About Us
The Garden Within is a sanctuary for healing and empowerment, where survivors of trauma can rediscover their strength and reclaim their futures. Founded as a transformative extension of Survivor Ventures, our space merges holistic wellness with economic opportunity, offering trauma-responsive care in a supportive, survivor-led environment. We honor the journey of every individual who walks through our doors, providing a nurturing space where mind, body, and spirit find balance. Through ancient healing traditions and modern therapeutic approaches—including massage therapy, movement therapy, art therapy, and breathwork—we guide survivors toward wholeness, resilience, and self-discovery.
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More than a wellness center, The Garden Within is a community where healing and entrepreneurship go hand in hand. Survivors trained through our Survivors to Entrepreneurs (S2E) program gain hands-on experience, certifications, and mentorship, enabling them to build sustainable careers in holistic care. Our Tampa-based center not only offers a range of metaphysical and wellness products but also serves as a hub for trauma-informed care, connecting survivors with accessible healing resources both in-person and through telehealth services. As we grow, we remain committed to breaking cycles of exploitation and fostering a future where survivors thrive—because everything needed to heal is already within.
Meet The Team
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Tiffany McGee, Founder, The Garden Within
​Tiffany McGee is the founder of The Garden Within, a social enterprise supporting trafficking survivors by selling you holistic care products and services to support physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Drawn to the shop at a moment of transition, Tiffany was inspired to preserve its sacred energy and grow it into a safe, nurturing space that empowers survivors of human trafficking through healing and economic opportunity.
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Tiffany’s path into the healing arts is nontraditional—shaped by personal and family experiences with trauma, loss, and the need to reclaim wellness outside of conventional medicine. Through the use of herbalism and energetics, Tiffany experienced profound healing that inspired her to bring these restorative modalities to others seeking alternatives to chemicals, pills, and surgeries.
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A seasoned advocate and visionary leader, Tiffany founded Survivor Ventures in 2018, a nonprofit that supports trafficking survivors in achieving economic independence. With more than two decades of experience in counter-trafficking work, she previously served as a Department of Defense Intelligence Analyst on anti-trafficking task forces at U.S. Embassies across Africa and Europe.
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A graduate of the University of Cape Town, Ohio University, and the American Military University, Tiffany holds degrees in Peace Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Gender and Transformation, and International Affairs.
Elena Young, Holistic Care Director
Elena is a 25 year old lifelong artist, who believes that healing begins when individuals feel seen, heard, and free to express themselves. She obtained her art therapy practitioner certificate and has an extensive background in art of many forms, with her sessions no art skills are required, just an open mind and readiness to start your healing journey. As a survivor, mother, and lifelong artist, she understands the profound power creativity holds in restoring what life has broken. She offers trauma-informed, nature-based individual sessions rooted in compassion and lived experience. Her approach is especially meaningful for those who haven’t found healing through traditional methods. With a commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and creatively empowering environment, she walks alongside each person on their unique path toward healing.
Jennifer Holmes, Creative Healing for the Mind, Body & Soul
Jennifer Holmes is a trauma-informed holistic practitioner who holds certificates in Holistic Practice, Art Therapy, Healing Touch (Level 1), and other wellness-based approaches. A survivor leader and advocate, she brings lived experience, spiritual grounding, and a heart for service into every space she facilitates. Her mission is to uplift, support, and help break generational cycles through creative and community-rooted care.​
Creative Healing offers art-based wellness and holistic expression workshops for anyone seeking growth, balance, or healing. This is sacred work, open to all, no experience is ever required to participate.
Offerings may include creative expression, journaling, herbal wisdom, somatic awareness, mindfulness, empowerment practices, and more. All workshops are non-clinical, trauma-informed, and held in supportive spaces, online, outdoors, or in the community.
Each person is honored as the expert of their own journey. The space simply supports that process with care, creativity, and deep respect.
