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

Alright, Homeyra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started you own firm sooner?

I left my day job of nine years in August of 2021. At the time, I was working at a Women’s Clinic as a therapist and a case manager. I absolutely loved serving the ladies the way I did. However, there were organizational issues that led to my decision to take a chance and resign. It was heartbreaking and risky: knowing how much I would miss my clients and colleagues, and not having any business experience to fall back on. However, something inside me was pushing me out.

Looking back, I believe it was the perfect time to leave, as I had reached the point where I KNEW I loved dedicating my professional life to serving women AND had grown spiritually enough to know that the Universe will have my back! So all is well and I’m super grateful. I won’t lie though. I often think of some of my clients at the clinic and send them love.

Homeyra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I coach women who struggle to say no to set kind and clear boundaries and ask for what they want.

For two and half decades, I’ve been helping people (and myself along the way) to:

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– improve their confidence,

– ask for what they want,

– show more courage,

– leave their comfort zone more often,

– experience self-respect,

– and say no to responsibilities and situations that they don’t want.

I bring all my experience as a psychotherapist of twenty-five years, including as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, and a Doctor of Psychology into my coaching practice. Not to mention my own history of growth over my few decades on this planet.

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

When I was single and in my 20s and 30s, I used to go out to restaurants and the movies by myself a lot.

Although I experienced the type of story I am about to share with you on more than one occasion, this particular situation has stuck out in my mind over the years.

I was 34 at the time, had recently started my professional career as a therapist, and was very proud of myself for finally being in a place in my life where I could afford a decent meal.

After a long work week, hungry and excited for the weekend, I arrived at this (relatively nice) Italian restaurant. I waited for the hostess to look up so that I could announce my happy arrival.

The hostess had a hot look and a cold way about her.

I couldn’t help but notice how her black dress was just as tight on her fit body as her sleek hair was on her nicely round-shape head.

Her demeanor reminded me of the girls in the Robert Palmers’ Addicted to Love music video.

Do you know the look I’m talking about?

That intimating type of beauty with the “don’t even see you here” attitude made the following barely come out of my mouth:

“Table for one for, please.”

I followed her to our destination which felt like (and was indeed) a long journey.

Longer than necessary for sure.

We passed all the available tables by the windows that were getting lots of natural light.

She took me to the least desirable table by the ladies room ALL the way in the back around the corner, showed me the table in the loneliest spot of the restaurant, and said, while looking at the table and not me, “Enjoy your meal”.

Her ponytail flew high as she turned her back to me and left me to my dark corner. I sat there watching her walk back to the bright life out in front of the restaurant.

I kept wondering to myself: “What did she think of me that made her give THIS table?!”

A question that occupied my mind throughout my entire meal.

It did not occur to that version of me to say to myself: “Who cares what she thinks about me?!”

AND to ask for one of those empty tables I was supposed to ignore.

That version of me did not know her worth and did not know that she had the right to ask for what she wanted.

Fast forward to the current version of me. I have been able to make that simple request, AND many more complicated ones over the last couple of decades,

BECAUSE I now realize that I have the right to ask for what I want.

I have the right to say no.

With this realization, I have been able to say no to:

my loved ones,
my job,
my government
my community…

…when my values guided me to do so.

I have lost a few toxic relationships as a result.

I have gained confidence and self-respect instead.

I’d love the same experience of authenticity, freedom, and empowerment for you as well.

I want you to realize that you too have the right to say no.

You too have the right to ask for what you want, whether it’s with a dismissive restaurant hostess or a beloved family member.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I’d say it’s a tight race between word of mouth and Instagram. I am grateful to have had many satisfied clients over the years as a therapist and now as a coach. What I absolutely love about coaching is that unlike psychotherapy, I am not restricted to the state of California for helping people.

As a coach, I’ve been serving women not only in different states within the US but also in several different countries. This is how both Instagram and word of mouth have taken things to a new level for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.powertotheself.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/power.to.the.self/

Image Credits

Only the professional photos are taken by “Isabel Lawrence” , the rest by my husband. :)