Less Stress In Life
Welcome to Less Stress in Life—the podcast dedicated to helping you navigate life with greater ease, energy, and balance. In our Empowered Wellness series, we share practical tools, expert insights, and meaningful conversations designed to support your journey toward feeling more in control and at peace in your everyday life.
Hosted by Deb Timmerman, a registered nurse and reflexologist; Susie Marsh, a social worker and professional organizer; and Lindsay Vertalka, a physical therapist, we bring a unique blend of perspectives to help you move through life—literally and figuratively—with more confidence, grace, and vitality.
Whether it’s finding calm in chaos, creating supportive spaces, or building strength and resilience, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Join us to discover how small shifts can lead to big changes, helping you live with less stress and greater ease.
Less Stress In Life
From Self-Care to Stress-Care: The Role of Complementary Therapies in Healing
Feeling overwhelmed by stress or stuck in survival mode? In this episode, we unpack the difference between basic self-care and true stress care—and why your nervous system needs more than the occasional bubble bath. Tune in to discover how complementary therapies like reflexology, breathwork, and even decluttering can help your body finally exhale.
Follow Us:
Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/
Stay tuned for more conversations with Deb, Susie, and Lindsay as they empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!
From Self-Care to Stress Care: The Role of Complementary Therapies in Healing
Episode Summary:
In this closing episode of our Empowered Wellness Series, hosts Deb Timmerman, RN, Lindsay Vertalka, MPT, and Susie Marsh, LBSW explore how healing takes root when we move beyond occasional self-care into consistent, body-centered stress care. They unpack what healing really means today, how chronic stress often underlies illness, and why complementary therapies play a powerful role in resetting the nervous system for long-term resilience.
What You'll Learn:
- Why stress care, not just self-care, is essential in today’s world
- How complementary therapies support the nervous system and healing
- The difference between symptom management and whole-person healing
- Categories of complementary therapies (mind-body, manual, energy, expressive, nutritional)
- How stress shows up in the body and how to catch it early
- The science-backed value of therapies once dismissed as “woo-woo”
- Real stories of transformation through coaching, reflexology, and organizing
- How to create a proactive, personalized healing plan
Key Quotes:
“True healing is only possible when the body feels safe.” — Susie Marsh
“Your nervous system doesn’t respond to one-time fixes. It responds to patterns.” — Deb Timmerman
“We need to stop treating just symptoms and start supporting the whole person.” — Lindsay Vertalka
Resources Mentioned:
- 2021 National Institutes of Health study supporting 175,000+ complementary therapy research papers
- Mayo Clinic’s public documentation on integrative therapies
- Reflexology, massage, and breathwork as proactive stress care
Final Thoughts from the Hosts:
- Susie: Start small—true healing begins with noticing and honoring your needs.
- Lindsay: Therapies must become part of your rhythm, like scheduled maintenance.
- Deb: Healing works best when there’s a plan. Map your path and choose partners who understand both medical and holistic perspectives.
Connect with Us:
If you’re curious about how to begin your own stress care journey or want to explore complementary approaches that support your healing, reach out, we'd love to help you get started.