Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelson.
Hi Nelson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Nelson Valena and I was born in the Philippines into a two parent physician family. At age 5 1/2 yo I proclaimed to the town of Calauag that when I grow up, I will also be a doctor. We came to the United States in the 1970s for they need doctors due to a lack of physicians available post Vietnam war era. We settled in Greenville a small town in western Pennsylvania where my parents established a thriving medical practice. I felt at an early age that I was destined to be a doctor, but when I graduated from high school, a part of me was really interested in psychology so I majored in psychology, but took my premed classes. I was always interested in the workings of the mind and behavior of people. I did fairly well in school, however, had some challenges, especially my sophomore year due to many factors. Not only were my classes difficult but I began to question whether being premed was to please my parents or if it was something I really wanted to do. At the same time I was coming out as gay and struggled with coming to terms with being my authentic self. One of my most significant experiences in college was when I took my MCAT ( medical school entrance exam )to prepare for my applications to medical school, I ended up taking a nodose to keep me alert because I did not sleep the night before due to the house next-door having a loud party and I could not sleep.. what happened the day of the exam was that I did fairly well in the beginning of the day because I was awake but in the afternoon I began to fade and was so tired. That night, my body was so fatigue that when I went to sleep, I fell into a deep state of relaxation and began to have lucid dreaming where I was aware I was dreaming and it felt like I was one with the universe flying in the sky and being able to speak multiple languages and everything felt connected and expansive. I felt so blissful and exhilarated and that memory has been etched in my soul forever. I would consider it one of my first significant spiritual experience. I do remember another spiritual experience when I was around 12 years old and I was swimming in the ocean right before a storm and the undertow took me out, and I almost drowned. I remember thinking that I was going to die and I pleaded with God that if he would save me that I would spend my life to always do good for others. In that instant something truly miraculous happened somehow I got washed towards the pier and I was able to pull myself back to the shore. You will understand why these events were particularly important in my story as I continue telling my journey.
I finished college at University of Michigan and came out to some of my family, but not my parents. I got accepted to medical school at University of Pittsburgh and completed my doctorate of medicine falling in love with the field of Physical Medicine &Rehabilitation ( PM&R). I got accepted at Baylor College of medicine in Houston, Texas for residency in PM&R. I completed my residency afterwards got accepted to do a brain injury medicine fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. After completing the fellowship, I returned to Baylor College of Medicine to be faculty in the PM&R department. After several years being an attending, I had the opportunity to become a medical director of private rehab hospital, which allowed me to start my own medical practice.
In 1999 I began to build up my private practice in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and gradually built up my practice. I had another spiritual experience in 2003 after the death of my partner, Art, who helped me start my practice. I did not work much for six weeks because I was beside his bed trying to figure out how to help save him however he eventually passed. I returned to work after his funeral however, when I started work again, I was in a very interesting state of mind where my life slowed down and my mind was less cluttered, allowing me to be more attuned to my internal world. In the state, I was able to sense what the patients needed without them even having to talk. I remember thinking that I had to order some things and that I knew by telepathy what the primary issues were without me having to talk to the patients but just being in their presence I just had a knowing. This only lasted for about one to two days, but it was clear to me that in this state of being I was able to access a whole different reality. As I resumed my busi-ness that ability to sense things without talking dissolved, but it remained in my memory. All I could think of was how wonderful it would be if I could stay in that state longer and at the same time be able to manage my busy practice. The two things happening together did not seem to be possible. The following years were very busy building up my practice to eventually employing several physicians and nurse practitioners going and expanding to working in four different facilities by 2010. I lived the typical physician life where I was constantly working long hours and striving to do more. I was enjoying the fruits of my labor, earning enough money to buy myself the pleasures in life, including a nice BMW, traveling, and ultimately building a beautiful modern home in the Houston Heights, where I threw many large parties and was living the life the the fullest. I became accustomed to the American dream, always looking for more opportunities to expand and do something more. I was always in the what- can-I -do-next mode pushing myself more becoming a workaholic and playaholic! There was a part of me that was really proud that I was able to accomplish truly following the “American Dream”. Perseverance and being a darn hard worker really became a big part of my identity ( later understanding this was my ego that allowed me to accomplish so much ). After-all my parents were my role models and I saw how hard they worked to take care of our family and I knew that it was a part of the life of being a physician. I was always a “yes” man never wanting to let others down, resulting in me over committing to everyone. I was literally burning the candle on both ends, working and playing hard but I thought I was doing fine until I wasn’t!
