Helping you think, learn & feel better

Support For

Brain Injury

Brain Fog

Learning

Illness

Wellness

Our approach

At HeartMinded, we address brain health through a polyvagal lens, a theory that explains how our sense of safety, danger or life-threat can impact our behavior. Guided by the principle that our brain can change at any age, we work with each individual to create a tailored plan for nervous system repair and rebalancing through a variety of cutting edge approaches. We are committed to empowering each client with the tools and education necessary to make lasting neural change.

Alexis Pennington

MS, CCC-SLP

Alexis left her long time career as a speech language pathologist in a large medical system to open HeartMinded with the goal of helping change the way people think about brain health. She is passionate about empowering clients with the tools and knowledge needed to improve resiliency and thereby optimize brain function. She strives to provide hope to those seeking help for a variety of symptoms in a welcoming, non-clinical environment.

When she’s not in the office, she loves dancing, eating, listening to music and spending time with the love of her life, John, and her two sons.

Education & Certifications

Masters of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Bachelor of Arts, English  (Old Dominion University)

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Certified 

 Trauma-Sensitive Certified HeartMath® Practitioner

*Currently pursuing Primitive Reflex Integration Specialist certification

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

A listening therapy designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation, and social engagement behaviors

Helps in reducing symptoms and supporting overall health and resiliency for people seeking support for:

  • Learning Difficulties

  • Neurodevelopmental differences

  • Neurological Changes

  • Trauma history

  • Sleep

  • Anxiety/Depression  

HeartMath®

​Heartmath® takes an innovative approach to enhancing well being by optimizing physiological and behavioral functioning in order to facilitate sustainable behavioral change.  Our heart and our brain are in constant communication with one another with the heart actually sending more signals to the brain than the other way around.  These signals have a direct impact on brain function and impact emotional processing, attention, perception, memory and problem solving.  Through a combination of breathing techniques and biofeedback, HeartMath® provides a simple, easy way to improve brain health. Improving Heart-Brain Coherence promotes:  

  • Improved overall health, behavioral adaptation and cognitive flexibility

  • Autonomic flexibility

  • Energetic efficiency

  • Improved Memory, Improved Focus, Better test taking

“Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction.”
— Rumi

My life has dramatically improved since completing the Safe and Sound Protocol with Alexis! She was incredibly understanding and compassionate as she listened to my struggles related to the vagus nerve. Alexis explained the brain and vagus nerve processes in a clear and relatable way and even provided additional resources to support my journey. She worked with me to ensure I got the most out of each therapy session. Thanks to Alexis, I’m now living with significantly less anxiety and fewer physical symptoms. I’m so grateful for her guidance and expertise!

-Lauren, Virginia Beach