Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Perry-davies
Hi Alison, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
You know, I think I could go back to a smallish town I grew up in and being a little girl who wrote poems and stories and sang into my hairbrush in the mirror. I loved to create and dream and believed in magic. A favourite past time was playing school with my brothers and being the teacher or hospital and being the nurse or doctor. Doing all of those things was never too much, as a child. We get older and sometimes can fall into a mindset that we need to do one thing, one thing only and we set a course.
Today, well, today is my 65th birthday. Happy Birthday to me!!
And my life continues to unfold before my very eyes. I continue to explore all that is possible and am reminded of a little redheaded girl who had big dreams.
Today I am an author. I have co-authored 3 books and then my own book “The Art Of Healing Trauma; Finding Joy Through Creativity, Spirituality and Forgiveness” and right now my first children’s book is about to be released. It will be the first of a collection of books called the “Don’t Be Scared Be Prepared” collection. In these books children will learn about a quirky little girl named Ginger and how she learns to navigate anxiety and life. She is the girl I needed when I was little. Although I did have Pippi Longstocking, and oh how I loved her.
I am also a podcast host. My podcast is called “Find Your Joy” and I and my guests share all about what gives us joy, how we find joy and what we do to create joy for ourselves and others. I am also available for speaking engagements where I share my experience, strength and hope.
And here in Victoria, British Columbia Canada, I have a studio where I am a Vibrational Sound Therapy practitioner and also blend creative art therapies. I also facilitate Wellness retreats and partner with Dr. Carmen Carpenter (DTCM/acupuncturist) We love integrated wellness and creativity and reconnecting with ourselves and others and those are the things we focus on in our retreats.
I still write and record songs and poems and books and all that bubbles up inside of me. I share with others my story understanding that when we hear stories we can relate to, that a connection happens and that can bring hope and healing and a way to our own strength that we had somehow misplaced along the way at times. I want to be part of that.
So, whether I am facilitating a retreat, or doing an interview, or doing energy work with a client or writing or singing or painting, it is all participating in what started so many years ago as a little girl that somehow creating all that was possible, doing what made my heart smile and just calling it playing. There is so much healing, in playing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my struggles have been some of my greatest teachers. Oh my gosh, don’t you just hate it when someone says that? And still, there it is, the truth. I am not sure who I would be if I hadn’t experienced all that I have experienced.
In a nutshell, I have known terror, intimately. I have know physical and sexual abuse, and found my way out of the feelings of being completely out of control and trapped and now know freedom and peace. I have made choices that make me shudder and have learned and continue to learn, to forgive myself.
I have worked for decades to feel strong and independent, and then have an unfortunate accident and sustained a brain injury and had to relearn and reinvent.
Here is what I know for sure, I am, we are, so much stronger than we ever imagined. I know that even when it feels as though there is no hope, that there is always hope. I know that sharing my darkest days can be the light out for someone else.
I know that I know that I know, that there is a big beautiful life that is ours for the taking and I have no doubts of that.
And always….
Being kind in a world that can be unkind, is a super power.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love being part of someone else’s healing journey. A stepping stone, one of many, that helps someone find their way.
In my Vibrational Sound Therapy practice, I blend what I have learned in over 30 years working as a musician and in musical therapies and what I do now in Sound baths. My background in ministry and counselling gives me insight in creating a safe environment and allows me to listen and ask questions that can be helpful in providing my clients with a personalised session.
I am a curious person and have studied and am certified in different counselling modalities, HICAT (Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy) diploma, Advanced Vibrational Therapy and Sound Healing certification, Human Resource management advanced diploma to name some of the training and education I have invested in myself.
I spent over 40 years working in a few types of “day jobs” while also working as a creative person, and those days jobs were within the disability community, helping people find options and solutions for whatever they were facing. In ministry, both in counselling and music roles and that taught me so much about how we see ourselves and our spirituality and how that can both help and hinder our healing path.
Part of my way of seeing the world is a love for community, I always want to connect with others and find ways to make experiences all they can be at the same time, finding ways to offer affordable complimentary and alternative care.
I offer individual sound baths and wellness commitment packages, group sound baths, group sound baths with acupuncture, sound baths with creative art expression afterwards, both individually and in groups. Retreats where we offer clients several healing modalities to chose from. That comes from partnering and building community and supporting other healers. They are not my competition, we are all in community together.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
A few things I would like to share about would be in terms of self care and mental health and healing journeys is, it is never too early and it is never too late.
My children’s books are aimed for 4-7 year old children, where they can learn about breath work and grounding and how to be happy and healthy and balanced, and give them the tools for that. I will be posting on my website and facebook when my first book “Look Around And Ground; With Ginger and The Fun Bunch” is released. It is being illustrated right now and will likely be ready the end of 2024 beginning of 2025.
And for our adult selves, Self care is important… we still have room for our Women’s Wellness retreat “Find Your Joy retreat” November 1-4, 2024
If you would like to contact me for a free 15 minute chat, contact me at aliwayart@gmail.com
And finally….
Curiosity is a beautiful gift, cultivate it!
If you have ever wondered what it might be like to….. fill in the blank….
Go! Explore! Learn!
We are given a finite amount of time here, let’s squeeze every drop out of it that we can!!
Pricing:
- aliwayart@gmail.com
- For Sound Baths https://aliwayart.com/calendar
- For retreats https://aliwayart.com/retreat
- My books https://aliwayart.com/a-way-with-words-1
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aliwayart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliwayart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliwayart/
- Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/aliwayart/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@aliwayart
Image Credits
All pictures are mine
Alison Perry-Davies