Sequoia, Herbalist
Sequoia is a 21 year old herbalist who specializes in biomedical health & nutrition. She has spent the last 4 years in self-study over holistic healing practices, primal nutrition, medicinal herbs, and native flora. She seeks to bring the body back to its ancient alignment, returning to the inherent health given to us before modern maladies. She is currently a student at Traditions School of Herbal Studies and she will graduate as a clinical herbalist. For now, she teaches and offers her services in a unique manner that combines the physical & spiritual realm that brings harmony to the body, mind, and earth.
Nicole Smart -
Certified Sound Healer and Health & Wellness Coach
Nicole is a Certified Sound Healer, Reiki Practitioner, and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach. She holds a BA in English with an Education minor and began her career as a classroom teacher. After burning out, becoming immersed in the healing arts shifted her perspective and trajectory. She has always been fascinated by the interconnectedness of mental, physical, and spiritual health. This led her to study evidence-based practices for cultivating healthy habits and learning to shift from a life of “going through the motions” to a life of intention. She discovered that meditating to the pure tones of the crystal singing bowls was a natural way to release built-up tension and treat her anxiety. Now, she loves facilitating Restorative Sound Baths as safe, comfortable spaces for others to share in the experience of the transformative power of sound. Nothing brings her more joy than helping others improve their health & wellness. She is committed to creating opportunities for others to experience the peace, joy, and groundedness that can come from these healing modalities.
Cheryl –
Founder of Cheryl’s Healing Cottage
Oracle, Healer, Survivor & Author
Cheryl is the heart and soul behind Cheryl’s Healing Cottage, a sacred space devoted to nurturing the mind, body, spirit, and soul. As an intuitive oracle and gifted healer, Cheryl channels divine guidance to support others on their path to wholeness. A survivor of sex trafficking, she now walks in her power, transmuting pain into purpose. Her upcoming audiobook, The Gilded Cage: A True Story of Survival, shares her story of resilience and transformation, offering hope, truth, and healing to those ready to rise. Cheryl’s work is rooted in love, presence, and the deep belief that every soul deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported.
Farah Torok – Divine Channeler, Healing & Guidance through Tarot & Oracle
Reading Tarot since the age of 15, I’ve always felt a deep calling to be a healer. From a young age, I’ve been aware of my intuitive gifts and have spent years studying spiritual practices. A major influence on my journey has been my grandmother, a Reiki Master in Mexico, whose wisdom continues to inspire my healing approach today.
I serve as a bridge between logic and spirituality, helping bring balance between the divine and the physical. Through channeled messages that come directly from Source, I offer insights that nourish the soul and support your alignment with your highest path. My readings focus on what you truly need to hear in the moment. Clients often describe a sense of relief and divine reassurance after our sessions, not because the words are mine, but because they come from a higher wisdom beyond comprehension.
Christie Rados -
Certified B.E.S.T. Practitioner,
Certified Spiritual B.E.S.T. Practitioner, Angelic Reiki Master
I was born and raised in Oregon and relocated to Florida in 1998. In 2010, I started
receiving messages from Angels and a few years later began receiving messages from
people that had passed on. I became a certified Angelic Reiki Master in 2015 and was
certified as a Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (B.E.S.T.) and Spiritual B.E.S.T.
Practitioner in 2020. I have been doing energy work full time since 2022 and recently
expanded to working on and communicating with animals.
My area of expertise is clearing specific blocks that are in the highest priority to be
released from a person’s energy, chakra clearing/balancing/protection, grounding,
etheric cord cutting, and animal communication.
I work very closely with multiple Angels and Spirit Guides and all energy work that I
perform is directly through Divine Source. During each treatment session, I call in Arch
Angel Michael for protection and Arch Angel Raphael for assistance with healing.
My heart focus is to be of service to others and to help them on their path to
empowerment, enlightenment, and overall physical, mental, and emotional health.
Marcia Carrasco
Published Author, Akashic Records & Energy Healer and Spiritual Activator
Marcia supports individuals in healing past trauma and reconnecting with their true purpose. As a certified Reiki Master, Spiritual Activator, and Akashic Records & Energy Healer, she guides clients toward self-empowerment and transformation. Her work helps uncover the root causes of emotional and energetic blocks, while offering practical tools to heal and move forward.
