HEALING TAKES FULL SHAPE

Embody Mental Health guides patients toward balance through integrated, trauma-informed care.

In moments when life feels overwhelming, Embody Mental Health offers a sanctuary for whole-person healing, guiding individuals through the pain of grief, trauma, and stress with care and clarity. Founded by licensed clinical social worker Marie Gorman, this Barrington practice’s name captures its essence—healing that begins with the connection between mind and body.

Gorman’s journey towards mental health began early, sparked by empathy and shaped by personal loss. As a teenager, she experienced the traumatic loss of a dear friend. The impacts of this tremendous loss led her to engage in trauma-informed grief therapy with a licensed clinician. By participating as a patient, Gorman experienced first-hand the benefits of therapy-based mental health care. In response, Gorman dedicated her education and career to understanding psychological trauma, or what’s often referred to as traumatic stress or PTSD.

“I knew then that I wanted to be a part of bringing the same emotional and psychological healing to others that my therapist had offered me,” Gorman reflected. In 2020, Gorman launched Embody Mental Health, a practice designed to help patients not just survive but rediscover safety and authenticity within themselves.

“I started my practice to provide specialized care for people experiencing the impacts of trauma and grief,” she explains. “I wanted to create a practice that not only treats symptoms but also addresses the root causes.” With her degree from Jane Addams College of Social Work and specialized training in trauma-informed yoga, Gorman cultivated a practice rooted in both science and soul. She built her foundation on social work principles, evidence-based modalities, and the mindful wisdom of traditional yoga practices. Over time, she developed a particular specialization in complex trauma, perinatal mental health, and traumatic grief—fields that require both clinical expertise and genuine human understanding.

Today, Embody Mental Health is home to three dedicated clinicians—Gorman herself, Macy Lossau, a licensed social worker tending to people navigating the effects of complex trauma, and Deb McGarvey, a licensed social worker who specializes in grief and loss. Gorman, Lossau, and McGarvey believe that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process. The three therapists take a person-in-environment approach, recognizing the broader context of an individual’s life, including their community, culture, and systemic influences. Committed to inclusivity and equity, clinicians create a safe and affirming space for people of all backgrounds and identities.

“By honoring the unique experiences of every person, we provide care that is compassionate, equitable, and empowering,” says Gorman.

Despite the growing awareness around mental health, stigma still lingers. However, Gorman is passionate about dismantling it.

“The biggest misconception about mental health is that ‘there is something wrong with you’ if you need therapy,” she observes. “In reality, it is far more likely that there is something ‘wrong’ with your environment that has contributed to the challenges you are facing.”

At Embody, therapy is reframed as an act of strength and self-care; a way to nurture wellness as one might care for their physical health.

“We often think about wellness in terms of exercise, nutrition, or sleep,” she notes. “But our emotional and psychological well-being are deeply connected to all of those things. When we take care of our minds, our bodies respond.”

Gorman, Lossau, and McGarvey don’t view their patients by their pathology or diagnosis.

“We view people as whole and complex,” explains Gorman. “We believe that effective mental health care includes incorporating the impacts of social systems, culture, history, environment, and access to resources to respond holistically to the needs of the patient.”

This philosophy extends beyond the therapy chair. The clinic also focuses on preventing and treating intergenerational trauma by working with parents to promote healing that ripples outward—to families, communities, and future generations.

“Our hope is that people who engage in therapy at Embody feel more supported and more capable of living their authentic lives as a result of their care,” she says.

What comes with total embodiment healing are somatic practices, including mindfulness, breathwork, and trauma-informed yoga. These strategies help patients reconnect with their bodies, processing the physical weight of trauma and freeing what the mind alone cannot carry. This integration and implementation, Gorman says, “has been shown to increase resilience and improve physical symptoms.”

In pursuit of integrated healing, Embody bridges the gap between mental and physical care through collaboration. Together with local medical professionals, Gorman’s practice aligns treatment to support every aspect of a patient’s wellness.

This shared care often leads to what she describes as “mutual progress toward treatment goals,” as mind and body gradually move in harmony toward balance. It’s a testament to the power of holistic, mind-and-body-centered healing, where clinical care and compassion intersect.

Embody Mental Health is located at 148 S. Northwest Highway, Suite 202, in Barrington, embodymentalhealth.com, @embody-mentalhealth.