Meet Mara
Mara Giovanni, MSW, is the creator of Kali Connection Therapy® (KCT), a neuroscience grounded somatic approach rooted in Filipino martial arts. KCT integrates polyvagal theory, attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and the Neurosequential Model to help people shift from reactivity to response through movement, attunement, and real time co regulation.
Inspired by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s view that martial arts can be one of the best treatments for traumatic stress, Mara developed KCT to bridge body based practice with modern trauma science. KCT uses carefully curated drills and regulation practices to support nervous system flexibility, repair relational patterns, and build a felt sense of safety, agency, and empowerment.
Through her work with Onsite Workshops and the Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Mara has witnessed the transformative impact of KCT for clients navigating trauma, anxiety, and dysregulation. She now teaches KCT to both clients and clinicians, expanding access to a fresh, embodied method of trauma healing that is practical, relational, and powerful.
FIND A KCT PRACTITIONER
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
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Kali Connection Therapy® practitioners are trained to bring embodied nervous system tools directly into their work with clients.
Rather than only talking about stress and trauma, KCT practitioners use structured relational exercises that help the nervous system release stored survival energy and return to regulation.
Clients often experience shifts quickly because the work is experiential, relational, and grounded in the body.
Every practitioner listed below has completed Kali Connection Therapy® training and integrates these tools into their professional practice.
Explore the directory below to find a practitioner near you.
