Get rich in bodily wisdom
Redefine your embodied experience with simple care practices designed by yours truly.
Consider h&h a haven to gently explore your bodymind. Expect to be nurtured & validated as you reconnect with parts of yourself you may have lost touch with, after traumatic experiences, stress or just the ebbs and flows of living.
About Aleksa
(they/them)
I came from a holistic household, where it was normal to take lots of vitamins, do cleanses, and visit wellness practitioners on the regular. Thanks, mum! You could find me outside much of my childhood, scraped everywhere, muddied and maybe eating a flower. I would get sick often and end up at my Serbian Baba's house, to be spoonfed soup and given herbal medicine. Later, I found out that herbs were the reason my parents were able to bring me into the world, so it makes sense that my work centers them now!
As an athletic yet clumsy teen, I ended up with two concussions and developed post-concussion syndrome. Although I experienced physical and cognitive symptoms for years, I did not rehabilitate my bodymind properly because of internalized ableism. Taking supplements and altering my diet, along with classical Hatha yoga and meditation, thankfully helped me to regain cognitive functioning. I thought I was hale and hearty again—until I became chronically sick.
It took three tick bites to destroy my health in 2016 and render me disabled. After spiraling from specialist to specialist, I reclaimed my sick body by learning to advocate for myself and studying herbal medicine. Thanks to my mentors, Tamara Segal, Rosemary Gladstar and Dr. Edward Bach, I nurtured my newfound calling so that it grew from a hobby into a vocation. While herbalism is a lifelong learning process, at this stage, I'm finishing up Wild Rose College's Master Herbalist Program and recently completed a master's degree in Public Mental Health at Brown University.
As for my heritage, I'm a second-generation settler in so called Canada. My Serbian, Dutch and Macedonian forbearers were healers, educators, refugees, farmers, scientists, midwives, activists and lawyers. Being a community herbalist, organizer, writer and gardener feels like a homecoming; like I've slipped my hand into the perfectly sized (gardening) glove to carry on time-honored traditions.
"Aleksa has an evident calm, warm and attentive presence that makes [them] a real joy to be around."
Mark, Psychotherapist, U.K.
The H&H Vision
Hale & Hart bridges biomedical and holistic approaches to mental health care. I do this using my integrative mental health model that centers human diversity, creativity and autonomy.
One day, I hope every household can reclaim herbal wisdom and apply it to regenerate their communities and the Earth. In the quest to transition away from destructive and exploitative ways of life, I know that plant allies can help us care for ourselves and others, better.
Values
Everyone's experience of health is unique. Here, it's not about conforming to wellness standards or comparing your body to someone else's. Exploring our bodyminds can be playful and affirming. I'm here to support you, mentally and emotionally, on the path towards personal and collective healing.
Position & clinical focus
Get to know my positionality before deciding to work together.
I am:
- non-binary
- chronically ill and disabled
- a second-generation Canadian settler
- of Serbian-Dutch descent
- from a high socioeconomic status
- spiritually oriented
- left leaning
- a survivor of trauma
I support folks with these experiences:
- depression, anxiety, insecurities and grief
- physical, psychological, iatrogenic and sexual trauma
- chronic illness and pain management
- neurodiversity
- climate grief
- stress and burnout
- neurological conditions
- and more!
Studies & Training
2023
- Beneficial Herbal Medicines at an Integrated Free Clinic (Intensive) with 7Song
- Twenty-Two Basic Herbs: An Herbalist's Toolbox (Intensive) with Matthew Wood
- International Herb Symposium at Wheaton College
- Bioneers Conference at Berkeley University
2022
- Master of Public Health (2022-2024) at Brown University
- Master Herbalism Diploma (2022-) with Wild Rose College of Natural Healing
- Professional Training in Healing Sexual Trauma with The Breathe Network
- Bach Foundation Level III Training with The Bach Centre
- 12-Month Herbalists' Circle with Healer's Harvest
2021
- Master Gardener Certification with University of Guelph and Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. (2020-2021)
- Practical Herbalism Diploma with Wild Rose College of Natural Healing
- Experiential Herbalism: Practitioner Program with Registered Herbalist Tamara Segal
- Bach Level II Practitioner Training with BFRP Sarah Brune
- Herbs, Health, the Elements & the Moon Series with Registered Herbalist Tamara Segal
2020
- The Science and Art of Herbalism with Registered Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar
- Bach Level I Practitioner Training with BFRP Sarah Brune
2018
- Corporate Yoga & Meditation Facilitator Training with Isha Foundation
2017
- Green Roof Professional Training with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
2016
- Biodynamic Farming & Horticultural Apprenticeship with Tom Petherick (2015-2016)
- Horticultural Therapy Assistant with Thrive UK (2015-2016)
2014
- BBA (Hons) in Social Entrepreneurship at Hult International Business School (2011-2014)
The inspo behind H&H
Do you recognize the saying, "to be hale and hearty"? Hale comes from "whole" or "safe" in Old English, while hearty means to be in a state of vibrant health. Hart is a portmanteau of "hearty" and my maiden name, "Hartog".
The alchemical symbol for salt inspired this logo. Salt represents the essence of matter and is renowned for its purifying qualities. Even the expression "salt of the Earth" refers to the qualities of being honest, simple and hardworking, reflecting some of my values and those of the folks I enjoy working with. To anyone who lives with integrity, and is striving towards collective liberation in whatever capacity: H&H is here for you!
aleksakaye@
@
h&h is for humans of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, and spiritual/religious paths.
Located on stolen Mississauga and Anishinabek lands.
© 2019