Shelly Clayton
Integration Specialist
MDMA Facilitator
Shelley Clayton, DPT, RYT-500, is a licensed physical therapist and yoga therapist who was born with an innate desire to serve others. She decided from the age of twelve she wanted to be a physical therapist after watching someone learn how to walk again following a traumatic car accident. When it was time to leave home, she moved from her small town in Pennsylvania to Wilmington, NC where she obtained a Bachelor’s of Biology / Minor in Psychology from the University of North Carolina. Once she completed her college degree, she went on to the Medical University of South Carolina. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2008 and began working in the children’s hospital and public school system for several years, receiving certifications in pediatric yoga and creating yoga / meditation programs for special needs children. Several years later, she completed a 500 hour yoga therapy training through the Himalayan Yoga & Ayurveda Center.
The painful end of her marriage in 2017 is what guided her to working with psychedelics. She focused on healing her own trauma for several years before moving to the retreat center in Utah where she was first introduced to ‘the work’. She lived at the center and spent 6 months there serving as a yoga therapist and being mentored by the owners of the facility. Upon returning back to Austin, she worked alongside a licensed psychotherapist to create and support an integration program for people in addiction recovery. It was at that time she met Justin LaPree and began working with The Illuminating Co. as an Integration Specialist. In September 2023, she completed year long trauma therapy training called Compassionate Inquiry. Led by Dr Gabor Mate, a world expert on childhood trauma and addiction, this psychotherapeutic approach helps people get to the root of their suffering through compassion, curiosity, and a safe, authentic connection. It is paramount to her work today. She also finished an Intensive Psychedelic's Facilitator training with Zach Leary in October 2023.
Shelley’s passion is supporting others on their path to self discovery and healing. Her approach is rooted in a deep knowledge and understanding of the interconnection of mind, body, heart, and spirit as well as an emphasis on the importance of a safe, empathetic connection between her and her clients. She has a genuine curiosity for each individual as well as the relationships formed between individuals. It is her desire to see positive change in the world that keeps her focused on her purpose to serve and support others.