Today we’d like to introduce you to Moya Mathison.
Moya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder of Mending Wings to Soar, a therapy practice in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
Earlier in my career, much of my work focused on individuals navigating anxiety and the long-term effects of childhood trauma. Those experiences taught me a great deal about how early environments shape the way people respond to stress, relationships, and responsibility later in life.
Over the past several years, I began noticing a consistent pattern among many of the women I work with. These were capable, responsible women who held a lot together for the people around the, families, careers, and relationships. On the outside they often appeared to be doing well. But privately many of them were dealing with chronic anxiety, mental exhaustion, and a nervous system that rarely felt settled.
What stood out to me was that many of these women weren’t struggling because they were incapable. In many cases, the opposite was true. They were used to being the dependable one, the problem-solver, the person others leaned on. Over time that constant level of responsibility can keep the nervous system in a near-constant state of alert.
Recognizing this pattern gradually shaped the direction of my work. Today my practice focuses on helping high-functioning women and mothers better understand anxiety, burnout, and nervous system dysregulation so they can move out of survival mode and into a more sustainable way of living.
Alongside my therapy practice, I also write a weekly newsletter called On the Mend with Moya, where I reflect on the patterns I see in my work and in everyday life. It’s become a space where many women recognize themselves in these experiences and begin to understand they’re not alone in what they’re carrying.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many people who start their own practice, the road hasn’t always been smooth. Building a therapy practice comes with both professional and personal challenges.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow a business while also staying grounded in the work that matters most to me, sitting with people in difficult moments and helping them make sense of their experiences. As a therapist, you’re trained clinically, but not always prepared for the business side of running a practice.
Another challenge has been balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. As a mother, there are seasons where the demands of parenting and the demands of a growing practice overlap in very real ways. Those experiences have deepened my empathy for the women I work with, many of whom are trying to hold multiple roles at once.
Over time, I’ve also had to learn the importance of sustainability in this work. When you’re someone who naturally cares deeply and shows up for others, it’s easy to overextend yourself. Learning to build a practice that supports both my clients and my own well-being has been an important part of the journey.
Those challenges have ultimately shaped the way I practice today. They’ve reinforced my belief that helping people regulate their nervous systems and step out of constant survival mode isn’t just a clinical idea, it’s something many of us are actively learning in our own lives as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of Mending Wings To Soar . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mending Wings to Soar is a therapy practice based in Bloomfield, New Jersey focused on helping individuals and families navigate anxiety, chronic stress, and the lasting effects of difficult life experiences. Earlier in my career, much of my work centered on individuals healing from childhood trauma and anxiety. That work taught me how deeply early experiences shape the way people respond to responsibility, relationships, and stress later in life.
Over time, I began noticing a pattern among many of the women I worked with. Many were highly capable and dependable in every area of their lives. They were the ones others relied on in their families, workplaces, and relationships. From the outside they often appeared to have everything under control, yet privately they were carrying chronic worry, emotional exhaustion, and a nervous system that rarely had the opportunity to fully settle.
As we explored their stories more deeply, it became clear that for many women, patterns of over-responsibility and constant vigilance were often rooted in earlier life experiences, including childhood environments where they learned to adapt quickly, take care of others, or remain highly attuned to the needs of those around them.
Recognizing that pattern gradually shaped the direction of my work. Much of what I do now focuses on helping high-capacity women and mothers understand how chronic responsibility and stress affect the nervous system and how to step out of cycles of over-functioning and survival mode.
What sets my work apart is the focus on understanding anxiety and burnout through a nervous system lens. Rather than simply pushing through stress or relying on willpower, the goal is to help people recognize how their bodies respond to pressure, responsibility, and past experiences, and to develop more sustainable ways of living.
In addition to individual therapy, I also offer workshops that explore nervous system regulation and the pressure many capable women experience when they are the person everyone depends on. One of my workshops, How to Regulate When You’re the One Everyone Depends On, helps participants better understand how chronic responsibility can keep the nervous system in a constant state of alert and offers practical ways to begin shifting out of that cycle.
I also write a weekly newsletter called On the Mend with Moya, where I reflect on patterns I see in my clinical work and in everyday life, especially the ways high-capacity women can become stuck in cycles of over-responsibility and constant alertness.
What I’m most proud of is creating a space where people feel safe enough to slow down and be honest about what they’re carrying. Many of my clients have spent years being “the strong one” for everyone else. My goal is to help them reconnect with themselves and build lives that don’t require them to remain in survival mode all the time.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can connect with my work in a few different ways depending on what they’re looking for.
Through my practice, Mending Wings to Soar, I provide individual therapy for adults navigating anxiety, chronic stress, and the long-term effects of difficult life experiences. Much of my work focuses on high-functioning women and mothers who are used to carrying a great deal of responsibility but are looking for a more sustainable way of living and relating to themselves.
I also offer workshops that explore nervous system regulation and the unique pressure many capable women experience when they are the person everyone depends on. One of these workshops, How to Regulate When You’re the One Everyone Depends On, helps participants better understand how chronic responsibility affects the nervous system and offers practical ways to begin shifting out of constant survival mode.
For those who prefer to learn and reflect at their own pace, I write a weekly newsletter called On the Mend with Moya, where I explore patterns I see in my clinical work and everyday life, particularly the experiences of women who are used to being the strong one for everyone around them.
I’m also always open to thoughtful collaboration with other professionals, organizations, or community groups interested in conversations around mental health, stress, and nervous system regulation. The best way to stay connected with my work is through my newsletter or website, where people can learn about upcoming workshops, resources, and opportunities to engage with the work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mendingwingstosoar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthemendwithmoya?igsh=ajdhOGVpZHMzbzBl&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://onthemendwithmoya-newsletter-768705.beehiiv.com/
