Imagine finding a way to heal that not only restores your mind and body but also connects you with a supportive, compassionate community. That’s exactly what Serena Gunn, founder of HEAL Holistic Journey Inc., has built for people seeking recovery from addiction and trauma. With a story rooted in her personal journey of overcoming addiction, Serena is on a mission to bring holistic healing to Fayetteville—and she’s creating something truly special along the way.

Serena’s journey into holistic healing began from a place of deep struggle. For over ten years, she fought an addiction to prescription medication, a battle triggered by a back injury. “I was caught in a vicious cycle,” Serena shares. “It felt like I was always moving in and out of residential treatment, but nothing was changing.”

The turning point came after a suicide attempt when Serena was introduced to reiki and a recovery coach. This experience was life-changing. “Reiki saved my life,” she says. “I finally began to heal and recover.”

Reiki, an alternative touch therapy, involves a practitioner placing their hands on or near the body to help balance the body’s energetic system—or "chakras"—which promotes deep relaxation and healing. Serena's encounter with reiki not only set her on a path of personal recovery but also ignited a passion to help others do the same.

“I practiced holistic modalities, outpatient services, and began to recover. From there, I was blessed to spend five years supporting a holistic recovery community in Flint, Michigan.” But Serena’s story didn’t stop there. In 2022, she became one of the first Recovery Reiki® Teachers in Tulum, Michigan, specializing in helping those recovering from trauma and addiction.

In 2021, Serena moved to Fayetteville, where she noticed something was missing. “The recovery community here was so quiet, and there weren’t many events bringing people together,” Serena explains. That’s when she decided to create HEAL Holistic Journey Inc., a community-focused organization dedicated to bridging the gap in recovery services by offering holistic, alternative therapies and peer support.

HEAL Holistic offers a variety of services, all designed to create spaces for healing, connection, and self-care. These include:

• Recovery Reiki Circles: Every Wednesday at 7:15 PM, Serena leads a group reiki session where participants can experience energy healing in a supportive, safe environment.

• One-on-One Reiki Sessions: Personalized healing sessions designed to address specific emotional, mental, and physical needs.

• Monthly Military Peer Support Groups: Creating a safe, healing space for veterans and active-duty members dealing with trauma or addiction.

• Recovery Reiki® and Self-Care Trainings: Workshops designed to teach individuals and organizations how to incorporate holistic healing practices into daily life.

• Fun-Covery Movement: A collaboration with Cape Fear Integrated Health Team that organizes monthly sober meetups like cookouts, hikes, meditation sessions, and open mic nights.

What sets HEAL Holistic Journey apart is its innovative, out-of-the-box approach to recovery. “Our entire team consists of people who have lived experience with mental health challenges or addiction,” Serena explains. “We understand what our community is going through because we’ve been there, and that’s powerful.”

HEAL Holistic is also known for its annual events that bring the community together and challenge the stigma around addiction. This past May, they hosted "Sober Cinco", Cumberland County’s first-ever mocktail crawl, and in September, they hold their annual “Walk the Walk” event, aimed at raising awareness around trauma and addiction recovery.

Serena is already planning more unique events like sober lock-ins and silent discos. “Recovery should be fun, empowering, and something to look forward to!” Serena emphasizes. And the best part? All of these events and services are completely free to the community, thanks to HEAL Holistic’s status as a nonprofit organization.

Serena is also a proud member of the Future Rich Aunties (FRA) community, a network of women entrepreneurs supporting and uplifting one another. “FRA is all about women cheering on the women beside them,” she shares. “I’ve worked with teams of women throughout my life, and I know the power of female support. It’s something I deeply believe in.”

The community aspect of FRA is one of the most important parts of her entrepreneurial journey. “Being an entrepreneur can feel lonely sometimes,” she admits. “But with FRA, I don’t feel like I’m doing this alone. I can lean on these amazing women for support, and in turn, offer that same support back. We’re stronger together.”

Her involvement with FRA is just one more way Serena hopes to continue growing both personally and professionally while giving back to the community. "I plan to stay visible, ask for help when I need it, and offer help when others need it. That’s what community is all about.”

Serena’s work has not gone unnoticed. On September 24, 2024, she was recognized in Washington, D.C., as a Trailblazer in the Recovery Community, receiving the "Wellness Champion" award from SAMHSA, a national honor given to just seven advocates. For Serena, this award represents the culmination of years of dedication to advocating for self-care and holistic healing on both individual and organizational levels.

Her plans for the future are clear: Continue reducing the stigma around addiction, expand HEAL Holistic’s reach, and empower as many people as possible to embrace a holistic path to recovery.

Serena’s message is simple but powerful: Healing is possible when we come together. HEAL Holistic Journey Inc. is more than just an organization—it’s a community, a movement, and a beacon of hope for those looking to recover from trauma and addiction.

“We truly believe that together we can achieve more than we can imagine. Healing isn’t something we have to do alone.”