We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Seid recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was starting my own private therapy practice. I had been working for agencies in the not-for-profit mental health field for about 5 years. While, I loved serving the community, leadership, and helping my clients transform their lives, I found myself more unhappy and unbalanced in my life due to industry constraints.

However, I stayed in part because of the idea of job security. That was until something I never thought possible would happen, given my field, took place. I lost my job as part of a regional company-wide reduction. It was at that time that I seriously reflected and saw that while I could transition to another company, I’d likely still end up unhappy and lack job security anyway. After much thought, I decided to muster the courage to start my own practice. While it was definitely challenging the first few years learning about business and establishing myself in the community, I can say now that it has truly been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Since that time, I’ve been able to achieve more work-life balance. I’ve also been able to explore the true passions of my craft and now specialize in what I feel called to do as part of my purpose in this world, helping people heal past trauma. It has been such an honor to serve my clients and see the immense transformations take place in their lives that even they weren’t sure was ever possible. The change each client experiences not only effects themselves but their friends, family, children and so on. It creates a beautiful ripple effect of healing and new possibilities far beyond that one person and is humbling to be a part of. While it was the greatest and most uncertain risk I ever took to venture out on my own, I’m tremendously grateful I did it and look forward to how I continue to evolve and make an impact in the world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a licensed psychotherapist and trauma specialist, particularly related to relationship and family issues (past or present). I chose to specialize in this area for a few reasons. First, I am a former chronic stress lifestyle liver and complex trauma survivor. I’ve had to undergo my own process of healing, so I truly get what it’s like to look at the things we want to look away from. This is what prompted me to become a therapist in the first place!

Second, after years of working with individuals, couples, and families as a clinician, I became frustrated with seeing clients hit a ceiling in their growth. I taught them skills to change their negative thinking patterns, calm their anxious feelings, and better understand why they did what they did which they found useful. Yet, deep down they still had those negative core beliefs about themselves or the world so it was a continuous challenge, always being on guard for moments that might trigger them to address afterwards.

It wasn’t until I learned about and got trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy that I felt I had the tools to help my clients move past those limitations. EMDR is one of the foremost brain-based therapy models effective in treating trauma. Research has supported this model helping clients to create more adaptive neural networks in their brain!

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Absolutely! I can say that I feel I am living in my purpose.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Since starting my business, I have discovered how important building meaningful connections are to any business. It has helped with reaching and serving my ideal clients. I have also met so many people, several of which have actually become dear friends from networking and marketing. It’s been great to have a community of mutual understanding and support over the years.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mindfullifesolutionsllc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_mindful_psychotherapist
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindfullifesolutions
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-seid-455027164