Anyssa Grendel, LMSW
Owner/Supervising Therapist

Anyssa's mission in founding MIND BODY SOULUTIONS was to connect people with practical solutions in addressing symptoms related to psychosomatic experiencing. Her practice focuses on how our mental and physical (felt sense) are connected with an eclectic therapeutic approach to improving the way an individual may think, feel and act. 

 

Prior to starting a private practice in the Grand Rapids area and growing a community based fitness presence, Anyssa grew up in the Detroit area, raised by a single father and her grandmother. Working early on as a young adult in a brand new In-Patient Psychiatric facility in the heart of Downtown Detroit where she carried out various intake/admission functions. After about a year, she felt there was more she could do to impact patient care. She decided to attend Ferris State University where she began to pursue a health related degree. While attending school she worked with children in the local public schools after school program.  After a few years she transferred to Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to complete her Bachelor's of Science in Health Communications. Following graduation she worked with adolescents in a secured mental health residential center and Kalamazoo Community Mental Health as a Program Specialist supporting program development and evaluation, Police/EMS/Fire departmental and community education, family support of loved ones with mental health issues and facilitating support groups. It was shortly after taking this role on that her supervisor mentored and encouraged her to pursue graduate school in social work. 

 

Anyssa completed her Masters of Social Work at GVSU and her practicum in pediatric child protection and emergency medicine within the local health system. She went on working for local hospitals and health systems across West Michigan in Skilled Nursing, ER, OB, Cancer, ICU, Med/Surg, school based and community based clinics. Additional experience includes counseling/mental health coordination of a large local school district as well as working for an in-patient psychiatric hospital as a therapist/case manager leading individual and group services. 

 

Anyssa had engaged in her own yoga practice to alleviate tension, chronic pain as a result of spinal curvatures and for her own self care related to school and her profession. She encouraged agencies she worked at to include education on how the body is affected by our mental health but felt there was little motivation for incorporating this into treatment. This led to a decision to start her own business that focused on psychosomatic approaches recognizing that as humans we carry emotions in our bodies. We have certain thoughts that trigger an associated feeling and those emotions translate into sensations in the body which then affect how we react or behave in response to stressors. Anyssa wanted to focus her work on the whole person; mind, body and soul and provide practical solutions or tools to helping people address the present minded and functionality of their life. 

 

In addition to her established counseling practice, Anyssa teaches a variety of fitness classes in the community and in the past led corporate health classes on a contract basis. She has completed trauma sensitive yoga training through Mindful Vinyasa School of Yoga, evidenced based social emotional and school based kids yoga training through Yoga Ed and has taught in residential, detention centers and school based programs. Additionally trained in Barre Connect through NETA and has completed training through MOSSA in indoor cycling.  

 

With a passion for counseling and education, Anyssa works with mental health and medical providers in the field specifically supporting their mental health as they serve others in the community. She works for two universities to foster the growth of undergraduate and graduate student development. She is a Distinguished Adjunct Faculty at Davenport University and Instructor of BSW/MSW courses at Western Michigan University and sits on the College of Health Professions and Health and Human Service Case Management Advisory Boards of Davenport University. Anyssa provides continuing education opportunities within the State of Michigan in partnership with WMU. Her practice partners with MSU, WMU and FSU to provide clinical placement field work for MSW graduate students and provides limited license supervision to graduates throughout the State of Michigan.

 

Anyssa loves animals and research tells us about the benefits of human connection and passionately believes this is also true for the emotional support benefits of animals. An owner of many rescue dogs and proud pawrent of a golden retriever that has served as an ESA in her office with clients. She has volunteered with local postpartum support groups and with Junior League of Grand Rapids. Anyssa is currently pursuing her Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, PhD at Western Michigan University. In her spare time she can always be found by the pool, on the golf course or cheering on the MSU Spartans or the Green Bay Packers and yes, she is aware as a Michigan native this is unfavorable to many but who doesn't loves a good rivalry.