Jennifer Degen's work with health professionals, caretakers and leaders focus’ on Expanding connection, Opening to creativity, Life work balance, Embodied mindfulness, Self-leadership, Insight and Sustainable change. Mind Body Awareness is the intersection of somatic psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness and personal growth.
Jennifer Degen, Somatic Coach and Resiliency Expert
Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
I live in the Mad River Valley of Vermont, a place known for its stunning mountains, rivers, and iconic red barns. However, it’s also a region shaped by the resilience needed to recover from devastating floods, particularly the damage caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011. Having lived in Vermont for over 25 years, I’ve come to embody the qualities of this place—its deep connection to nature, the changing seasons, the embrace of the mountains, and the tenacity of its people. We cherish the beauty of every season, finding vitality in outdoor recreation and strength in coming together as a community—whether we’re grieving a loss or sharing a potluck. My life is deeply intertwined with a yoga lifestyle, which offers me resilience, guidance in times of feeling lost or burdened, and an uplifted spirit as I navigate the seasons of life mirrored all around me.
Can you describe the core philosophy behind Mind Body Awareness and how it guides your approach to wellness?
My approach to wellness has been a journey of unfolding. Have you ever felt like you're merely going through the motions, detached from the life you're living? In today's fast-paced world, many of us experience this disconnection, feeling adrift and out of sync with our true selves. This sense of disembodiment affects not only our emotional and physical health but also our relationships and overall sense of purpose.
We get lost in virtual realities, the pursuit of material success, and the illusion that everyone else's life is perfect. These distractions pull us away from truly living, leading to a dehumanizing and unsettling existence.
But there’s hope in recognizing the need for change. When you feel something is amiss, it’s often a signal that it’s time to realign. This is where mind-body awareness comes in—a practice of reconnecting with yourself on a deeper level.
Imagine your mind and body as a finely tuned guitar. Just as a musician tunes their instrument to create harmonious music, we must attune our minds and bodies to achieve inner harmony. This process requires more than just surface-level adjustments; it demands a holistic approach that addresses limiting beliefs, unhealthy patterns, and the way we hold experiences in our bodies.
Therapeutic intervention offers a path to this realignment. It’s not just another task on your to-do list; it’s a transformative journey. In our practice, we actively guide you, creating a supportive space that holds you accountable for your growth. Our solution-oriented, somatic approach goes beyond mere talk, helping you reconnect with your whole self.
I believe that our deepest wounds often reveal our greatest strengths. Through my work, I’ve observed how trauma can serve as a catalyst for growth, deepening our awareness and enabling us to heal. Using tools like somatic practices, NLP, and hypnotherapy, I help clients quickly move towards a state of well-being, connecting with their inner guidance and aligning with their highest good.
What specific services and programs do you offer, and how do they address the needs of your clients?
We offer three main types of services:
Destination retreat trainings: We also offer specialized retreats for psychologists, healers, and therapists who want to enhance their practice. These retreats provide immersive training in techniques like Trauma Resolution Energy Technique (TRET) and somatic integration
Individual coaching packages: We start by interviewing potential clients to ensure a mutual sense of fit. From there, we tailor coaching sessions to meet their specific needs, drawing on the six pillars of resilience.
The resilient practitioner integrative community: This limited time offer to our free community provides curious people with access to integrative group coaching. New members can explore self-paced tools and participate in coaching sessions focused on their specific areas of interest, such as anxiety, relationship challenges, sleep, mood management, weight concerns, and more. All group sessions are recorded, creating a valuable library of resources for ongoing support.
How do you stay updated with the latest trends and research in holistic health and wellness?
Before I became an entrepreneur, one of my supervisors described me as having "a thirst for knowledge," and I’ve always embraced that description. My husband often says that learning is my form of play, and it’s true—I find peace in self-study, particularly learning Buddhist and yoga practices. Preparing workshops on Trauma and Somatic Integration, for example, is not just professional development for me; it’s also a way to re-engage with material from a fresh perspective, which fuels my energy and opens up new avenues for healing both for myself and those I work with.
Can you share a success story or testimonial from a client who has benefited from your services?
Working with you has been absolutely amazing from start to finish. I felt drawn to you from the beginning because I knew you could handle anything that came up in the session. I felt safe and supported the whole way through. I’d tell people to absolutely give it a go. Whether it’s limiting beliefs, habits you want to break, or unresolved trauma, this therapy can transform you in such a profound way. It’s life-changing. – Kelly Rowley, Human Resources Partner.
