I’m Deena Futris, Certified Health and Life Coach, certified yoga teacher, and Reiki Master at The Banyan Tree Center in Athens, Georgia. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, women’s health (including perimenopause and menopause), and career alignment. I see clients in person in Athens and via telehealth.

Growing up as a classical ballet dancer brought a lot of struggles with body image and self-worth that held me back for years. I was not able to engage in meaningful therapeutic work when I was younger because I was afraid to change. But as I got older I realized I couldn’t sustain the way I was living. As I began to heal, I found the tools and skills that actually worked. Returning to dance as an adult with new insight and compassion, I watched something that once brought pain become a source of joy and freedom.

I spent over 25 years as a nurse working in hospitals, offices, and schools. Seeing patients present with physical symptoms that were underlying their emotional state led me to seek different ways to help people. Our bodies communicate through our thoughts and emotions. It gave me a deep understanding that you cannot truly help someone physically without also addressing what is going on emotionally. You need both to truly heal.

My approach blends Western and Eastern philosophy, neuroscience, yoga, Reiki, and somatic work. I’m very skill-based and practical. I provide skill building tools to each client because change can happen between sessions, not just during them. My style is supportive, grounded, and encouraging, and I’ll challenge you because that’s part of the work.

“I’m your guide. You have the answers inside you and together we can discover them.”

Background and Credentials

• Registered Nurse (RN, BSN), 25+ years of clinical experience
• Certified Health and Life Coach, Health Coach Institute
• 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher, Athens Yoga Institute
• Reiki Master
• BSN in Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• BA in Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Background in hospital, school, and community nursing settings

How I Work

• In person · The Banyan Tree Center, Athens GA
• Telehealth available
• Adults 18+

What I Specialize In

Anxiety in Athens, GA

Who I work with. A lot of my clients come in with worry they can’t turn off, thoughts that keep circling, trouble regulating their emotions, or feeling stuck and unable to figure out their next step. They may feel overly sad or overly angry without knowing why. They know something has to shift but they’re not sure where to start.

What we do together. I use breathing exercises, somatic work, movement, and energy work and reframing. We find the core belief that’s driving the anxiety and we rewrite the story. If what you’re telling yourself is holding you back, we build a new thought process together. I also give homework because change happens outside of sessions too, and I want you to be a full partner in this work.

Perimenopause, Menopause, and Women’s Health

Who I work with. I work with women who come in with depression, anxiety, brain fog, and the feeling that they’re just not themselves anymore. They can’t function at the level they used to, they may be in physical pain, and nobody’s given them real information about why. As a woman who’s been through this herself, I know how disorienting it is to go through perimenopause and menopause without real support.

What we do together. We look at how your hormonal health is affecting your mental health, your relationships, and how you feel about yourself day to day. The research on how perimenopause and menopause impacts mental health is finally catching up, and I bring that knowledge into every session. You deserve to understand what’s happening in your body and to have a real plan for feeling like yourself again.

Career Alignment and Life Transitions

Who I work with. Sometimes we end up in a career that looks right on paper but doesn’t light us up inside. Society tells us it’s all about money and security, but being misaligned in your work can make you feel stuck and unable to move forward with any real joy. I work with people who are ready to ask the harder question: what do I actually want?

What we do together. Sometimes the answer is a change in career. Sometimes it’s a change in how you see and relate to the work you’re already doing. We get clear on your values, figure out what’s actually holding you back, and build a life that feels like yours, not just one that looks good from the outside.

A Few Things I Want You to Know

Before your first session. You don’t need to have the answers. It’s okay to feel a little uncomfortable and it’s okay to question the process. I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to support you and guide you so you can find the answers that are already inside you. You have them. We just need to find them together.

Something I wish more people knew. Think of this work like brushing your teeth. You don’t wait until you have cavities to start brushing. So why do we wait until we’re anxious, overwhelmed, and burnt out to start taking care of our mental health? There’s nothing wrong with you. You just haven’t figured out yet how to move through the world in a way that feels easier. That’s what we work on.

Who I do my best work with. People who are ready to look honestly at how they’re living, what they’re thinking, and whether it’s actually serving them. Not because someone told them to change, but because they genuinely want to figure out who they are and why they do what they do. Sometimes something has to change. Sometimes it’s just about how you relate to your own thoughts. Either way we find it together.

My goal. My goal is to help you be the best version of yourself. I don’t know what that looks like for you, and I’m not going to tell you. But when you feel it, you’ll know. That’s my main goal.