Who We Are
Marion Segal, founder
Marion (Ruta) Segal has been cultivating communities from a young age, having grown up as an only child in a single-parent household within a communist society. This upbringing instilled in her the values of interdependence, vulnerability, creativity, and resilience. She learned to gather people naturally, fostering spaces of belonging and inclusion in creative ways. After moving to NYC and then the SF Bay Area, she felt inspired to dedicate herself to weaving meaningful connections and communities.
In addition to her work as a community builder, Marion is a healer and visual artist. Her work is deeply guided by the indigenous wisdom of the Mexican/Mazatec, West African/Dagara and Lakota cultures, via her teachers — Julieta Cazimiro, Malidoma Somé and Lewis Mehl-Madrona. She also approaches her work through the lens of the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and lineage held by Anam Tubten.
You can find her 1:1 offerings here.
Marion is certified in Creative Arts Therapy from the New School University in NYC and holds an MA from CIIS in San Francisco. She has been in the healing profession since 2007, and was the founder of Creative Pier, the first healing arts studio in NYC.
Her ongoing studies, training and certifications include the Hakomi method, Somatic Experiencing, Hypnotherapy and Narrative Healing, Bioenergy Balancing, Sound Healing, Nonviolent Communication, Relational Somatic Healing, and Reiki. Her doctoral research at CIIS focused on community restoration with creativity, mindfulness and loving-kindness. As a teacher, healer, artist, and storyteller, Marion embraces a deep love for people and the natural world.
Collaborators & Friends
Jackie Bloom
Jackie is an Integrative Family and Relational Coach and a relationally focused Occupational Therapist. She works with people of all ages, guided by interpersonal neurobiology, autonomic physiology, emergent strategy, sensory integration, dynamic systems theory, anthropology, and her boundless seeking heart.
Tracy James
Tracy coaches at the intersection of shamanism, leadership, eco-sentience, and mindful embodiment. For over 20 years she has integrated ancient and modern approaches into her Nature-based somatic coaching methodology, Elemental Energetics™. Learn more at livingelemental.com.
Rich Mertes
Rich is a somatic counselor practicing in Mill Valley, CA. He’s a certified Hakomi Practitioner who layers various techniques over an Internal Family Systems (IFS) foundation, and teaches classes about somatic walking meditation. Every summer Rich likes to spend a few days visiting with bears in the wild—and playing flute for them.
Nicki Koethner
Nicki Koethner, MA, MFT is a Somatic Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Educator, Consultant, and Multi-media Artist, who specializes in transforming trauma into empowerment. She is devoted to playfulness, joy, and embodied earth-based spirituality. She also facilitates healing ceremonies, workshops, and rituals internationally. Learn more at express-explore-expand.com.
