We were lucky to catch up with Emily Sealy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Emily, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
For the past 10 years or so, I have had multiple part time jobs instead of one full time job and enjoyed the variety. After graduating from acupuncture school, I was hesitant to start a private practice and go full force on it- instead I worked at a few different clinics to get experience, and started my practice as a very small side business. I was able to sublet a treatment space from a previous classmate for one day per week, and found it to be quite fulfilling to see clients there, doing my own thing, and taking time with each client. I liked it but I was also scared of putting “all of my eggs in one basket” by taking on more days or responsibility.
Last summer, my friend who I was subletting from let me know that she was planning on retiring and was looking for someone to take over the remaining 1.5 years of lease at her office- and offered the opportunity to me. I was already established there, had a handful of regular clients, and probably would’ve stayed with the one day per week for the foreseeable future if she hadn’t mentioned this. I was nervous with some imposter syndrome, wondering- could I actually do this more full time? Will I be able to take this leap of faith, an opportunity that I hadn’t been looking for but was dropped into my lap?
Even though I was apprehensive, I decided to take on the lease as it seemed like the universe’s way of helping me grow and take the next step in my career path. It has been a learning experience for sure, but a really good one, as I’ve enjoyed making the space my own, expanding my practice, getting new clients, and cultivating my own special style. There are many acupuncturists out there, so I’ve tried to hone in on what sets me apart- and taking that risk has helped me discover and lean into my particular skillset.
I’m grateful I took that leap of faith because if I hadn’t pushed myself out of my comfort zone, I may have never been able to feel this sense of confidence in myself, seen the amazing ways clients have responded, or had the safe space to experiment with what kind of business owner and practitioner I truly want to be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Emily and I’m a small business owner for the holistic practice Third Eye Acupuncture & Wellness. I first got introduced to the healing world in my teen years, as that’s when I started struggling with chronic illness. I tried a variety of different specialists in the western medical realm and found some results with acute episodes, but when it came to overall wellness and managing the day to day symptoms, there weren’t many options- so I started to explore alternative and complementary medicine.
I first learned Reiki when I was 18 and it was a pivotal moment for me to start feeling like I had some semblance of power over my physical and mental health, instead of feeling helpless and hopeless. This propelled me into learning more about the mind-body connection, and eventually led me to receive my Reiki Master training in 2011. My appetite for learning was insatiable and I ended up attending Metropolitan State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrative Healthcare, which opened my eyes to the multitude of ways to address health and wellness. In particular, Traditional Chinese Medicine caught my eye, and when I started regularly receiving acupuncture treatments and taking Chinese herbs, I was astounded at how deeply I was impacted- this was another big milestone for me. It helped me so much that I felt inspired to learn more so that I could help other people who felt like they had exhausted all of the “conventional” methods. Going to Colorado Chinese Medicine University brought it all together for me, and in the process of completing grad school and getting licensed, I felt more than ever that my purpose is to help empower clients in their own healing journeys.
It has been such a joy to combine the various modalities in the toolbox I’ve cultivated over the years, including Usui and Karuna Reiki, acupuncture, Chinese herbology, cupping, gua sha, and trauma-informed care. I like to spend time to really get to know my clients, not just the pain that brings them in the door, but what makes them tick, how all of the different dynamics come together to make them unique. Compassionate space holding is an essential part of every treatment, and each session is guided by not only the overarching patterns of illness or imbalance we’re able to identify but also what specific areas or intentions the client wants to focus on- so no session is exactly the same. In particular, I specialize in treating chronic illness, mental and emotional wellness, women’s health, digestive issues, pain, and helping people tune back in to themselves in our busy society.
I’ve found that combining Reiki and acupuncture can be especially profound, particularly when there are physical symptoms that are actually rooted in emotions stuck in the body or unprocessed mental pain. So many of our modern problems come from overwork, high stress, repressed emotions, and burn out. My goal with each client – regardless of what modality we use- is to help them feel safe enough to slow down, listen to their own internal compasses, and get out of their own way for healing.
While I know there are many different holistic practitioners out there, and even many acupuncturists in the area, I feel like what sets me apart is my ability to listen deeply, create a safe space for clients to let down their guards, empower clients with knowledge/tools to help themselves, and combine a variety of modalities to customize each session based on what the client is dealing with as they come in. It is my pleasure and honor to do this work and feel that in our hectic age, the more people who are willing to show up for their own wellness helps send ripple effects out in all directions for a better, more heart centered world.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
By far, the best way I’ve found to get new clients is by word of mouth referrals. When someone comes in, has a positive experience and then tells their friends about it, the power of that first person referral is so much stronger than just seeing a random Google ad. Many places may look good on paper but then in reality it’s just not the right fit for one reason or another. I understand that I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the people who resonate with my practice and what I offer, there is a certain level of “click” that happens that can’t be quantified. Sessions aren’t just about the treatment itself but also feeling safe enough to be vulnerable and let go of the doubting ego mind to create space for magic to happen. It’s not always easily explained by the logic mind or able to summarized into a brief social media post- but just needs to be experienced, to be felt. Therefore, when there is a direct referral to me, I know that not only did the original client get something of value out of our time together, but also that they think their friend/coworker/family member could also benefit from my particular style. That kind of word of mouth referral is worth more than money to me!!
I also have a great network of other providers, such as massage therapists, yoga teachers, aestheticians, mental health counselors- these are also top tier referrals as I trust these practitioners and often send clients to them too. I view it as a big team effort to help address client’s wellness from a variety of angles, which also builds trust and credibility when I know to refer out for something outside of my skill set instead of acting like I have all of the answers! Team effort of trusted providers is a great pool to get new clients and provide more truly holistic wellness.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I have a newsletter that I send out either monthly or every other month, with updates about the practice, upcoming changes or events, and exciting tidbits from my life. I love to share this carefully crafted email with my community, it feels like a love note to each client saying, “thank you for being here, you’re an important part of my practice, and while yes this is about a business, I’m also just a person, so here’s a picture of my cat!” It’s a way for me to not only showcase logistical updates such as changes of hours, new appointment types, etc but also for me to share a bit of myself as well. I’ve found that clients respond well to this combination of nuts and bolts, silliness, random bits of information (such as Traditional Chinese Medicine seasonal theory, astrology updates, or food therapy).
Contact Info:
- Website: www,ThirdEyeAcu.com
- Instagram: @thirdeyeacu
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/thirdeyeacu
Image Credits
Leigh Skomal