Deeply passionate about self-empowerment, Marcia believes that with the right guidance, everyone has the innate ability to heal themselves. She continues to expand her practice through daily meditation and connection with her higher self.
Marcia is the author of The Akashic Chronicles: Stories of Healing in the Akashic Records, a powerful exploration of her personal journey from childhood trauma to becoming a healer. Combining reflections with stories from client sessions and past-life experiences, her book offers a window into the transformative power of spiritual healing.
Committed to serving those ready to step fully into their power, Marcia offers a grounded and compassionate presence for those seeking lasting change and spiritual alignment. She is here to support your journey of awakening and self-discovery.
Christy Marie -
Dedicated wellness practitioner and facilitator, specializing in Sound Healing, Aromatherapy, Intuitive Energy Work, and Yoga
Christy Marie is a dedicated wellness practitioner and facilitator, specializing in Sound Healing, Aromatherapy, Intuitive Energy Work, and Yoga. Her journey into the world of natural healing began in 2014, and since then, she has passionately explored the spiritual and physical effects of plant-based remedies. She leaned into her natural energetic gifts and got certified as a Reiki Master back in 2021. This was also around the same time that she delved deeper into Sound Healing and its benefits. In August 2024, Christy became a certified yoga teacher with a focus on trauma-informed restorative and relaxation yoga, expanding her ability to offer holistic care to the larger community. She felt that embarking on the journey to become a yoga teacher would round out what Diviiine ‘Scense is about—the desire to connect the mind, body, and soul.
Guided by a core value of advocating for others in their healing journey, Christy embodies her beliefs through tangible actions, sharing her energy with the collective to foster connections with oneself, the community, and our ancestors. Firmly believing in the power of holistic wellness, Christy is committed to making it accessible to all while respecting the land and its capacity to heal trauma.
Jessica Desilets
space holder, healer, and guide on the journey inward
With over 15 years in the healthcare industry, I’ve dedicated my life to supporting others in their healing ~ and today, that work extends beyond the physical to include the emotional, energetic, and spiritual layers of well-being.
My passion is creating a safe, welcoming space where we can explore consciousness, deepen self-awareness, and reconnect with the inner wisdom we all carry. I believe true healing begins within, and I’m honored to walk alongside others as they remember their strength, clarity, and potential.
Cathy Reyes
Intuitive Reader & Wellness Instructor
"I'm a Wellness Instructor, holistic therapist, and spiritual baddie walking in alignment with my higher self.
My journey of spiritual awakening began before I even entered this world, shaped by early life in
a household impacted by domestic violence. In 2020, I consciously stepped onto my
self-healing path, and everything changed.
Through deep inner work, divine connection, and sacred practices, I began to remember who I
truly am—and manifest the life I was always meant to live. Now, I help others do the same. I
believe healing is possible for everyone when you have the right guidance, tools, and support. If
I can rise, you can too."
Summer Sewall -Bear and Hummingbird / Jewelled - Messenger Certified Tarot Reader, Certified Angel Guide, Energy Healing (Seraphim Healer, Shamanic Healing), Energy Art, and Shamanic Life Coach
Meet Summer Dawn - Jewelled Messenger. Summer is a Tampa Bay native dedicated to the art of healing the mind, body, and soul. Her mission is to empower you to discover your intuitive healing gifts and learn to harness your unique magical tools. Summer is passionate about sharing her knowledge and skills with others, and her greatest desire is to help you embrace your own intuitive gifts and learn to navigate life with the support of Angels, Tarot, and the natural world.
Due to her profound connection with the Archangels and Nature, Summer offers a harmonious blend of celestial and earthly magic. She teaches about the Archangels, guiding you to form your own connections with these powerful celestial beings.
As a certified Tarot and Oracle card reader, Summer provides insightful readings. Her goal during these readings is to help you gain clarity and guidance in various aspects of your life. Tarot can serve as a powerful healing guide, offering perspectives that promote personal growth and understanding.
As a certified Angel Guide, Reiki Master, Shamanic healer, and Seraphim healer, Summer offers energy healing designed to balance and rejuvenate your soul. Her sessions are infused with a warm, nurturing energy that promotes healing from within.
