Merissa Jennings-Turner

Merissa Turner is a therapist, filmmaker, and the co-founder of Thrive.one, a digital village devoted to healing, belonging, and the restoration of community. Her work is rooted in the understanding that healing happens through relationship — with ourselves, with each other, and with the living world. For more than five years, Merissa has been honoured to serve as part of the Sacred Circle Indigenous Wellness Mental Health team, working alongside community leaders to help shape a new model of healing grounded in culture, spirit, and collective care. Through this relationship, she has been welcomed into learning the ways, beliefs, and laws that guide and protect First Nations peoples — teachings that continue to inform her practice and deepen her commitment to community-led healing. Merissa’s path has also carried her into relationships with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island, Africa, Peru, and Indonesia, where she has learned about reciprocity, kinship, and the sacred responsibilities we hold toward one another. She has walked beside residential school survivors and their families, witnessing the strength, truth, and tenderness that emerge when stories are held with care. As a filmmaker, Merissa explores the landscapes where psychology, spirit, and culture meet. Her upcoming documentary, created in collaboration with Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Gordon Neufeld, examines the relational roots of resilience and the deep human need for attachment and connection. Through Thrive, she is dedicated to building accessible pathways to healing and uplifting the teachers, wisdom keepers, and mentors who are shaping a more relational world.