On October 3, 2011, I took myself to St. Luke’s hospital in the Texas Medical Center to be evaluated for a stroke. The three days before I developed some symptoms including difficulty with speech, mild left facial weakness( which I did not notice but others did), and decrease balance. I myself attributed the symptoms to grogginess from side effects from my sleeping medication. On that pivotal day, I was speaking to a nurse on the phone like I do many times but this time after putting the phone down, I could not make sense of what she told me and immediately I knew that something was definitely wrong. Sure enough after being evaluated at the hospital the MRI showed I had a small stroke on the right side. I could not ignore it any longer, there it was… the brain injury doctor got a stroke. All my work up to evaluate the reason for my stroke turned up negative and they called it “cryptogenic” meaning it is from unknown etiology . The best that they could say was that my stress likely contributed and that I needed to decrease my stress. I thought to myself how can I decrease stress when I have to keep up my practice and not let anyone down. Inside, I knew that I had to make changes in my life otherwise I would not survive. This began my dark night of the soul, resulting in my development of panic attacks and depression. I began to take benzodiazepines as well as multiple antidepressants. I put on a good face at work and did my best to portray to others that I was doing fine but deep inside I knew I wasn’t. One day became the turning point in this dark night of the soul. This day occurred when I was having a very busy day doing consultations at St. Luke’s hospital and I was also still supervising medical residents. I was outwardly pretending I still had control in my life but my soul was dying, and I began to have suicidal thoughts. I remember going outside the hospital and seeing the metro train and thinking that it would be easier if I stepped in front of the train and ended it all. From that day on , my soul alerted me that something drastic had to happen. I began to see a psychotherapist as well as as a psychiatrist because I knew if I did not get help it may not end up well. I of course, did not tell many people how bad my situation was except for close friends who could tell I was not the same. All I could do when I wasn’t working, was lay in bed and ruminate about what I had to do to get out of this situation. I gradually started to try harder to get out of my funk exploring yoga and meditation, but it was very difficult for me to be still for my obsessive thoughts kept popping up. I began to take more time to go into nature and self reflect sometimes it took so much effort for me to not just stay under the covers. One night after getting home from a long day working and coming home late at night I walked up to the fourth floor of my beautiful home that had the best view of the Houston skyline and asked myself, “ Is this it?” Questioning if all of my possessions and accomplishments really made me truly happy. The answer was an emphatic“NO”! From then on, it was clear to me that I had to release all that was keeping me tied down . The biggest thing was my financial stress because I was living the high life, forcing me to overwork to make ends meet. I slowly made a plan to untangle the web that trapped me. I decided to let go of my beautiful dream home and downsize to a more modest home.
Over the next 2 to 3 years, I gradually dwindled down the number of facilities in which I worked and closed my outpatient practice. I also let go of hiring other physicians and midlevel practitioners decreasing the stress of the number of employees I was managing. I also resigned from teaching and supervising medical residents allowing my work schedule to be more manageable. I happily adjusted my lifestyle and decrease the number of gatherings and parties I was hosting and became more selective in the extracurricular activities I chose to pursue. With these crucial changes my life stress began to definitely shift and I had more time to reflect and have more time for stillness. It was very difficult at first to allow myself to have time of stillness for when I did have free time I had a tendency to continue filling up my schedule. Being able to take time to self reflect, I began asking myself why I pushed so hard. Truthfully no other person was asking me to work so hard. I realize that this was a coping strategy for me using my busy-ness as a distraction, and it fueled my sense of being productive which boosted my feeling of worthiness. It began to dawn on me that in periods of stillness I was able to go deeper and self reflection and tune into my feelings. I began to ask myself why I had a need to continue to be busy, I felt guilty when I would lay around and just do nothing. I remember growing up that I always felt a sense that I had to be always doing something when I was at home. Otherwise my father would instruct us to do some type of job which I began to resent. My parents bought properties and renovated them, and I remember I had to help clean and prepare the properties for rentals which I began to resent my parents for buying them because I felt pressure to be constantly doing projects on the properties. I remember sometimes that when my dad would come home, I would pretend I was busy doing other things so that I wouldn’t be asked to do more projects. I was motivated not to be shamed for not being productive and early on I developed a subconscious belief that I was useful and worthy when I was doing something. It became a habit of doing which was very difficult to change in my adulthood. My self worth was definitely tied to my productivity.
I slowly made myself sit in silence and had many hours of fidgeting, but eventually, I was able to start being less anxious in spite of spending more time in quietness. This started to help me listen to my internal world and my feelings again. The flexible time also allowed me to explore my interest in passions outside of work. I was introduced back to connecting with my spirituality to me was simply my connection to the world outside of the material. It dawned on me that I was out of balance, focusing on the material and physical world and ignoring the spiritual unseen realms.
The next serveral years, I began to explore my religion and spirituality. I grew up Catholic and went to catechism class in church most of my younger years however, in my 20s and throughout school, I began to stop going to church on a regular basis and only when on certain occasions, especially when I went home with family. I felt good on occasions going to church I think because it felt nostalgic and familiar to me. However, I certainly did not agree with all of the things I would hear during services, especially about being a sinner regarding being gay. I believe in all of the good teachings Such as loving your neighbor as you do yourself and following the golden rules of being a good person. I did not care much for the judgment and proselytizing done in some churches that to be saved you have to follow certain rules and rituals.
