Case Study: Honoring the Body, Honoring the Roots — A Culturally Grounded Approach to Anxiety and Sleep
Case Study: Honoring the Body, Honoring the Roots — A Culturally Grounded Approach to Anxiety and Sleep
Client Overview (Fictional Composite)
Jasmine, a 38-year-old educator and community leader, came to therapy feeling emotionally drained, anxious, and disconnected from herself. Though successful in her work and known for being dependable, she quietly admitted she was burned out…exhausted from constantly holding it all together while never truly feeling restored. She had lost her passion for what she once loved.
Jasmine identified as a Black woman and expressed a desire to heal in a way that respected not only her mental and physical health, but also her cultural roots. As a therapist with an integrative and culturally responsive lens, I guided Jasmine through a healing process that blended traditional mental health approaches with ancestral wisdom, body-based practices, and nutritional education aligned with the African Diaspora.
Presenting Concerns
Persistent anxiety, especially in the evenings
Difficulty winding down and staying asleep
Physical tension in shoulders and chest
Emotional exhaustion and irritability
Feeling “numb” or disconnected from joy
A desire to reconnect with herself and her heritage
Therapeutic Goals
Reduce anxiety and support restorative sleep
Reconnect with the body through movement and mindfulness
Explore ancestral nutrition and cultural food patterns
Support emotional expression and self-compassion
Integrate rituals that align with Jasmine’s identity and values
Holistic Tools and Interventions
Medication & Integrative Support
Jasmine was also working with her physician and was prescribed medication to support anxiety and sleep. We discussed how medication can be an important stabilizing tool, while research consistently shows that integrating lifestyle-based wellness practices, such as nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation can significantly improve mental health outcomes and quality of life when used alongside pharmacological treatment.
Our work focused on supporting Jasmine’s nervous system, sleep, and emotional regulation in ways that complemented her medical care, honoring a whole-person approach rather than viewing medication as the sole solution.
We built Jasmine’s care plan using a trauma-informed blend of CBT, somatic therapy, and environmental wellness, a framework I use with women navigating burnout. Every tool we introduced from ear acupuncture to ancestral food rituals was designed to help her feel safer in her body, reconnect to her identity, and build a self-care practice she could sustain long-term.
Ancestral Nutrition & Hormonal Support
Rather than impose generic “health food” advice, we explored what wellness meant in the context of African Diaspora food traditions—nutrient-dense, seasonal, and deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom.
We incorporated psychoeducation around the Ancestral Diet foods like leafy greens (collards, mustard), sweet potatoes, okra, millet, beans, and bone broth all known for their gut-healing, blood-sugar balancing, and nutrient-replenishing properties.
Jasmine realized that over time she had disconnected from these foods in favor of more processed, convenience options that left her feeling sluggish. She began slowly reintroducing traditional meals in intentional ways that nourished both body and soul.
In collaboration with her physician, she also requested lab work, which included:
Thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)
Vitamin D (commonly low in Black women), B12, ferritin, magnesium
Sex hormone panel (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
Cortisol and glucose/insulin
Results showed low vitamin D and ferritin, which contributed to her fatigue and mood instability. Together, we used this insight to gently adjust her nutrition and supplement routine.
Ear Acupuncture & Somatic Grounding
We incorporated ear acupuncture weekly to support sleep, relaxation, and emotional release. Jasmine said the treatments helped her “drop back into her body” and sleep more deeply.
We also explored grounding exercises like foot soaks with Epsom salt, guided breathwork, and intuitive movement to process emotional buildup. These practices gave her language and tools to move stress through her body, rather than internalize it.
Culturally Rooted Mindfulness Practices
Rather than start with structured meditation, we built mindfulness into things that already held meaning for Jasmine:
Gospel or soul music as emotional release
Mindful cooking of ancestral recipes
Journaling with affirmations in her own voice and vernacular
Creating a small ancestral altar with photos, herbs, and candles
These rituals reminded her of her strength and lineage. She began saying affirmations like “I come from resilience” and “My rest is a radical act of healing.”
Emotional Expression and Self-Liberation
We worked through unspoken beliefs around being “the strong one” and carrying everything alone. Using parts work and inner child healing, Jasmine began to soften around her own needs and release internalized pressure to perform.
She reclaimed joy through creative expression, dance, rest, and stillness acts she once thought were “luxuries,” but began to see as birthrights.
Burnout Recovery in Action: Jasmine’s Transformation
Jasmine reported:
✅ Falling asleep faster and waking with more energy
✅ Feeling more emotionally present, with a renewed sense of joy and purpose
✅ Reconnecting with ancestral nutrition and movement that replenished rather than depleted her
✅ Feeling more in control of her boundaries, energy, and emotional life
✅ A deeper connection to her authentic self, no longer performing wellness, but embodying it
Therapist Reflection
This case highlighted the power of culturally anchored, integrative care. Healing doesn’t require leaving identity at the door it invites a return to self, to ancestry, and to embodied wisdom.
This case also reinforced the importance of pacing, helping clients move away from over-functioning and toward sustainable, nervous-system-informed healing rather than perfection-driven self-care.
When we allow the body to rest, the nervous system to regulate, and the spirit to reconnect with its roots, we don’t just treat anxiety, we begin a revolution in how we care for ourselves.
Jasmine’s story reflects what I see often in therapy; women who lead, nurture, and achieve, but who are silently burning out. For women of color especially, healing must honor culture, history, and the body. When we ground mental health in identity and heritage, the path to healing becomes not only possible but powerful.
Are You Ready to Heal in a Way That Honors All of You?
If your anxiety, burnout, or exhaustion is showing up through sleep disruption, fatigue, hormone imbalance, or feeling disconnected from your body, you may need a deeper, body-centered approach to healing.
The Nutrition VIP Therapy Intensive is designed for women who are ready to address mental health through culturally rooted nutrition, somatic support, and integrative care—while working alongside medical treatment when needed.
👉 Book a free consultation to explore whether the Nutrition VIP Intensive is the right next step for your healing.
Explore Wellness Tools That Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit
I’ve curated a collection of culturally mindful wellness tools—from guided journals and ancestral cookbooks to supplements that support mood, energy, and hormonal balance.
Browse my wellness recommendations for deeper nourishment and support.
Please consult your physician before starting any new supplement.
Written By: Reynelda Jones, LMSW-C, ADS, CIMHP
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