Grace Donohue | Nervous System Regulation Tips | NY + Virtual

In our Women in Wellness series, we spotlight inspiring women who are making waves in the wellness community. Today, we're excited to introduce you to Grace Donohue, a Marriage and Family Therapist and Holistic Wellness Guide based in New York, whose integrative approach to mental and emotional wellness blends science and spirituality to create lasting transformation.

Meeting Grace Donohue

With credentials as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT, MA), Grace has developed a unique holistic framework that goes beyond traditional therapy methods. Her practice combines nervous system mastery with soul-aligned, heart-led living—designed specifically for those who've tried conventional approaches like affirmations, journaling, and traditional therapy but haven't found lasting change.

"Every person is so unique," Grace explains, "and it's the blend of science and spirit that equips me with the honor to guide my clients through their most powerful transformations yet."

Beyond Talk Therapy: The Integration of Mind, Body, and Spirit

While Grace began her journey in traditional talk therapy, particularly couples counseling, she noticed that something was missing. "There has to be a better way," she felt intuitively. She observed that conventional therapy often focused on external factors like jobs, family, and romantic relationships rather than addressing the common denominator: ourselves.

This realization led Grace to shift from surface-level approaches to an integrative framework that honors our complete nature as energetic, conscious, heart-centered beings. Her method draws from both cutting-edge science and ancient wisdom traditions, creating a comprehensive approach to healing and human potential.

Practical Tips for Nervous System Regulation

Grace emphasizes that nervous system regulation is key to mental and emotional wellness. Here are her practical tips you can implement today:

1. Start your day with nervous system attunement: Before reaching for your phone or diving into your to-do list, take 2-3 minutes to ground yourself. Place your feet on the floor, take a few deep belly breaths, and ask: "What does my body need to feel supported today?" This simple practice anchors your energy in the present and creates space for conscious choices instead of reactive patterns.

2. Track your subconscious language: Notice the stories you tell yourself throughout the day. When you catch an old belief like "I'm not doing enough" or "I have to push through," pause and gently reframe it. Try: "I'm allowed to move at my own pace," or "My worth isn't tied to my productivity." Reprogramming your subconscious mind begins with awareness.

3. Live in alignment with your Human Design energy: Human Design is a system that outlines each person's unique energetic blueprint. Even just knowing your type can help you navigate life with more ease. For example, if you're a Projector, give yourself permission to rest and wait for invitations instead of trying to initiate. If you're a Generator, follow what lights you up rather than forcing what drains you.

Try This at Home: Creating Micro-Moments of Safety

Ready to experience the power of nervous system regulation? Grace recommends this simple yet powerful practice:

Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly, close your eyes, and take three slow, intentional breaths. Let your exhale be longer than your inhale. As you do, whisper to yourself: "I am safe in this moment."

This small yet mighty practice activates your parasympathetic nervous system and sends a powerful signal to your body that it's okay to soften, receive, and rest. As Grace says, "You don't have to hustle your way to healing. I often say, slow is smooth and smooth is fast!"

Common Misconceptions About Nervous System Regulation

One misconception Grace often encounters is the belief that nervous system regulation means staying calm all the time. "True regulation isn't about being perpetually zen or avoiding stress altogether," she explains. "Regulation is about increasing your capacity for resilience and restoring flexibility."

Real resilience, according to Grace, is developing a flexible and responsive nervous system that can accurately assess safety and danger—and respond accordingly. It's about being able to fluidly move between states—mobilized, calm, activated, or restful—with awareness, adaptability, and ease.

Finding Wholeness Through Self-Connection

Grace's personal journey reflects the transformation she facilitates for her clients. "One thing that might surprise people is that even as a therapist and wellness guide, I've struggled with burnout, anxiety, and feeling disconnected from my own body," she shares.

She used to believe that working harder—reading more books, attending more trainings, getting all the certifications—would eventually help her feel better and worthy. "But true healing didn't come from doing more. It came from slowing down. From learning how to listen to my body, regulate my nervous system, and soften into trust rather than control."

This shift—from striving to surrendering—completely changed the trajectory of her life and work, and now that's the exact medicine she shares with others.

The Transformation Journey

The transformation Grace sees most often in clients is a return to wholeness. "They come to me feeling burnt out, stuck in finding meaning, overwhelmed by life—or like they've 'tried all the things' and nothing has really worked," she explains.

Through their work together, clients begin to reconnect with their bodies on a soul level, regulate their nervous systems, and finally feel safe being fully themselves. "What unfolds is a profound shift: they stop outsourcing their worth, release old patterns of survival, and start creating new life from a place of grounded self-trust."

Life doesn't necessarily become easier, Grace notes, but it becomes clearer. Clients learn to meet themselves with compassion and navigate life with more resilience, ease, and authenticity.

Grace's Services

Grace offers several ways to experience her integrative approach to wellness:

• 1:1 Coaching Containers: Available in 3-month or 6-month programs, these personalized coaching experiences provide deep support for nervous system regulation, subconscious reprogramming, and holistic transformation.

• Human Design Readings: These 90-minute sessions offer a deep dive into your unique energetic blueprint, helping you understand how to better align the daily rhythms of your life with your natural design.

• Upcoming Offerings: Grace is currently developing a self-paced program to make her approach more accessible to a wider audience, and she has women's wellness retreats in the works.

Connect with Grace

Ready to experience Grace's holistic approach to wellness?

• Website: www.mycoachgrace.com

• Instagram: @mycoachgrace

• Email: info@mycoachgrace.com or DMs on Instagram

"My practice is built on the belief that healing doesn't have to be so hard," Grace says. "You don't have to hustle your way to wholeness or fix yourself to be worthy. You are already whole—and my work is about helping you feel that."

Whether working through nervous system regulation, subconscious reprogramming, Human Design, or emotional healing, Grace's intention remains the same: to hold a grounded, compassionate space where you feel seen, safe, and supported in coming home to yourself.

"If you've tried all the traditional tools and still feel stuck—I want you to know, there is another way. One that honors your body, your energy, your rhythm. And I'd be honored to walk that path with you!"

This post is part of PeachyYogi's Women in Wellness directory, where we spotlight inspiring women in the wellness community. Stay tuned for more features highlighting women who are making a difference through their unique approaches to health and wellbeing.