Healing is Humbling
- Aug 18, 2025
- 3 min read
By Amanda Stemen, MS, LCSW
Healing as a commodity is an interesting concept. In modern capitalism, money is used to facilitate the exchange of goods and services, including medical and mental health services. This system primarily uses standardized education and licensing boards to decide which professionals provide these services. And large corporations financially benefit the most from our aches and pains.
In contrast, in indigenous communities, “healers” have traditionally been recognized as having an innate gift and they fulfill that role in contribution to their community. The training is knowledge passed down from one healer to another, experienced in real life. There’s also an exchange of goods and services, but it operates from a collective benefit perspective.
That leads us to a new iteration of healing, the “healthpreneur,” who more often eschews rigid education and licensing requirements while embracing less studied (in the western sense) approaches. Mix in ego and greed, and you have traditional and modern practices being misinterpreted and skewered, and rampant misinformation spread, all in the name of profit.
As a licensed ecotherapist, I often find myself at odds with any one approach in and of itself. I choose to be a part of this modern society, so financial compensation is necessary, but I also strive to serve from a place of compassion and awareness, honoring all practices that place true healing at the forefront. I believe in rigorous education, science, and training, but recognize its limitations, have reverence for natural healing practices, and know there is much about the healing process that we can’t yet explain.
Ecotherapy utilizes the natural world in the healing and growth process, and is ultimately about connection, to oneself, others, and something greater. (however we choose to define that) We are nature as much as anything else that’s alive, and as such are an integral part of that system. I believe so much of our mind-body health issues are directly related to being disconnected from and abusive toward the living world in this modern society of concrete and electronics.
My down-to-earth approach to my work and life incorporates not only nature, but also physical movement, mindfulness practice, somatic awareness, play, and creative exploration. Developing this approach over the course of my life, with the knowledge and experience of all those who came before me, I have moved from an inclination for speed and “more” toward slowing down and “enough,” which is a whole mind-body shift. Slowing down allows time for greater connection between mind, body, and the world around us, creating space for more thoughtful and wise decisions that align with our true goals and values.
Keeping this at the forefront, I strive to show up as my most authentic and present self, using the same tools I share with my clients in order to heal, grow, and connect alongside them. Client sessions aren’t about me, but reciprocity is what’s truly healing. Not some arbitrary hierarchical ego-based power structure. It’s the connection that heals and provides support for growth. When I'm aligned with my inner wisdom and mindful of the present moment, others sense that and desire it for themselves.
This is why I find the egoism in the “healing” space fascinating. This work has been incredibly humbling. I learn as much from my clients as they do from me (maybe more) and the more I learn, the less I know. It’s a tremendous honor to walk (literally) alongside others committed to such an endeavor, and while I may get paid for what I do, the ultimate shared purpose is connection, healing, and growth.
Connect With Amanda
Instagram: @fundamentalgrowth
Bluesky: @fundamentalgrowth.bsky.social
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