There was a period of time I was searching to reconnect to my spirituality and decided I would go to one of the largest mega churches in Houston . I enjoyed listening to the praise and worship and being in community and was even volunteering as a medical support staff. During the services I felt inspired and enjoyed being part of that spiritual community until one day I found out that the pastor made comments on a popular TV show that gays were not God‘s best. I tried to continue going to services there, but eventually something within me did not feel right that I was serving a community where I was not welcomed to be my authentic self. I soon found another church called Unity that was more welcoming to the gay community. Here was a place where all were welcomed and I was able to reconnect back with my spirituality and be supported and accepted for who I was.
Over the next several years, I became more connected with my spiritual side and gain some clarity in regards to the steps, I needed to take in order to align with my destiny. I explored various traditions and modalities of Healing, including shamanism, energy medicine, Sound Healing, family constellations, the diamond approach, EFT, Plant Medicine with sacred ceremony, vibration & frequency medicine, crystals, aromatherapy, and Biogeometry. I realize that there was a big gap in our current healthcare system in regards to acknowledging that there is an energetic and spiritual component to healing, which was acknowledge in the ancient practices used for healing.
In 2019 I met my partner , Jason Anderson, and immediately felt that we were meant to do something important together. There was an instant chemistry, and a feeling of having been connected in the past. he was a professional dancer who was teaching kids hip-hop at a local dance studio. Jason was very creative and was in attuned with his body and was also very much a proponent of teaching kids how to connect with their inner world and express through movement. We soon realize that we were meant to create something together.
In 2020 when the world suddenly change due to the pandemic we got the message from spirit to move out of the city and create a retreat center in nature. We decided to look for properties out in the countryside. We both were anxious about leaving the city and letting go of the life that we knew but there was a strong knowing that we had to do this project together, and it became a soul mission. Spirit guided us to a small town called Coldspring Texas with a population of 819 people. About an hour and a half outside of Houston when we stepped on the property, we both felt that it was the place we were to create this healing center.
Over the last five years, it has been a labor of love, but now we have created a sanctuary called Golden Hill Retreat Center where people can come for healing the Mind Body Spirit . We have incorporated healing modalities in our Healing Lounge that includes BrainTap brain entrainment and bio photo modulation, InHarmony Vibroacoustic therapy, Lucia Hypnagogic Light, Rife Frequency Healing, PEMF and Biomat , and Infrared Light Therapy. We have also created the White Lotus Spa, which includes a Tachyon Chamber, Infrared Sauna, Cold Plunge tub, Massage Room, and private hydrotherapy baths with chromotherapy. We are planning to create healing baths using essential oils and herbs and also incorporate sound healing in the water. Jason has created a beautiful structure called House of Essence where he has procured Egyptian oils and now does private sessions for aromatic activation. This was a result of an activation that he received when he went to Egypt in 2022 and received the message that he is to bring back these ancient healing oils to the United States to help people heal. Golden Hill is a place where we can blend science and modern technology and incorporate them with sacred ceremonies and ancient healing practices truly integrating science and spirituality. We have had the privilege of hosting many different types of retreats from yoga, meditation, energy healing, shamanic retreats , holistic cancer survivors retreats and Ayurvedic healing. Our goal is to be a center for collaboration and creating programs that bring the community together. We strive to be the wayshowers of the new earth and help others to activate and connect with their inner healer..
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Some of the challenges that we have had include opening up the minds and hearts of the local community to the holistic way of healing. It took us a long time to develop relationships and exposure to people who are seeking holistic modalities. Due to our location in the country, it is always Challenging to pull people from the city to come to the rural area. The local community is also very much religious base with over 12 churches and many of the people do not have a clear understanding of what we do. They often have misconceptions that we do practices that are against their religion. I often explain it that what we focus on is spirituality and connection with our soul, nature, and each other. We are simply reactivating the connection with our inner healer. We are striving to have more people in the local community to understand what we are trying to do. It is now clear to us that it is a much needed service to be able to provide these alternative modes of healing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am medical doctor with a specialty in physical medicine and rehab rehabilitation with a sub specialty in brain injury medicine. For over 25 years, have practice in Neuro rehab rehabilitation and taking care of people with disabilities after illness and injury. I have also completed a fellowship and Integrative Medicine with academy of integrative health and medicine. I have taken courses in energy medicine with the four winds society, which is a school started by a medical anthropologist named Alberto Villoldo and learned about shamanism. I have done training in medical hypnotherapy, as well as taken a course called unified Integrative Medicine, which is a program that teaches you the importance of healing, the psycho spiritual realms to hear your physical body.. I feel I have a unique perspective on healing incorporating the sciences with my work and energy medicine and spirituality. My soul mission is to be a bridge to integrate science and spirituality to help change the healthcare paradigm.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is to be able to fulfill my destiny which is to be a bridge to allopathic medicine and the holistic healing modalities of ancient cultures. My soul has come here at this time to help with the transition to the new earth and to help others reconnect with their original soul mission. I believe that I have been guided to make these changes in my life to fulfill this mission and be a service to others in this great time of change..
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Goldenhillretreat.com
