Matt Colaciello

My Philosophy

I could tell you that I’m a therapist and holistic coach with a background in Buddhism and advocacy for the environment and human rights. That I call what I practice “spiritually integrated somatic IFS.” But that might feel like a lot of words that don’t necessarily make clear what I do. So let me tell you instead what I have learned on my journey that I bring to my work with clients:

You are inherently whole.

Everything that’s in your system is there for a reason. And deserves to be honored in a way that feels right for you. Honoring means we attend. We do not pathologize. We do not destroy or eliminate. We honor and we heal.

Your body matters.

We work with the mind—yes—and also the body, the nervous system, the emotions and sensations you feel. The process of continually growing in your ability to recognize and honor what’s going on for you internally is one of the most important aspects of self-work. It’s an ability that empowers you in every aspect of your life.

You are not alone.

We exist interdependently with everything else, in systems as big as culture and cosmos, and as intimate as a friend group, family, or team. Our burdens often come from beyond us. Our strengths often do as well. The process of healing requires us to honor all that we hold from beyond us. And it contributes to the healing of the larger whole.

Play and pleasure are essential.

The work we do isn’t only about processing pain. It’s also about rediscovering delight. Creativity, humor, playfulness, pleasure, and awe are not distractions from the healing process; they are integral to it. Purpose without pleasure is a path to burnout. I hold space for the deliciousness of life in all of its forms—not just as a reward for hard work, but as a birthright, a North Star, a source of wisdom in its own right.

Waking up and growing up going hand-in-hand.

Your journey deserves not only support for personal and professional growth but also for spiritual awakening in whatever tradition (or not in a tradition) that you align with. This existence is a miracle, a mythic journey, a magical opportunity to learn, to share, to love, to worship. It’s also tough. It hurts. It’s often not fair and all good things, at some point, come to an end. A fulfilling life flows from healing and caring for the self while deepening our relationship to the magic and challenge of life itself.

My Journey

From an early age, I felt called to spirituality and service. I knew that I was “different” by the time I was 4- or 5-years-old but it wasn’t just because I was a queer kid who didn’t fit into a box.

As a teenager, I began to understand the feeling better: I was meant to be a monk or a shaman. Options for such a path were non-existent in my suburban Floridian town. And I was in the body of a white person in a settler colonial society that had long ago banished the shamanic elders of our indigenous past.

Nevertheless, I left high school at 15 to embark on what has become a lifelong journey in pursuit of individual and collective awakening.

I spent my 20s in Mali, India, and Indonesia, where I studied extensively in Buddhist monasteries, worked for indigenous leaders and environmental advocates, led cultural immersion programs for American university students, and learned to make friends in several languages.

In my 30s, I returned to the United States to see how what I learned abroad might take root in my own community. I worked for several years in the world of social impact communications, but my heart knew that I would be of most service working with others at the deeply personal level. This is why I became a holistic coach.

My Approach

To guide clients towards healing and self-discovery, my practice is built on four pillars: Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, nature immersion, and Somatic Abolitionism:

1) Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS is a renowned modality that understands each person as a system of “parts”—the many inner voices, roles, and strategies we develop to navigate life. Alongside these parts, IFS recognizes the presence of Self, our natural capacity for clarity, compassion, and curiosity. IFS forms a core part of the coaching I offer, allowing us to explore and heal parts with the support of Self. Key to this practice is the understanding that no part is “bad.” Rather than pathologize, we seek to understand, unburden, and integrate. My approach to IFS is particularly somatic, attending to the feelings held by parts and the embodied experience of Self. Learn more about IFS here.

2) Mindfulness

My approach to coaching is informed by years of studying Buddhist meditation and philosophy, particularly Mahamudra, and by training in the neuroscience-based practice of Effortless Mindfulness (EM). At its core, EM emphasizes strengthening our access to the inherent wholeness of mind—open awareness, embodied presence, and natural compassion—that is already here and does not need to be created. In combination with IFS, EM supports both unblending from parts and resting in the Self that can relate to them with understanding and care.

3) Nature Immersion

Time in nature invites us back into embodied presence, where we can remember our inherent belonging within the biosphere and practice co-regulation with the living systems around us. This approach is not about using nature as a backdrop or tool, but about entering into reciprocal relationship with it—listening, receiving, and offering presence. Coaching sessions may take place while seated outdoors or walking on trails. I make every effort to make this experience accessible to all. I also regularly lead somatic forest walks for groups.

4) Somatic Abolitionism

Somatic Abolitionism was developed by visionary therapist and trauma specialist Resmaa Menakem to address how our bodies hold trauma, especially from generational wounds like racial oppression. This approach emphasizes bodily awareness and healing through practices like body scans. It aids in individual and collective healing.

Connect with Me

Whatever challenges you're facing right now, know that with the right guidance and a supportive ally, you have the power to shift your life in a meaningful direction.

Feel free to book a free 20-minute consultation. Whether you're curious about how spiritual guidance can reshape your perspective, the benefits of holistic coaching, the rejuvenating power of immersing yourself in nature, or anything else, I'm here to answer your questions.

I meet with coaching clients in person in Jacksonville, FL, and online, catering to a global community. I also lead mindful forest walks around Northeast Florida, and I'm open to bringing this experience to new environments and communities.