We had the good fortune of connecting with Vee Gonzales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vee, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When Vee graduated from massage school back in 2018, they knew they didn’t want to work for anyone else. We wanted to create a safe space for healing, bodywork, connection, and integration for our community. With all of our previous work/life experience, we just started with hopes others would be called to receive our services.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Over the past 3 years, Heal-Thy-Sol Therapeutic Touch has evolved from just providing massage services, to helping others tap into their own inner healer. The biggest shift is in the midst of creation, we are transitioning our practice to service primarily QT2s+BIPOC individuals. We have noticed there’s a huge gap missing in integrated services for this marginalized community. We are striving to bridge that gap by not only being a provider but also a resource.

When looking for our own service providers, we have noticed a lack of people who look like us, who come from similar backgrounds, and who can really understand our hurts, pains, and traumas. This is what drives us to keep doing what we are doing. It’s our calling to be a safe, accessible, and inclusive space.

It’s scary because we don’t know have role models per se who are doing what we are doing. There are no guidebooks made for people like us. We are led by our hearts and commitment to be of service to our people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We love all our local vegan eat spots – Charro Vida, Del Cielo Tamale, Goodness, and Tumerico to just name a few. We would take them to Chingona Arizona’s shop downtown – 4th ave. All of our favorite creators and makers have their items for sale there. Since we are already downtown our next stop would be Arte Bella studio, where we can drop in and paint and enjoy cannabis in a safe space. We would take them to the botanical gardens, desert museum, Mt Lemmon, Sabino Canyon to get the best out of this majestic desert.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We want to shout out to our good friend and one of our biggest supporters. Eunice Gonzalez with Mi Vecina Nice. They are a local comedian who supports small local businesses. Striving to create sustainability within localized communities.

Website: www.heal.thy.sol.com

Instagram: heal_thy_sol

Image Credits
Photos were taken by Rachel Marie Castillo

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.