Brought to you by the Virginia Mental Health Counselors Association
About the Event:
In a world where many couples find themselves navigating survival mode, cultivating intimacy becomes both a challenge and a radical act of restoration. This presentation explores how mindfulness can be integrated into couples counseling to move beyond disconnection and foster holistic connection, joy, and resilience. Drawing from the mind-body-soul framework, we will trace the cultural and historical roots of mindfulness while situating its relevance within relationship healing. Participants will examine barriers to intimacy that perpetuate distance and practice mindfulness-based interventions designed to restore presence, deepen emotional attunement, and strengthen relational bonds. Attendees will leave with a sustainable blueprint for guiding couples toward joy-filled, resilient, and thriving partnerships.
Learning Objectives
Define mindfulness and describe its historical and cultural roots.
Explain the mind-body-soul framework and its significance in relationship healing.
Identify barriers to intimacy and analyze common patterns of disconnection in couples.
Examine the role of mindfulness in fostering emotional resilience, intimacy, and holistic connection.
Practice mindfulness-based interventions applicable to therapeutic sessions with couples.
Develop a sustainable blueprint for cultivating joy, rest, and long-term relationship success.
About the Presenter
Stefanie Jackson, LMFT
Stefanie Jackson is a licensed marriage and family therapist, international speaker, and co-author of From Hurt to Healed: A Guide to Transforming Emotional Pain into Positive Power. Known as an Agent of Joy, Stefanie helps couples and individuals transform emotional pain into connection, healing, and intimacy. Her work empowers clients to not only repair relationships but to create partnerships—and lives—they can thrive in and believe in. As the founder of Divine Mind Therapeutics, Stefanie blends mindfulness, narrative therapy, and experiential practices to create innovative programs, retreats, and workshops that invite both clients and clinicians to bring joy, curiosity, and compassion into the therapeutic space. Her mission is to make therapy a part of everyday life—especially for couples—as a proactive and empowering experience, rather than something reserved for crisis. Stefanie believes in empowering people to design relationships on their own terms, guided by authenticity, intimacy, and joy, rather than societal expectations.
Kyrah Lee
Kyrah Lee is a recent Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student from Trinity Washington University. She completed her internship at PsycYourMind, LLC and Divine Mind Therapeutics, LLC where she provided counseling services to individuals, couples, families, and geriatric members facing a broad range of psychological and relational challenges. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Dance and Movement Studies from Allegheny College, where she began exploring the connection between emotional expression, and the mind and body. Kyrah is a member of the counseling honor society, Chi Sigma Iota, the American Counseling Association, and the Maryland Counseling Association. Kyrah's passion for counseling ignited through her fondness of the brain. Originally, she aspired to be a Neurologist; however, she soon realized her desire for healing in the Psychology field. She is fascinated by the intersectionality of trauma, generational and cultural implications, human behavior, and health outcomes. Kyrah has exceptional leadership talents, providing advocacy and recognition on regional and national platforms. Recently, Kyrah presented at the Maryland Counseling Association on normalizing mental health through a stigmatized society using community-based systems. She is an uprising powerhouse in the ever-growing world of health and wellness. Her clinical work centers around anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment, identity development, and relationship dynamics. She practices from an integrative framework informed by CBT, DBT, Mindfulness and Somatic work, Internal Family Systems, Adlerian Theory, Gestalt Therapy, Strategic Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Relational-Cultural Theory. She is deeply passionate about mental health equity and is committed to creating affirming, accessible spaces for healing, especially within underserved communities. Her approach is grounded in fostering resilience, connection, and self-awareness. Some of her favorite self-care practices include meditation, dance, running, and participating in community events that nourish joy and belonging.