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Zeenna is the founder of With Joy, a mental-wellness hub uplifting women through community, coaching, and education. She holds a PhD in Biosciences from the University of Heidelberg, with research at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Stanford School of Medicine. Zeenna completed her certification as a Certified Mental Health Coach (CMHC) through the Headspace Training Institute. With over six years in health, wellness, and nonprofit leadership, she aims to bridge science with healing-centered, trauma-informed approaches that strengthen the mental well-being of women and youth.


MY STORY

I consider myself a lifelong learner whose path has been shaped by many cultures, circumstances, and identities. I was born in the Philippines, raised in Germany, and am now rooted in California. My journey has taken me from neuroscience labs to community centers, where I researched diseases, mentored immigrant and refugee youth and young women, and created brave spaces for reflection, healing, and growth.

 

My community work began with a deep desire to uplift women and girls. From organizing awareness events on violence against women to creating leadership, advocacy, and wellness programs for underserved communities, I witnessed the power of healing in community. These experiences, combined with my own journey navigating systems not built for us, led me toward the field of mental health. With over a decade of research in biosciences and over six years of experience in health, wellness, and nonprofit leadership, I bring a unique lens to this work. 
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For much of my life, rest felt unsafe, and joy felt out of reach. Like many, I learned to be strong before I learned to be whole. I came to understand the profound impact trauma has on our minds and bodies. Motherhood brought another layer of awareness and a deep commitment to break cycles and become the most self-loving and emotionally grounded version of myself for her.

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With Joy was born from that knowing. It reflects my dream to create a life that feels balanced, authentic, and free. It is my way to be in service to others building the kind of support systems I longed for. It's becoming the space I was searching for: a place to feel inspired, to experience joy, to practice letting go of what no longer serves us, and ultimately to grow into the future self we know is there beneath all the layers.​

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