Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Cooney.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Life is a series of decisions, some daunting, others exhilarating, that push us to embrace the unknown, relinquish control, and trust ourselves. My journey has often felt like assembling a puzzle, piece by piece, with patience and determination as my constant companions. Over time, those pieces have come together, forming the person I am today. If someone had told me years ago that I’d become a trauma therapist, Reiki practitioner, yoga instructor, and mindfulness leader, I would have laughed. And yet, here I am…proof that growth, healing, and transformation are possible, even in the face of life’s challenges.
As a therapist, I’ve learned that the best practitioners are often shaped by their own experiences with mental health—whether personally or through loved ones. For me, living with and navigating PTSD wasn’t just a challenge; it became a defining part of my story. There’s a vast difference between reading about trauma and truly living it. This is where the concept of Moxie comes into play.
Moxie is defined as; force of character, determination, or nerve. It takes Moxie to step into therapy, face your inner struggles, and accept the hard truths that once felt impossible to do. Our clients embody this strength every single day. And it takes Moxie to be a therapist, to hold space for others’ pain and guide them through the healing process.
My time working in community mental health at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (JHBMC) was pivotal in shaping me as a clinician. I worked with individuals experiencing severe mental illness (SMI), which deepened my empathy and sharpened my skills. During that time, I also became a certified yoga instructor and Reiki specialist, incorporating these holistic approaches into my work with clients experiencing PTSD and other SMI. This is where the pieces of my professional puzzle started to align. I realized that the mind-body connection is undeniable. Therefore, helping clients reconnect with themselves, mind, body, and spirit, became my mission, one that I carry with me every day, and what led me to obtain my clinical advanced licensure while shifting to work in outpatient therapy.
In 2021, I trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and once again, more pieces of my puzzle clicked into place. EMDR felt intuitive, a natural extension of my mindfulness and yoga background. Witnessing the profound healing my clients experienced through EMDR reaffirmed that I was on the right path. I’ve since begun exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which has further deepened my practice and left me eager to learn more.
By 2023, life handed me yet another transformative experience: motherhood. Having my daughter brought me a new, deeper level of clarity along with a refreshed sense of purpose. As I looked back at the puzzle I’d been piecing together for years, I realized it had all been leading to this moment, the birth of Moxie Mental Health, just eight months after my baby girl’s arrival.
Entrepreneurship is in my blood; my entire family is full of small business owners. But more than that, Moxie Mental Health is my greatest passion brought to life. Our mission is to empower survivors of trauma to heal and reclaim their lives with strength, resilience, courage, and confidence. And most importantly, we believe true healing requires Moxie, a bold spirit of perseverance, from both the client and the therapist. We’re here to walk beside you with unwavering support every step of the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all but I’ve learned that the most meaningful roads rarely are. My path has been filled with both beauty and challenge, each twist and turn shaping me into the therapist, mother, business owner, and person I am today.
There were seasons of uncertainty…balancing graduate school, full-time work in community mental health, and my own healing journey. I’ve faced burnout, self-doubt, and the emotional weight that comes with holding space for others’ pain while learning to hold space for my own. Transitioning from the structure of a hospital setting to building a private practice from the ground up was another leap of faith. One of the most persistent struggles has been navigating the world of insurance. Making therapy accessible by accepting most major insurances has brought challenges and tasks like advocating for fair compensation, managing administrative hurdles, and trying to honor both my clients’ access to care, supporting and guiding my clinical team and my own boundaries as a clinician and business owner. It’s an ongoing challenge that tests both patience and persistence.
Motherhood added a new layer to that balance. Becoming a mom redefined my understanding of patience, vulnerability, and grace. It also reminded me that growth isn’t linear, it’s cyclical, sometimes messy, and always transformative.
Through it all, I’ve come to see that the “struggles” were really the lessons I needed most. They taught me resilience, compassion, and trust in the process, the very same principles I now help my clients cultivate in themselves. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been real, and that’s where the magic of healing, growth, and becoming truly lives.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At its heart, my work is about helping people come home to themselves after trauma in mind, body, and spirit. I’m a trauma therapist, Reiki practitioner, and yoga instructor, and I specialize in treating PTSD, complex trauma, and anxiety through a holistic lens. My approach blends evidence-based practices like EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) with mindfulness and somatic awareness. I believe healing isn’t just about reducing symptoms, it’s about restoring connection, safety, and self-trust.
I’m known for creating a grounded, compassionate space where clients feel seen, safe, and empowered to explore their stories. Many of my clients are women navigating the lasting impact of childhood trauma, relational wounds, or major life transitions. What sets my work apart is the integration of traditional therapy with mind-body modalities, honoring the nervous system and the lived experience rather than forcing healing into neat clinical boxes.
I’m most proud of building Moxie Mental Health, a group practice rooted in courage, authenticity, and connection. The name itself represents the bold spirit it takes to step into therapy and do the work of healing. I wanted to create a space that feels warm, real, and deeply human, where people can show up as they are and know that their pain, resilience, and transformation all belong.
What sets Moxie apart isn’t just our training, but the lived experience we all bring to the work. Having walked through my own healing journey, I understand the vulnerability it takes to face what hurts and the freedom that comes from doing so. That shared understanding allows our team to meet clients not from a place of hierarchy, but humanity. Healing requires Moxie and I’m honored to walk beside those who choose to begin that journey.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I lived in Baltimore for five years before taking advantage of the low interest rates during COVID and moving into a fixer-upper in Ellicott City. Just recently, my husband and I spent the day back in the city for a Ravens game, GO BIRDS! It reminded us how much we still love this city, the energy, the character, the way every block seems to tell a story. What I love most about Baltimore is its resilience and heart. There’s a raw, unfiltered authenticity here, a city that wears its history, its grit, and its growth proudly. Baltimore is full of people with incredible strength and stories, and that spirit mirrors so much of the work I do in trauma therapy. It’s a place where healing and hope can coexist, where community feels real, and where creativity flourishes even in unexpected corners. There’s a deep sense of connection here that feels grounding and human, like everyone is trying, together, to make something beautiful out of the hard parts.
What I like least is how often the city’s struggles overshadow its spirit. The headlines don’t always capture the warmth, community, and determination that live here every day. I wish there were more investment, financially and emotionally, in mental health resources, education, and community support. There’s so much potential in this city, and I hope we continue to create spaces where people feel safe, seen, and supported in every neighborhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moxiehealing.com
- Instagram: @moxie_therapy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moxiementalhealth
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moxie-mental-health
