Consent isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of trust, safety, and meaningful healing. In this episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson sits down with Naima Merella, CAMTC, RYT, to explore what true consent looks like in bodywork, yoga, and holistic healing.

As a queer, BIPOC healer, Naima shares their journey as a massage therapist, yoga instructor, herbalist, and artist, emphasizing how identity, trauma, and accessibility shape their approach to care. They dive into the challenges of massage therapy education, the importance of community agreements, and how relational healing is built through mutual respect and communication.

Whether you’re a practitioner, a client, or someone interested in healing justice, this conversation unpacks the deep intersections of consent, power, and embodied safety in therapeutic spaces.

🎧 Tune in for an insightful discussion on making healing work more inclusive, intentional, and affirming for all.

Takeaways

• Naima integrates multiple healing modalities into their practice.

• Art serves as a personal healing practice for Naima.

• Accessibility in healing spaces is crucial for marginalized communities.

• Understanding trauma is essential in massage therapy.

• Community agreements can enhance relational healing.

• Naima's work is informed by their intersectional identities.

• Healing happens in relationships, not just individually.

• Creating safe spaces requires awareness of privilege.

• Massage therapy education often lacks trauma-informed practices.

• Naima aims to empower clients to take up space.

  
  

Featured Queer Moment of Joy Guest and where to learn more:  Sebastian Barry (he/him) with DTLA Proud and OSTC

Guest Bio : 

A student of life, art, yoga, bodywork, energetics, herbalism, nature and ancestral healing ways. Naima is a visual artist, yoga teacher, massage therapist, herbalist and energy worker. Naima is passionate about using these mediums to support the health and healing of oppressed peoples, specifically QTBNaimaPOC. Naima loves experimenting with cross pollinating healing practices. Raising awareness about the impacts of trauma and systems of oppression so that we can heal from cycles of trauma and work toward liberation. Naima teaches personal and group classes and creates community healing events that include art, music, tea and garden spaces.

To find more from Naima visit:

NaimaMerella.com

@Naima Merella 

@Rosey.Maple

@Massage.With.Naima

Host Bio: 

Renae Johnson (they/them) founded Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC), a group practice and community hub that focuses on mental health for and by the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities and their allies. Renae is a licensed therapist and board certified art therapist.

Special Thanks to Inclusive Therapists for their support. https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/

Mentioned in this Episode: The Body Keeps The Score and Everybody Gym

To find more from us visit:

Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com

Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective 

TikTok: @openspacetherapy 

Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut 

Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout

YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective

Content transparency: issues around consent

Keywords: Naima Morella, healing arts, massage therapy, yoga, herbalism, creativity, intersectionality, community agreements, trauma-informed care, accessibility