https://thinklocalfirst.podbean.com/e/12-4-25-soulcare
Think Local First Radio hosts Tam and Susan, talk to Cindy Hill Ford Dr. Michelle Bean, two of the three founders of Soulcare Studios in Aptos. SoulCare Studios is a premier holistic wellness center offering an integrative approach to mind-body healing. Here is a recap of their conversation below or click the link above to listen in.
Aptos has a new(ish) hub for integrative healing: SoulCare Studios, a boutique wellness center designed to support the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. In an episode of Think Local First Santa Cruz, hosts Tam and Susan sit down with Cindy Hill-Ford and Dr. Michelle Bean, two of SoulCare’s founders, to share what they’re building and why it matters for the local community.
The big idea: integrative care, under one roof
SoulCare Studios positions itself as a place where multiple modalities work together—so clients don’t have to stitch together care from disconnected providers. Their offerings span movement, manual therapies, mental health support, and modern adjunctive modalities.
On this site, SoulCare describes the studio as “Where Wellness Meets Soul” and emphasizes a holistic model that blends ancient healing practices with modern therapeutic approaches.
What you can do at SoulCare Studios
SoulCare’s menu is broad, but it clusters into a few clear pillars:
1) Mental health + emotional healing
SoulCare offers mental health services such as psychotherapy, group circles, and supportive programs for major transitions (including menopause and postpartum support), alongside psychedelic integration support.
2) Ketamine-assisted therapy (with prep + integration)
A major highlight is professionally guided ketamine-assisted therapy. SoulCare describes this as an evidence-based approach offered in a supportive environment to help people working with depression, anxiety, trauma, and related challenges.
They also list group ketamine IM sessions that include prep and integration as part of the holistic container.
3) Movement that supports nervous system + vitality
Movement offerings include yoga (including strength-oriented formats) and qigong—positioned not just as “fitness,” but as embodied regulation and resilience-building.
4) Bodywork + recovery support
SoulCare includes chiropractic care for alignment and injury recovery, massage, and Reiki energy healing—modalities that pair well with both stress reduction and structural healing.
5) Root-cause functional + energetic modalities
They also offer functional medicine assessments and protocols, plus BioCharger sessions—an energy-based wellness modality they highlight as part of their “state-of-the-art therapies that blend tradition and innovation.”
6) Traditional Chinese Medicine + acupuncture
SoulCare includes acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as part of its integrative mix—supporting pain, stress, digestion, sleep, women’s health, and more through a systems-based lens.
The setting: Aptos Village, built for community
SoulCare Studios is located in Aptos Village at 8035 Soquel Drive #35, Aptos, CA 95003 and presents itself as a “welcoming, boutique studio environment.”
That matters because the studio isn’t just selling services—it’s building belonging: classes, workshops, circles of support, and community events are positioned as part of the healing ecosystem.
Why this model resonates right now
Even without quoting the full interview transcript, the thesis is clear:
• People are exhausted by fragmented care.
• Many want mental health support that includes the body (movement, breath, nervous system regulation).
• Others want physical care that includes meaning, ritual, and integration.
SoulCare’s model speaks to that moment: integrated care + guided experiences + community container.
If you’re curious: a simple way to explore SoulCare
If you’re new, start with the lowest-friction entry point:
• a movement class (yoga/qigong),
• a BioCharger session,
• or an intake / consult for mental health or functional medicine.
From there, you can step into deeper work (like ketamine-assisted therapy or structured integration support) with a clearer sense of fit.