We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erica Leone a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Erica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Hi! I’m Erica Cox Leone, fondly known as “Dr. Erica,” the founder of Beyond the Veil.

I am a medical sociologist, spiritual counselor, Reiki Master Teacher, clinical trauma professional, clinical shaman, sound healer, speaker and author. One of the biggest joys of my work is that I receive clients with a huge range of races, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds, with all types of healing needs from a general cleansing to trauma to phobias. I specialize in medical/mental health, trauma (any verbal, sexual, physical situations), and awakening transitions.

My Story
When I reflect, situations were placed in my life to explore and heal to help those who I now help on a daily basis. I have been intuitively connected since childhood. Not truly knowing what gifts were given to me in the life, I struggled throughout my childhood with self worth, belonging, emotional neglect and navigating HSP/Empathic frameworks. I knew that I love helping those in need (who were always attracted to me) and stood up for those that were marginalized in my school (and now at local/international levels). When I was a teenager I went through my first awakening. It was scary and very isolating, being that our culture doesn’t readily accept those with alternative healing gifts. As most of us have, I learned a lot about myself and what not to do during those years. I also learned I had to hide a major part of who I was, and what I went through during that time. I made walls and hid. One of the greatest gifts now is helping clients of all ages embrace vulnerability, find who they are and to embrace themselves, especially through awakenings.

Not taking care of myself and not having a good framework, in my 20’s I quickly found myself in a narcissistic abuse marriage, although I had a thriving career in finance market in managing, quality assurance, and training, as well as the non-profit sector. I loved being the chair of outreach to assist those in need, and allow other employees to embrace that as well. In 2007, my company sent me to Chile to assist in setting up a South American Bureau for a extended time, and I thrived there. I realized during my time living there that I was lost, and much of our nation was lost. When I returned to the US, fully empowered, I divorced my then husband and pulled myself into building back who I needed to be. I worked on “Who was Erica? Where did she go? What did I want to be?” It all came very quickly- little did I know that it was manifestation! As I built my life, I was the go-to friend that always answered the problems, whatever they were. I soon got the nickname “Dr. Erica” long before I even considered college. Isn’t it funny how life can be foreshadowing? My first marriage taught me what I was truly worth, boundaries, self love, where to find it, and how to never go there again. I reflect this in my work with my clients on a daily basis.

I met my soulmate in 2010, and my life was forever changed. I felt way more established in my foundation of who I was, and he added to my life in indescribable ways. Cam was and is my constant cheerleader. I had a very difficult pregnancy pre-during-post, and I decided I need to stay home with my son, Dean. My husband encouraged me to go to school. I went for nursing, as I was inspired by the nurses from my mother’s fight with cancer (which she won- she’s where I get my fighting from!). While attending Intro to Sociology, I knew then that this was my career path. So I switched, and continued on all the way to my doctorate. I focused my doctorate on Medical Sociology and Social Psychology. My entire education in used in every single facet of my life and fosters my clients into a higher self. My thesis was about happiness and its relationship with socioeconomic status as we age, while my dissertation is about the concept of liminal space, mental health, and how it’s portrayed in film to society. During my degree I encountered harassment, discrimination and verbal abuse. The time of my thesis was one of the hardest times I’ve had to endure. I felt entangled in power dynamics that left me powerless. During my dissertation, professors on my committee that I looked up to intentionally threw me under the bus because I pushed against the fabric of the unknown. These experiences are interwoven into how I empower my clients to stand up for themselves, to be innovative, to follow your intuition, and to feel worth it. I taught classes for a few years because I love inspiring and awakening young minds. I am now a published author and speaker on topics that include: medical sociology, health and illness, social psychology, social inequality, metaphysics/religion, quantum physics, and posthumanism.

During my master’s I had our second child, Lana. Almost immediately after her birth I began my second awakening. At the time I was working with my friend Jenn Griffin in marketing/operations at her amazing company ElderB. She led to me go to see someone she had met that gave her a complimentary Reiki session. I went and saw Shanna– That day changed my life. I had a life altering experience with angels and higher dimensions, which she also recounted to the tee, before I said a word. She sent me to Jill Kline, my now mentor and soul sister. Jill helped me learn the healing power of Reiki, and encouraged me to open my own business using my academic degrees and Reiki Master Teacher certification. During my mentorship with her and my attunements, I became aware of how we are ever connected to Source, our guides, and angels; how we all have the ability to heal ourselves; and to surround ourselves in love and light. I discovered that my true gifts of being an empath(all 6 of them), medium, and healer were meant to heal others mind-body-soul. I then opened a shared a practice with Jill, eventually expanding to include Dr. Justin Fortier. I focused my healing business on Reiki and Spiritual Counseling. Continually learning, I absorbed many teachings from other cultures/traditions (Dolores Cannon, Alberto Villoldo, Don Jose Ruiz, Brene Brown and Anthony William to name a few).

I was living my best life doing all of the above, trying to manage a career and being a mom… don’t get me started on motherhood and how we need to heal as Momma’s. Well, source had another life altering boom for me (a universal slapping I loving call them); I was to open my own practice with a list of women. Some I didn’t even know and some just walked into my office! I took a major leap of faith, fully entrusting my life path and my guides/source, completely surrendering without fear. Within months I had hired, opened/created a holistic wellness business and found a location that was just perfect (that my husband and I refurbished by hand!) . The women that work for and with me- they are powerhouses. We definitely agreed on a higher level that we are supposed to be here together- healing.

I can fully tell you that when you come to Beyond the Veil, you were meant to be here.

Embrace yourself and surrender to becoming the highest self you can be.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The wellness and healing at Beyond the Veil is very unique. When I started the business I didn’t really think much of the uniqueness, I just did what spirit directed me to do. When I started getting nationwide and international clients that stated they couldn’t get what I did anywhere else, it gave me pause. When spirit told me. To expand, I knew immediately we were special. The service names themselves aren’t very unique at all- it’s the product that you receive. We offer two different types of counseling, Reiki, biotuning forks, massage therapy, lymphatic drainage, craniosacral therapy, Biofeedback scans, sound baths and yoga. The lovely ladies at BTV don’t really quite understand how amazing they are. What they do know is how passionate we are about healing those that cross our threshold. We are partners in healing.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Intention is so important in everything we do in life, but especially in attracting clientele. Just like our byline says, “We are here to heal.” And that’s all that matters. Secondly is bringing in clients that spur our own growth. Money is #3 on the list and honestly shouldn’t be considered much once you set a set price in the 3D world we live in.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Woah what a loaded question! I am very called to Don Miguel Ruiz and sons, Bashar, Ester Hicks, Brene Brown, Teal Swan, Alberto Villoldo, Jane Roberts, Caroline Myss, Dolores Cannon, and so many famous sociologists I wouldn’t even know where to start.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.btvreiki.com
• Instagram: btvreiki
• Facebook: Btvreiki
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericacleone