Kallie England, LMSW, CYT

Kallie England, LMSW, hiking

My Story

I’ve been there. My own pain journey began when I was 7 years old and I experienced my first migraine. By my mid-20's, I was experiencing 28 head-pain days per month. I explored every conventional treatment I could find; medication, physical therapy, dietary change, chiropractic treatment, and of course psychotherapy were integral pieces of the puzzle. As my understanding of myself grew, I found that traditional & indigenous healing methods, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, shamanism, and dance were also vital practices for me. I learned the hard way that healing is an ongoing spiraling journey, that the body, mind, emotions, and spirit all must be in balance for wellness to sustain, and that we must intimately know ourselves for healing to deepen. It has been a long road for me, but I am now thriving in balance, having made it to the other side of chronic pain. Along my journey, I often felt isolated and overwhelmed, as if I were in this on my own. I do not want anyone else to feel that way. Whether you are living with chronic pain, reconciling trauma, struggling with anxiety or depression, or questioning what it all means, it would be a privilege to walk part of your journey alongside you.

formal Training & Experience

I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, where I completed an interdisciplinary internship at the University Psychological Clinic. In 2018 I co-founded the Adventure Wellness Program at University of Michigan Adventure Leadership, where I supervise social work graduate students learning Facilitation & Adventure Therapy. I’ve taught Adventure / Experiential Therapy at the University of Michigan School of Social Work since 2023 and Group Facilitation & Leadership at Eastern Michigan University since 2020. I founded Great Lakes Adventure Therapists and am a member of the Association for Experiential Education, the Therapeutic Adventure Professionals Group, and the Collegiate Adventure Therapy Collective.

Before founding Akasha, I worked as a therapist at an international referral center for head pain patients where I had the privilege of working with clients living with chronic migraine, chronic cluster headaches, and other debilitating head pain disorders. Prior to graduate school, I coordinated research studies investigating depression, stress, and the impact of health behaviors on mental health at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry. At MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, I coordinated research projects investigating cancer prevention and health disparities.

And before all that, I earned my BA in Psychology and BMA in Music Performance from the University of Michigan.

Yoga Training

I have been practicing yoga since 2009, with eclectic studies in the Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, and Hatha traditions. In 2016 I completed my 200 hour teacher training at the historic Ananda Ashram in Monroe, NY, where I studied asana with David Yogananda Hollander and Sanskrit language and Vedic Philosophy with Radha Ma and Bharati Devi. After completing yoga teacher training, I joined Ananda’s Immersion Program where I lived, taught, served and studied within a yogic lifestyle for four months. I return to the Ashram often for advanced study. 

Additional Training & Certifications

Media Coverage

Seen Magazine: Surprising Ways Nature Improves Your Well-Being

Conference Presentations & Guest Lectures