Jennifer helped me rid myself of the constant thoughts around that particular issue and did so in a way that was surprising even to me. What I like about Rapid Transformational Therapy and something that Jennifer embodies is her ability to thoroughly use the tools at her disposal in order to help me as a client get to the root of my issue, especially one that took up so much brain space that it made working without thinking about it impossible. It made going through my day impossible without thinking about it, and I really, really wanted to rid myself of the constant pervasive thought of that issue. – Melanie Gobourne, Corporate Executive
Jennifer helped me. Jennifer helped me to be a better mom in a way that I didn’t realize was going to happen. I now realize how important attachment is for children. It’s allowed me to be radically mindful of my actions so that I can see them in a way that I can actually change them instead of wallowing in a victim mentality. The experience of working with Jennifer was very inspiring, and it brought me a lot of growth. I’d recommend RTT for everyone. I think everyone has a limiting belief; everyone’s holding themselves back in some area of their life. Or maybe you don’t even know that you’re holding yourself back. Just go and find out about yourself, learn about yourself, so you can grow and become better. – Danelle Land. Mother, Entrepreneur
Lovely to hear from you. I am still doing well. That up and down feeling of anxiety I used to have constantly for years has completely gone. It is still gone.
When I get startled or get a surprise I feel a burst of it and I think oh no its coming back but it doesn't. It is still gone. It's just a momentary feeling.
Being in my family home, I am constantly exposed to experiences and situations that have contributed to the development of my anxiety from childhood.
I had thought that being here for the length of time that I am here for, would increase the chances of a return of my anxiety and was a little worried that it would undo the your good work. So far I am still OK and feeling safe, secure and positive in my body. I am able to bounce back from hard experiences. My resilience is restored.
I am able to work without dithering. I have an idea and I know how its going to work out and after a short time thinking about how I want to plan it, I plan it quickly and create it. It flows perfectly and easily. This has been the greatest change for me.
Thanks Jen, you have really made a huge difference in my life by removing that feeling of anxiety I had in my body. Anonymous, Pre-School Consultant
What challenges have you faced in growing your business, and how have you overcome them?
One of my biggest challenges in growing my business has been adapting to new advances or changes that require extensive time on the computer. These tasks often take me away from nature and the embodied, present practices I cherish with my clients. Like anyone, I find too much time away from these grounding elements depleting. To overcome this, I work on expanding my own window of tolerance for these tasks and ensure I take breaks to reconnect with my surroundings. I believe I can’t ask my clients to face challenges that I’m not also willing to confront within myself.
What future plans or goals do you have for Mind Body Awareness, and how do you plan to achieve them?
We’re excited to partner with Glen Soberman, PhD, from The Center for Holistic Living, whose mission aligns closely with ours. In January 2025, we’re hosting an in-person training in Costa Rica called "Body, Mind, Soul: A Holistic Approach to Psychotherapeutic Healing." Having run retreats for 14 years, we are excited to bring Dr. Soberman’s Trauma Resolution Energy Technique (TRET) and Somatic Integrated healing for professionals seeking to enhance their practice. We’re focused on sharing these transformative modalities and helping people make plans to join us, providing the information and support they need to participate.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
There are two moments that stand out. First, when I had the courage to become a school psychologist more than two decades ago. It was a hurdle for me to believe that I was intelligent enough, but overcoming that doubt has shaped my career ever since. The second was launching The Resilient Practitioner program before COVID-19. I recognized a need for healthcare workers, ministers, and educators to deepen their resilience, based on my own experiences in these spaces. My journey through brain surgery and the recovery that followed illuminated the necessity of resilience, not just for myself but for others navigating similar challenges.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
I would work to increase access to integrative care in ways that are simple and efficient. While the internet has opened up many new opportunities for accessing care, it can be difficult to find integrative health solutions amidst the noise of ads and disruptions. I want to make these resources more accessible, cutting through the clutter to provide clear and effective pathways to wellness.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
The loss of my sister to leukemia at a young age was a pivotal moment that shaped my spirit and understanding of loss. Growing up with a sister with Down syndrome and navigating a family dynamic focused on healing from grief also influenced me deeply. Being the youngest in my family, I was inspired by my father’s example—he was a spiritual man, a chemist, a Navy pilot, a farmer, and a consummate seeker of natural solutions to heal.
These experiences incubated the qualities that drive me today, fueling my passion for holistic health and resilience.
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