Exploring Life & Business with Andrea Bayon of Mar y Sol Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Bayon

Hi Andrea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After earning my master’s in social work, I became an employee of larger organizations. And while my experience there was incredibly valuable, something kept drawing me to operating under my own values rather than embodying someone else’s. I began my own private practice as a part-time venture, and once I tasted the freedom of operating *exactly* how I wanted to, and with the depth of intention that I dreamed of, I shifted out of working for others and eventually became my own boss, my own brand–playing by my own rules.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course nothing is ever easy all the time. Financially, it was and has been at different times extremely challenging. I think people often think that clinicians who work in mental health are rich and have work all the time, because they see how much of a need there is. But actually, its not that easy. There was a lot of unlearning that I had to do with regard to the expectations I was taught, and the narrative of being a “public servant.” In academia we are taught that we don’t go into this profession for the money, and while that is mostly true for many social workers, I draw a hard line at normalizing working way too many hours, taking on people’s struggles, AND not receiving an appropriate exchange for the energy, effort, and work given. It conditions consumers of mental health support to EXPECT that services will be covered by insurance, and that they will receive what they need because they need it. So slowly unraveling the shame from charging a fee that allows me to pay my bills (and sometimes it doesn’t) has been a process. But I continue down this path of decolonizing mental health because the support that I’m able to offer a client is so valuable, and it makes it a sustainable practice for me too. It’s a win-win scenario, but it definitely isn’t without struggle.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mar y Sol Wellness is a holistic mental health practice that integrates indigenous practice and wisdom. Basically, its a way to marry the science of mental health and working from a body-based perspective, with the mystery and wisdom of how our ancestors lived.

We specialize in working with those who embody marginalized identities, and doing so in a way that honors and works *with* any differences the individual lives with (neurodivergence, sensitivities, etc.)

Mar y Sol Wellness is different because traditional mental health operates from talk-therapy, and what the science tells us (and values our ancestors embodied) is that talking is only a small part of healing you can experience. In somatic (body-centered) practice we say, “If you can sense it, you can metabolize and heal it.” Meaning, we can bring attention to how our body metabolizes an experience, and support it as it moves fully through.

Mar y Sol Wellness offers individual support, as well as group support depending on the needs of the person.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I was actually really involved in music and dance, and some of my favorite memories were of the experiences I had singing in choir or being involved in school musicals. So many special memories and relationships made in those activities for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marysolwellness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mar_sol_wellness/

Image Credits
Kita Zuleta