We recently had the chance to connect with Nakoma Garcia and have shared our conversation below.
Nakoma, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Lately, I’ve felt a strong call to deepen and expand how I serve my clients-not just in treating symptoms, but in truly supporting their long-term healing and wholeness.. For a while, I was hesitant to take on more training, unsure if I had the time or capacity. But I’ve moved through that fear and fully stepped into this next chapter. I’m currently pursuing certification in Biofeedback, studying herbal medicine, and working towards becoming a Doctor of Natural Medicine and also a Doctor of Bioenergetic Medicine. I’m also studying Iridology and Auriular Therapy- powerful, time tested Modalities offered by only a handful of schools in the US. My goal is to provide my clients with a fuller picture of their health and more precise, personalized care. This path stretches me, but it is exactly where I need to be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nakoma Garcia, and I am the founder of Peace Within Counseling, a healing practice dedicated to guiding people through trauma, emotional pain, and life’s deeper challenges. I specialize primarily in trauma therapy, offering EMDR, Quantum Medical Hypnosis, Psychotherapeutic Reiki, and Medical QiGong- alongside a range of other evidence-based and energy-based modalities. What makes Peace Within Counseling unique is our truly holistic approach: we don’t separate the mind from the body or the spirit. Instead, we create a space where all layers of a person can be supported and heard. I’m currently expanding my practice through certifications and trainings in Biofeedback, Iridology, Auricular Therapy and Herbal Medicine among many other energy techniques, working towards becoming a Doctor of Natural Medicine. This work is more than a profession- it is a calling to help people come home to themselves, release what no longer serves them, and step into lasting peace and resilience.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
The bonds between people often break due to unresolved trauma, poor communication patterns, emotional dysregulation, and unmet needs. When individuals feel invalidated, unsafe, or chronically misunderstood, it erodes trust and connection over time. In contrast, what restores those bonds is attunement- being present and responsive to one another’s emotional states- along with clear, compassionate communication and a commitment to repair. Evidence-based modalities like EMDR, trauma- informed psychotherapy, and mindfulness-based interventions help individuals recognize their own patterns and reestablish secure, healthy relationships. Healing relational wounds requires both insight and pratice, but when safety and empathy are reestablished, reconnection becomes not only possible, but lasting.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back most is the fear of failure- the quiet, constant whisper that asks, “What if I try and I’m not enough?” It’s the voice that made me hesitate before pursuing bold dreams, fearing that falling short would confirm every doubt I’ve ever carried. This fear didn’t always shout; often it disguised itself as practicality or perfectionism, urging me to wait until I was more ready, more credentialed, more certain. But beneath it was a deep ache- a belief that failure meant I would lose respect, love, or even identity. At times, it kept me from taking risks that might have changed everything. Yet now I see that failure never had the power to destroy me- only to shape me. And the real risk was not showing up fully at all.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the counseling industry tells itself is that healing happens solely through talk therapy, in 50-minute sessions, using cognitive insight as the primary tool for transformation. While traditional therapy has its place, trauma isn’t just stored in thoughts—it’s embedded in the body, the nervous system, and even the spirit. Yet many clinicians are still hesitant to integrate somatic practices, energy-based therapies, or culturally rooted healing modalities that often create the most profound shifts for clients.
Another harmful narrative is the idea that diagnosis equals identity. Too often, people are given a label—depression, anxiety, PTSD—and begin to see themselves as that diagnosis rather than as a whole person who’s responding to pain, environment, or trauma. While diagnoses can be useful for access to care or understanding patterns, they should never become a client’s story. Healing begins when we separate a person’s essence from their symptoms.
The field also tends to elevate emotional neutrality over authentic human connection, suggesting therapists must remain detached to be ethical. But in truth, it’s often the therapist’s grounded presence, attunement, and humanity that allow deep healing to occur.
Finally, the industry too often ignores the role of systemic and generational trauma—pathologizing individuals without acknowledging the social and environmental conditions that contribute to their distress. That’s why I’ve chosen to blend evidence-based modalities like EMDR and biofeedback with holistic practices like Reiki, medical qigong, iridology, and herbal medicine. Healing isn’t linear or one-size-fits-all—and we need to stop pretending that it is.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m with my family. There’s a deep sense of grounding that comes from being with the people who know and love me through every chapter of life. Over the past couple of years, I’ve made many trips between California and Indiana, especially to spend time with my 96-year-old grandfather. Each visit feels like a return—not just to family, but to my roots.
Nature is also where I reconnect to peace on a soul-deep level. Whether I’m sitting outside on a summer night watching lightning bugs, listening to cicadas, or exploring the beautiful state of Colorado, I feel most at home. The mountains, waterfalls, creeks, and open skies of Colorado speak to something ancient in me. That wild beauty reminds me that healing doesn’t always require words—it just needs presence. Whether I’m walking beside a stream, road-tripping across the country, or gathered around the kitchen table with the people I love, those are the moments when everything aligns and I can just breathe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peacewithincounselingllc.com
- Instagram: @peacewithincounseling
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/me?trk=p_mwlite_feed-secondary_nav
- Facebook: Peace Within Counseling
