Navy Veteran & Redding Campus Instructor Juliane Carrillo Completes NHI’s AAS Degree Program
Juliane Carrillo, Navy Veteran, NHI Redding Instructor and AAS Degree Program Graduate
Content Summary
Navy Veteran, NHI Redding Campus Instructor, and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) graduate Juliane Carrillo provides an inspiring update to her original 2019 NHI Veterans Day feature. Juliane reflects on her journey from Navy service to becoming a Neuromuscular Therapist and Medical Massage Clinician, integrating somatic modalities, VA wellness coaching, and trauma-informed care to support veterans navigating chronic pain, PTSD, and recovery.
- A Personal Mission | How Juliane’s own service-connected disability drives her compassionate, whole-person approach to veteran care.
- The AAS Milestone | Making history as the first non-NHI Core program graduate to complete the Associate of Applied Science Degree Program in Neuromuscular Therapy and Medical Massage.
- An Integrative Healing Toolkit | Synthesizing Neuromuscular Therapy with Yin Yoga, meditation, VA Health & Wellness Coaching, and Bessel van der Kolk-inspired somatic trauma care.
- Serving at New Dawn and NHI Redding | Bringing her clinical expertise into recovery centers and back to the classroom as an NHI Redding Instructor.
In November 2019, National Holistic Institute featured Navy veteran Juliane Carrillo as she embarked on a clear mission: using massage therapy to help fellow service members heal. Having recently completed specialized continuing education focused on veterans and active military personnel, Juliane shared a powerful conviction that resonated across the NHI community: “This program will save lives.”
Seven years later, Juliane’s mission remains unchanged, but her understanding of whole-person healing has expanded into a comprehensive, multi-modality career. Today, Juliane serves as a dedicated NHI Redding Instructor, an AAS Program Graduate, and a clinical specialist working with veterans in recovery.
A Lived Understanding of Recovery
As a Navy veteran living with a service-connected disability, Juliane’s commitment to healing is deeply personal. She understands firsthand that recovery is rarely linear and that physical trauma, PTSD, grief, and major life transitions require care that honors the entire individual.
“My understanding of healing is not only professional—it is deeply personal,” Juliane reflects. “I understand firsthand that recovery is rarely linear and that pain, trauma, grief, and life transitions often require support that honors the whole person. That lived experience continues to shape the compassion and perspective I bring to the veterans and clients I serve.”
What began as a passion for massage therapy evolved into a lifelong calling to help veterans navigate invisible and visible wounds through a whole-person, trauma-informed lens.
Pioneering the AAS Degree Program at NHI
To deepen her clinical capabilities for clients dealing with severe chronic pain and complex conditions, Juliane enrolled in NHI’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree Program in Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy and Clinical Medical Massage.
In doing so, she achieved a historic milestone: becoming the first non-NHI Core program graduate to complete the AAS program.
Juliane Carrillo (right) with Ruth Werner at an AMTA Convention
Earning her AAS degree sharpened her critical thinking, pathology assessment, and advanced clinical skills, giving her the academic authority and clinical expertise to work alongside healthcare providers and lead specialized trauma-informed recovery initiatives.
A Timeline of Clinical Growth
Following her 2019 feature, Juliane systematically expanded her scope of practice to combine soft-tissue manipulation with nervous system regulation, somatic movement, and lifestyle coaching:
- 2019: The Veteran Care Mission Begins
Featured by NHI for her work with veterans and active-duty military personnel, setting a firm foundation in veteran-focused bodywork. - 2020: Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) – Yin Yoga
Specialized in Yin Yoga centered on fascial mobility and pain reduction. While teaching veterans in San Diego, Juliane witnessed clients reduce dependence on pain medications, regain physical mobility, and rediscover joy. - 2021: Certified Meditation & Breathwork Teacher
Focused on adaptive meditation, breathwork, and moving meditation practices to help veterans regulate their nervous systems without requiring total physical stillness. - 2022: VA Health and Wellness Coaching Program
Completed training through the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, using SMART goals and holistic wellness strategies to help veterans navigate the complex transition from military to civilian life. - 2023 – 2024: Somatic & Advanced Somatic Certifications
Deepened her work into trauma- and grief-informed care, gaining expert insight into how grief, injury, loss, and chronic stress manifest physically within muscle tissue and the nervous system. - 2024: Trauma and Stress Certification
Completed postgraduate study inspired by the research of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score), affirming the vital role somatic bodywork and yoga play in restoring safety within the body.
Healing in Practice at New Dawn Treatment Centers and NHI Redding
Today, Juliane applies this comprehensive toolkit at New Dawn Treatment Centers in Redding, California, where she supports veterans in recovery from trauma, substance use, chronic pain, and severe life shifts.
Simultaneously, as an Instructor at NHI Redding, she brings this wealth of real-world clinical experience back into the classroom, teaching the next generation of massage therapists how to cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and evidence-informed care.
“Working with veterans in recovery has reaffirmed something I have believed since the beginning of my journey: healing happens through connection, trust, education, and individualized support,” says Juliane. “Sometimes recovery begins with movement. Sometimes it begins with breath. Sometimes it begins simply by helping someone feel safe in their body again.”
Juliane’s Words for Her Fellow Veterans
Looking back over her seven-year evolution, Juliane views her original 2019 feature not as a destination, but as the launchpad for a lifetime of service. Her message to fellow service members seeking peace and physical recovery remains grounded in hope:
“Service shaped who I am. Healing became how I continue to serve. To my fellow veterans: healing does not always happen all at once, and it rarely looks linear. But there are people who care deeply, who understand, and who are committed to walking beside you through the process.”
Meet more Amazing Alumni and Veterans from NHI.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree Program at NHI?
A: NHI’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Neuromuscular Therapy and Medical Massage is an advanced degree program designed for massage therapists looking to deepen their clinical skills, critical thinking, and understanding of complex medical pathologies. The program prepares graduates for specialized healthcare environments, sports rehabilitation centers, and advanced clinical practice.
Q: How does somatic bodywork assist in trauma and PTSD recovery?
A: Trauma, chronic stress, and PTSD often leave the central nervous system in a state of hypervigilance, manifesting physically as chronic muscular tension, pain, or dysregulation. Somatic bodywork, fascial therapy, and trauma-informed touch help clients reconnect safely with their bodies, supporting nervous system regulation and down-shifting the body’s fight-or-flight response.
Q: Can non-NHI graduates apply for the AAS Program?
A: Yes. As demonstrated by Juliane Carrillo—who became the first non-NHI Core program graduate to complete the program—licensed/certified massage therapists who completed their foundational training elsewhere can apply to elevate their clinical education through NHI’s AAS degree track.