Dharma In The Dirt
Living Beyond Addiction
I help people in recovery rebuild their lives by turning mess into medicine and pain into purpose through nervous-system healing and practice.
Welcome
I’m Mika Rae—a former nurse and molecular biologist turned recovery coach and neuroscience-informed guide. After more than two decades navigating addiction and recovery, I founded Dharma in the Dirt to offer an alternative to approaches that overlook the nervous system, lived experience, and long-term sustainability. This work is grounded, evidence-informed, and honest—focused on rebuilding lives from the inside out through regulation, practice, and purpose.
Why the Dirt?
True growth often emerges from our most challenging experiences. The name itself symbolizes the journey of finding one’s purpose (Dharma) amidst the chaos and struggles (the Dirt) of life.
Dharma in the Dirt is an evidence-informed recovery program supporting individuals in rebuilding their lives after addiction. Through a guided process rooted in neuroscience, nutrition, and spiritual exploration, participants gain practical tools for nervous-system regulation, sustainable change, and purpose-driven living.
My Offer
MIND:
Rewire the Chaos
We focus on retraining the brain using neuroscience-informed strategies that support nervous-system regulation, neurotransmitter balance, and sustainable behavior change. Participants learn how addiction impacts the brain and how to work with—not against—its healing capacity. This approach is especially supportive for individuals in early recovery who are rebuilding cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, and daily functioning.
BODY:
Reclaim the Vessel
The body is central to recovery. Through nervous-system regulation practices, accessible movement, and foundational nutrition education, participants rebuild physical awareness, safety, and vitality. This pillar supports stress resilience, emotional regulation, and reconnection with the body—key components of long-term recovery and overall well-being.
PURPOSE
Remember Who
You Are
Recovery requires more than symptom reduction—it requires meaning. This pillar supports participants in exploring values, purpose, and identity beyond addiction. Through mindfulness practices, meditation, breathwork, and guided reflection, individuals cultivate inner stability, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of direction. Spiritual exploration is offered in an inclusive, grounded way that supports psychological integration and personal growth.
Mission
Dharma in the Dirt exists to support individuals navigating early recovery from addiction and other patterns of disconnection. Informed by lived experience and professional training, the program provides structured tools, education, and guidance to help participants rebuild self-regulation, resilience, and personal agency. Rather than offering quick fixes, Dharma in the Dirt focuses on sustainable healing—supporting individuals as they develop the capacity to face discomfort, strengthen emotional resilience, and move toward purposeful, stable lives.