Soul Mamas Team

Karen Russell

Founder of Soul Mamas

Hi, my name is Karen Russell and I was born in Erie Pa to a very loving hard working family. For eighteen years I had a performing career with artists such as, Alice Cooper, Bette Midler, Michael Jackson and hum, several funny B films, and two record deals.

Crazy how your maternal clock goes off. But at the age of almost 37, I had the need to be a mom. God blessed me with Conner and Ian Budge and from the moment they were born, my mantra became " I am a Mama First". I never looked back. Even the day before Conner's fatal car crash, I remembered telling my friend, " As long as I have my boys, that is all I need." So when Conner died on September 24th 2022, my heart stopped and my world crumbled.

I am so thankful for my deep faith, family, friends, strangers, David Kessler's Grief Educator course, my physical yoga practice and our Soul Mama's team that gave me the strength to live, love and even laugh again.

Our Team

Holistic Loving Team

Our team's foundation was built on years of working together in the holistic healing business. The profound support that our founder received from several incredible holistic professionals after the death of her son, inspired her to create Soul Mamas.

As we continue to grow, so will our team and mission to offer support to all people suffering from the waves of deep grief.

We are so proud to have Carolina Pelayo (grief therapist), Dr. Paul Lenderman supporting us with his grief therapy offerings, Carla Cohen (emotional alchemist), Karen Russell (movement therapy and peer to peer grief counseling sessions), Anjali Deva (Ayurveda Practitioner), and several teachers from the Yoga NoHo Center.

As Soul Mamas grows we will have so many more healing experts to be of service.

Carolina Pelayo

Grief Therapist

Carolina Pelayo started her healing journey at the very young age of 14 when her father died. She soon had to learn the reality that life doesn't always end up the way you think it should be.

Originally from Mexico, Carolina spent many of her formative years taking care of her family after her father died, working hard with the dream to become a therapist.

In 2017, she took a leap of faith and decided to settle in Los Angeles and pursue her dream to become a therapist and to be of service to support others in deep grief.

In 2020, Carolina walked into the Yoga NoHo Center in North Hollywood CA, and completed her 200 hour teacher training with Karen Russell.

When Karen lost her son Conner, Carolina became the biggest support in her healing journey. When Soul Mamas became a reality, it was no surprise that Carolina would be part of the team as a holistic grief therapist.