Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marie Thouvenot. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

When I launched my business, I was focused on everything you’d expect: training, administrative work, building the website. I thought I was prepared. But nothing really prepares you for your first paying client.

The most unexpected challenge wasn’t technical or strategic. It was the wave of anxiety that hit me right before my first paid hypnosis session. I had already practiced, I was trained, I had done sessions before. But this time, there was something at stake. It suddenly felt real.

I tried to manage it the best I could, with breathing, grounding myself, even physically shaking it out. And then the client appeared on my screen. He was clearly distressed, not doing well at all.

And seeing him snapped me out of it.

In that moment, my anxiety just dropped. I realized I had been completely focused on myself. How I was performing, how I was feeling. But the client wasn’t concerned with any of that. He just wanted relief.

That brought me straight back to the present. I was able to be there for him, fully.

That experience taught me one of the most important lessons in my business: To get out of your own way, focus on who you serve and how you can help.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Marie, a hypnosis practitioner and certified mindset coach. I work with people who are dealing with stress and anxiety, often in a world that feels constantly fast-paced and demanding.

What I’ve noticed is that most people aren’t just overwhelmed by what’s happening in their lives now. They’re also carrying old patterns, internalized expectations, and ways of functioning that once helped them cope, but no longer serve them. My work is about helping them sort through all of that.

I don’t approach change through force or discipline. Instead, I guide people toward understanding themselves differently, so they can move forward with more self-compassion. The goal isn’t to push harder. It’s to feel better while still growing and achieving what matters to them.

I named my company My Loving Mind because I deeply believe that everything we do, even the things that seem to hold us back, comes from a place of protection. At some point, those patterns were useful. They helped us adapt, survive, or feel safe. But over time, they can become outdated.

Through hypnosis and coaching, I help people update those inner patterns by understanding them and gently transforming them.

What I’m most proud of is creating a space where people don’t feel judged or pushed, but supported in a different way, where they can reconnect with themselves and realize that they don’t have to be at war with their own mind to move forward.

What I want people to know about my work is simple: you don’t need to become someone else to feel better. You just need to relate to yourself differently.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn came during my health and mindset coaching certification (HMCC).

Like many people in helping professions, I came in with the instinct to encourage and validate, especially by telling clients how proud I was of them. It feels natural, and it comes from a good place. But I learned that this kind of response, while well-intentioned, can actually take something away from the client.

It subtly shifts the focus outward. Instead of helping them build their own sense of recognition and autonomy, it can create a dynamic where they look for validation from me.

That was a real shift for me. I had to learn to step back, to hold space differently, and to trust the client’s ability to see themselves.

And unlearning is much harder than learning something new, because you’re going against habits that feel right and familiar.

I’m grateful for that certification because it grounded my practice in approaches that are rooted in science, not just intuition. It challenged how I show up as a coach, and ultimately made me more precise, more thoughtful, and more respectful of my clients’ autonomy.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life didn’t come from my business. It came from becoming a mother.

I knew it would be a big change, but I underestimated just how intense that transition would be. The lack of sleep, the constant responsibility, the complete shift in identity… It’s already a lot to hold.

What I didn’t realize is that children act as mirrors. They have a way of pressing on every unresolved part of you. Anything you haven’t fully processed—old patterns, emotional triggers, stress responses—comes back, amplified. There’s no way around it.

That’s when I really committed to doing my own inner work, not just as a professional, but as a person.

I’ve learned (and still learning) to better understand and regulate my emotions, to respond instead of react, and to approach myself with more awareness and compassion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mylovingmind.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylovingmind
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylovingmind
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mylovingmind
• Other: https://substack.com/@mylovingmind

Image Credits

DC Photograph
Delphine Francois Photography
Emma Burcusel Photographer