Summer invites you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Whether you're seeking personal growth, spiritual enlightenment, or simply a renewed sense of peace, Summer is here to guide you every step of the way.
Alexandra
Trauma Release Practioner
Alexandra is the founder of Release & Rise LLC, where she helps survivors release stored trauma through a safe, guided process called The Reik Method, developed by Mohammad Kilani and based on Wilhelm Reich’s work. She guides clients back to a time before their first trauma, helping them reconnect with their natural, spontaneous selves and dissolve the root cause of their challenges. Alexandra believes that “healing is not escape, but confrontation” — a safe journey back to wholeness.
Originally from Jordan, Alexandra holds a degree in Telecommunication Engineering, yet her true calling led her beyond the technical world. She is also a writer and a belly dancer, weaving movement, expression, and storytelling into her work. With a deep passion for psychology, emotional well-being, and alternative medicine, she became a certified trauma release practitioner, dedicated to helping others transform pain into freedom.
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"Welcome
Healing is not escape. Healing is confrontation.
No matter how far you run, time will lead you back to the same place, the same moment you tried to leave behind — not to punish you, but to invite you to free yourself… and the place, together.
I have returned to the exact spaces I once fled — facing my fears, my wounds, my own history — from the same point where my life seemed to pause. Life itself didn’t stop, but my life did, because running was never the answer.
Nothing passes in vain. We always return, because the chapter cannot close until we finish reading it.
The answer will come from within — truly from within. That moment of hearing your inner voice is the moment of real awakening, the moment of surrender… the only surrender that leads to safety.
Dear reader, I want to be your safe space — the one we search for in people, in places, until we finally discover it inside ourselves.
I invite you to travel within your own mind. Give me permission to walk with you into the hidden corners of your being. Be ready to face truths you may have buried out of fear, or denied in the hope they would disappear.
Either way, you are not alone.
This is a safe journey.
This is our space."
— Alexandra
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Kali Shakti ~
Cha-do Practitioner
Yoga & Meditation Teacher
Shamanic Healer
Founder & Creator of Sphynx Medicine
I am a soul on a journey of growth, healing, and deeper connection with myself, others, and the
Divine. I am Guided by intuition, presence, and trusting the unknown and unseen realms. I seek
meaning beyond the material and strive to live with intention, compassion, and gratitude.
Whether through prayer, meditation, service, or silence, I believe that the sacred is woven into
everyday life. My path is not about perfection, I trust the process, I honor the light and the
shadow and listen for the quiet wisdom within.
Through yoga, I return to the body as a vessel of wisdom and healing. The tea ceremony
teaches me stillness, humility, and the beauty of each moment. In Shamanic practices I walk
with the wisdom of my ancestors, the voice of the earth and the medicine of ritual, deepening
my bond with nature, spirit guides, and ancestral knowing. I am reminded that healing is
cyclical and held in relationship with all beings. I work closely within these modalities (Yoga, Tea,
Shamanism, Family Constellation Therapy) to guide and assist others on their path of healing,
awakening, and self-realization. I believe that life is a ceremony each breath, a prayer, each
step, an offering. I’m here to grow consciously, to live freely, and to serve with an open heart.
Kat Scirpoli -
Embodiment Coach- Embodiment Coaching
I’m Kat, an embodiment coach devoted to helping women feel more connected, grounded, and aligned in their lives. My path began with Reiki, where I experienced the power of energy work to create profound healing shifts. But I also saw how easy it was for those shifts to fade when we didn’t have practices to anchor them into daily life. That’s when I turned to embodiment.
Embodiment is the practice of fully inhabiting your body and using it as a doorway to healing, presence, and self-awareness. Through somatic movement, breathwork, nervous system regulation, and intuitive practices, I help women release what no longer serves, honor their emotions, and cultivate resilience.
My approach is trauma-informed and deeply compassionate. Together, we uncover limiting beliefs, create healthy boundaries, and open space for you to step into your most authentic expression.
I know what it feels like to search for belonging, and I also know the freedom that comes when you return home to yourself. That is the journey I am here to guide you through—coming back into your body, your truth, and your essence.