About Cylleria Johnson
I Blend Nurturing Therapy With The Principles Of Neuroscience
"If there is any need that is perpetually unmet on this planet, it is the need to feel seen. To feel seen in our humanity, in our vulnerability, in our beautiful imperfection." [1] - Jeff Brown
I consider myself to be an empath, someone who is highly sensitive and attuned to the emotional frequency of others. This is why, throughout my life, people have been drawn to share their problems with me. It is because I am a good listener that I am naturally curious and always try to find ways to help others so that they feel seen.
After going on my own healing journey, I initially decided to become a health coach. However, when I noticed how drawn I was to the emotional health of my clients, I realized there was a more suitable path for me. That’s what prompted me to enroll in grad school and pursue becoming a therapist.
What makes me relatable as a therapist is that I have also experienced what my clients are going through. I, too, have contended with anxiety, depression, trauma, and health challenges that have led me on a 25-year odyssey of discovery. I know how lonely and confusing these struggles can seem when you don’t have someone in your corner. I aim to offer hope to everyone I work with and reassure them that I am with them every step of the way.
My Counseling Philosophy
I meet clients where they are to help them achieve their goals one step at a time. Because the path of healing is never linear, I make sure to remind them of their progress while also teaching them patience and acceptance.
While the study of neuroplasticity has taught us much about the brain’s ability to adapt and change, there are certain aspects of our personality—as well as life circumstances—that remain unalterable. Therefore, an important part of healing is learning to foster tolerance and acceptance of these absolutes while focusing on what is malleable and open to adaptation and positive growth.
I Specialize In Combining Neurofeedback Therapy With Talk Therapy
Oftentimes, neurofeedback is only offered as a standalone therapy. What makes my practice unique is the way in which I combine brain-based interventions with traditional talk therapy to treat anxiety, depression, and trauma. With neuro-counseling, I offer “nurture"—empathetic, compassionate, strength-based therapy—along with the benefits of neurofeedback therapy to provide an all-encompassing approach to wellness.
Regulating the nervous system with neurofeedback techniques often makes talk therapy more effective. When clients are ready to do the work, I will stand alongside them energetically, weaving these two equally important aspects of healing together. This integration helps them arrive at a positive outcome more quickly and cost-effectively.
Looking back, I feel I was destined to become a neuro-counselor. I was initially introduced to neurofeedback therapy in 2012 as a short-term job. My curiosity about it also led me to become a client, utilizing it to treat my own anxiety and depression. While I was in grad school to become a therapist, neurofeedback once again found me during an internship.
Throughout that time, I witnessed first-hand neuro-counseling’s potential to positively impact the lives of my clients as well as my own. My personal challenges with physical and mental health have given me valuable insight into therapy’s potential to cultivate resiliency and confidence. I am always eager to share what I have learned along the way with others.
With my background as a health coach, I can also offer valuable suggestions to promote physical wellness. I am happy to integrate components of spirituality into therapy for clients who are open to it as well. A multi-faceted approach to well-being such as this can be customized to meet any needs.
A Little More About Me
As someone with a deep love of humanity, I consider myself open-minded and able to appreciate differing viewpoints objectively. This allows me to easily relate to others and work with people from varying backgrounds. What is important is that they enter therapy with a willingness to open up and a commitment to feeling better.
People tend to feel comfortable around me, which allows them to open up not only about their struggles but also about their hopes and dreams. While I offer a safe space for clients where they won’t feel rushed through the process, I’m not afraid to apply loving directness at appropriate times to promote growth. I also try to inject humor and lightness when the moment calls for it.
Friends and family are always my top priority, as well as my beloved cat, Charles, a.k.a. Prince. You can also find me swimming in the ocean, doing Pilates, or engaging in other activities that reflect my love of health and wellness.
Cylleria Johnson is a therapist, brain trainer and health coach based in Sarasota, Florida. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree of Arts in Religion from Vassar College, Cylleria went on to receive a Health Coaching Certificate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Thereafter she received her Master’s Degree of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. After graduation, she moved to North Carolina where, in addition to her clinical training, she received in-house neurofeedback training at the Focus Centers of Asheville for 6 years. She became fully licensed in 2021.