When traditional talk therapy falls short, we are here for you, providing effective healing at the root, with ease and effectiveness.

At Rooted Compassion, we offer therapy for healing from trauma, learning self-compassion and creating the life you want. Focusing on body-mind integration, we walk alongside you as you heal from depression, anxiety, trauma, grief or loss.

Our Therapists are Accepting clients in Ohio

What is Therapy at Rooted Compassion Like?

The Client Journey: A Path to Healing and Empowerment 

Your journey to healing begins with you, with us in your corner. 

When you decide to reach out a hand to receive help, we respond to join you wherever you are. The intake process at Rooted Compassion is a compassionate and welcoming exploration of your story; it’s the beginning of a safe connection. Together, we take the time to understand your personal experiences, your struggles, and your strengths. There is no rush to get from one place to the next; the process is designed to honor your pace and allow your nervous system to recognize the safety that this approach creates.

The intake process is collaborative. We partner to uncover patterns, triggers, and deeper insight. Through open dialogue, we create a comprehensive understanding of what brings you to therapy. This is about identifying the stories your body and nervous system have held, sometimes for years, and giving a voice to those experiences to find relief. This understanding leads us to a shared diagnosis, not of labels or conditions, but of the adaptive strategies your body has so effectively used to survive and protect itself. 

The next step is treatment planning. In line with the rest of the process, this step maintains a focus on your voice, and your needs. Guided by the principles of the Polyvagal Theory, we craft a roadmap tailored to your unique goals. It isn’t about resolving symptoms; it’s about building resilience, fostering self-compassion, and restoring balance to your nervous system. We explore not only what needs healing, but also what strengths and resources you already have, so that we can continue to build upon them.

A pivotal part of this journey is nervous system education. Using simple language and visuals, you will learn about the autonomic nervous system, the roles of fight, flight, freeze, and connection, and how these states have and continue to influence your emotions and behaviors. Clients often describe this part of the process as transformative—a sense of relief and empowerment comes from the understanding that they are biologically adaptive, not broken. We see strength in your adaptive responses to past struggles and will help you hone those to be used in ways that align with your goals and values.

In this process, the focus is on you and on creating a sense of felt safety and offering tools, based on your nervous system needs, to navigate life’s challenges. Whether it’s through trauma healing, expressive arts, talking or somatic work, therapy at Rooted Compassion is about reclaiming yourself. With each session we invite you to reconnect with yourself and with the world around you. 

Your journey ends the same way it began—with you. It’s about more than adding new pieces to yourself, it’s about realizing you were whole to begin with. You are and always have been, your greatest resource on the path to lasting change.

Meet our Founder: Amy’s Story

My life has always been influenced by mental health struggles, those in my close circle and my own. I’ve taken a lot of time over the years to heal my own struggles and feel called to help others as well. That is a familiar story for many of us in this field. What may be different for this practice is that we focus on helping ourselves as we help others. Rooted Compassion is a place where the well being of all, clients and therapists alike are supported. This means your therapist comes to each session in a peaceful and connected state of being, coming fully present to you. 

Over 20 years ago I was first introduced to the Polyvagal Theory and that began my avid study of the nervous system and how it impacts our relationships, well being and daily living. Learning about it and putting that learning into practice changed so much in my personal life and is now a gift I have to share with others. In 2021 I was invited to join Deb Dana’s international training team. We train people all over the world about the beautiful impact of the Polyvagal Theory and our mental health. I am now a Senior Trainer for Deb’s team and feel inspired each day by this work. 

Here is what I know to be true: 

~Mental health starts in the body, not in the brain. 

~The vagus nerve provides a pathway for the body, heart and brain to connect. When we tap into its function and wisdom, magic happens.

~We know how we feel by the cues our body sends us. (Think about how you know when you are afraid or happy - you know because of the signals and sensations from the body.)

~Feelings are like toddlers and will get louder and more expressive if not tended to. 

~Trauma, chronic stress and stress live in us or with us until it is healed.

~We have research based solutions to help others heal, solutions we know are good because we have used them and continue to daily. 

~The therapy we offer is based in neuroscience, cutting edge information and offered with deep compassion. It’s right there in our name! 

Our mission: Rooted Compassion is committed to providing the highest quality therapy by fostering an environment of deep compassion and acceptance. We go beyond traditional counseling by integrating insights from neuroscience, somatic practices, and expressive arts to guide healing. We combine unwavering care with knowledge of the nervous system, creating a safe space for therapy that prioritizes holistic well-being.

Welcome to Rooted Compassion Counseling and Consulting.

We look forward to working with you!

See What People Are Saying About Amy!

  • "Excellent presentation! The presenter was approachable and relatable as well as knowledgeable and passionate about the material. I am eager to dive deeper and continue to understand polyvagal theory!"

    training participant

  • "Amy was engaging and her humor made the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. She was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Poly-Vagal Theory. She appeared to love teaching it, which made learning from her a pleasure."

    training participant

  • "She was very relatable and her authenticity helped me to be and stay engaged."

    training participant

  • "Amy was amazing and I left thinking "man, I wish she had been my therapist as a kid!"

    training participant

Our mental health counselors are continually striving to increase our cultural awareness and competence, understanding that this learning is a life-long process.

We are committed to our own emotional and professional growth while helping our clients achieve their own personal healing and growth. In addition, we are anti-racist (and anti any isms!), and welcome clients of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and nationalities. We warmly welcome clients who identify as LGBTQI+ and those in non-traditional relationships.

  • Therapy

    Our committed therapists walk alongside our clients to create a sense of security and acceptance as they begin to heal, grow, dream, and blossom. Based on each person’s concerns, worldview and preferences, we provide methods and tools for mental health growth and healing.

  • Safe and Sound Protocol

    Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, the door is opened for improved communication and more successful therapy by calming the physiological and emotional state.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) incorporates several psychotherapy ideologies. Extensive research has shown EMDR is an effective treatment of trauma. Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for post-traumatic stress.

  • Expressive Arts Therapy

    Expressive Arts Therapy engages the mind and body in the healing process. While the tools come from theatre and the arts, the goals which can include symptom relief, self-attunement, emotional regulation, social engagement, and psychological flexibility, are rooted in psychotherapy.

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"When it comes to holistic mental health therapy and supports you can't go wrong with Amy Stenger-Sullivan and her team at Rooted Compassion. Amy leads her team mindfully, centers her understanding of Polyvagal Theory in both theory and practice, and is helping a new generation of therapists (and clients!) meet one another at the root of what's going on vs. getting distracted by symptomology. Rooted Compassion is the group I always trust when folks ask me for a referral. I admire their efforts, expertise and the compassionate lens through with they work!"

- Sarah Buffie, Soul Bird Consulting

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

The SSP is an amazing nervous system calming therapy.

Click here to learn more!

Working with Amy

 “The brilliance of Amy Sullivan is her ability to put strengths alongside challenges. Her presentation of the Polyvagal Theory allows us to see how our vagus nerve does so much more than just respond to fear. Amy shows us how it also supports regulation and resilience. Passionately and creatively, she helps us identify ways to engage our vagus nerve for our growth instead of working to only contain its fear response. She helps us identify, celebrate and strengthen our higher selves based on the power of our own biology. Amy’s creativity inspires, enriches and invites those she serves to find new and unexpected ways to discover and engage their hidden gifts and resilience.  Amy is a lifelong learner who synthesizes and expands on what she learns to find new and creative ways to help us explore the strengths within our survival skills. ”

– Mary Vicario, LPCC-S | Finding Hope Consulting, LLC