many states, the monks will soon arrive in our nation’s capital. I feel deeply honored and truly heart-full to witness and be part of these final, sacred moments of the journey next week.

There is something profoundly heart-touching about witnessing peace practiced in real time. It reminds me that peace is not an abstract idea. It is something we embody. Something we choose, again and again. Something we become. And perhaps, something we have always carried within us at our core.

https://www.facebook.com/walkforpeaceusa/photos

01/28/2026

It's about to get a little personal....
After our soul dog, Blake, passed away unexpectedly from heart failure in late January 2023 (at the tender age of 11), I created a memorial fund to have Blake’s legacy live on and help other pit bulls be adopted to loving homes.

In his honor, I named it “The Blake Ross Memorial Fund for Pit Bulls," with the goal to have the fund help homeless pit bulls at Second Chance Animal Services (in East Brookfield, Massachusetts) by offering a reduced adoption fees and providing veterinary care that may be needed to prepare pit bulls for adoption. To date, MANY pitties have been helped by the fund!

Then, in July 2023, I was honored to be interviewed by Gloria Herdt ("Getting Real with Gloria") about navigating pet loss and how honoring your pet’s memory can bring meaning and richness to life. We discussed how everyone’s grief journey is unique and the many different practices and resources out there that can help ease the pain.

I'm re-sharing this interview with the hope that it may be supportive for anyone coping with pet loss. If you need support or resources, please reach out to me directly.

INTERVIEW on the BLOG:
https://joannabarrett.com/2023/07/01/honoring-a-pets-legacy-after-pet-loss/

ADDITIONAL GRIEF RESOURCES on the BLOG: https://joannabarrett.com/2024/01/30/griefresources/

DONATE: https://www.secondchanceanimals.org/blakememorial/

Visit www.joannabarrett.com for more information about my offerings of Mental Health Counseling, Emotional Wellness Yoga, and Professional Mentoring & Consultation.

01/26/2026

MORNING ANXIETY RELIEF: Start Your Day With A Calm Mind

If mornings often bring worry or restlessness, this 15-minute meditation offers a tender way to begin again. Through gentle breathing, grounding visualization, and self-soothing awareness, you’ll reconnect with your inner steadiness and remember that peace lives within you.

Guided by Joanna Barrett Therapy & Wellness for Insight Timer
Music composed by Narek Mirzaei (Music Of Wisdom).

https://insig.ht/SvE5u0W6e0b

01/16/2026

You are beautiful, you are 🤍. Altar items:

01/07/2026

Trauma does not define us.

From Lion's Roar, an interview with Jack Kornfield:

"Over the years, the great majority of people who are drawn to practice come because they’re suffering. The thing is that suffering isn’t wrong. It’s the first noble truth: There is suffering in human life. There is a lot of human-caused suffering in the world. The more greed, the more suffering. The more hate and fear, the more suffering. It’s possible to alleviate suffering, to become free from it. But this doesn’t free us from old age, sickness, death, and loss, which are part of the human curriculum. They’re the place where your heart learns compassion and where you learn true freedom. So, suffering isn’t bad. As you say, it is a gateway to awakening."

Trauma does not define us. In conversation with Lion’s Roar’s Andrea Miller, Jack Kornfield reflects on how, at the deepest level, we have always been free.

01/07/2026

I wanted to share a blog post I recently wrote reflecting on my year in 2025. Alongside it, I created a free downloadable journaling guide to support gentle reflection and intention-setting.

If you’re in a season of looking back, integrating lessons learned, or grounding before what’s next, you’re welcome to check it out. The journaling resource is linked directly in the post. ✨

2025 Year in Review & Welcoming New Beginnings in 2026