We recently connected with Jackie O’Leary and have shared our conversation below.

Jackie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

After years of working as a community health nurse with a focus on mental health and chronic disease, I eventually felt limited within the confines of today’s healthcare system. I struggled to find a role that allowed me to embody the holistic approach I truly believed in. I wanted to explore the bigger picture of my client’s health situation and consider how a person’s inner world influences their physical body and life experience.

So I decided to create my own holistic wellness coaching practice to BE the change I wished to see in the world of health care.

Because I went to school for nursing, I never expected to become an entrepreneur. The beginning stages of launching my practice involved connecting with mentors who inspired me and showed me what could be possible.

I quickly became aware of my weak areas in the business realm, so hired support to fill in those gaps. This allowed me to prioritize pouring time and energy into the things that would create the best outcomes for my clients, so I definitely don’t regret it!

Having strong self-care practices supported me through the inevitable growing pains that come with starting your own business. For most people, launching a business is a big leap that can cause distress and reveal limiting beliefs and patterns. I invited the opportunities to learn and evolve, and leaned heavily on the practices that I now share with my clients as they, too, make their dreams reality.

If I could give any advice to young professionals considering starting their own practice, it would be to:

1. Prioritize your own health & well-being. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

2. Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you, too.

3. Seek support! You may be tempted to do everything solo at first, but it really does take a team to bring a vision to life. Connect with people who inspire you. Hire a coach or mentor and outsource tasks that aren’t in your area of genius (accounting, website design, legal support, etc).

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.

Throughout my life, I’ve been attracted to all things health and wellness. I’ve always had a deep sense that health is the most important element of life, paired with a strong desire to help people create the healthiest, happiest versions of themselves.

When I was younger, my focus was mostly on the physical aspects of health — I even spent some years working as a personal trainer. But later in life, tragic experiences showed me the undeniable importance of psychological health, as I lost dear loved ones to their battles with mental illness.

Tragic and transformative, these experiences revealed to me my calling: to guide, support, and empower people towards evolution, self-actualization, and holistic well-being.

After earning my BSN RN, I followed my curiosity, continued learning and training, became a certified holistic health coach, and received extensive training in IFS (Internal Family Systems Therapy), somatic experiencing, subconscious reprogramming, and mindfulness practices including meditation, visualization, and breathwork.

I created my own private practice, Transformative Health LLC, where I provide 1:1 virtual coaching sessions designed to help people transform obstacles in their lives and become exactly who they want to be. I am most grateful for my ability to transform the pain of my experiences into work that uplifts, inspires, and supports others through theirs.

Some obstacles I help clients overcome include: overthinking, anxiety, chronic stress, self-doubt, feeling “stuck,” self-criticism, low self-esteem, relationship issues, distractedness, limiting beliefs, self-sabotaging patterns, work/life imbalance, lack of purpose, and more.

Because of the holistic nature of this work, my clients also see improvements their respiratory health, digestion, sleep, hormone balance, diet, physical fitness, and healthy habits.

I am here to help people move from disempowerment and distress to empowerment, ease, and balance in mind, body, and life. Through this work, I’ve seen incredible transformations from the inside out, rooted in self-compassion and self-love.

What is truly unique about my practice is that my intention is never to “fix” anything about my clients, because I don’t believe anything is broken. I accept them exactly as they are and welcome every part of them with appreciation. Contrary to popular belief, THIS is what allows for insight, growth, and change. I also bring authenticity, friendliness, and a light energy to what is often seen as “heavy” or “serious” work.

My clients are relieved to find that our work together is just as much of a practice of their desired feelings as it is a processing of what they no longer want to feel. They’re often surprised that this “shadow work” can feel so light and relaxing, and this truly changes their mindset about personal growth.

I’m so grateful I get to do this work and happy to share my story. For anyone still reading, I’d love to just remind you that you are SO amazing and SO capable of creating any change you desire in your life.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The key contributing factor that helped me build my reputation within my market has been choosing a market that is so deeply connected to who I am as a person.

When I decided to create my own coaching practice, it was a choice made after spending a lot of self-reflection time. Asking myself: “What do I do naturally & enjoyably that is immensely helpful to other people?” and “What form of work/service lights me up just as much as it lights up the recipient?”

I also asked these questions to a couple of my closest loved ones (who I know can see me fully & clearly).

The insight that emerged was that I’ve always been a coach, mentor, guide — whatever you want to call it. So when I officially launched my practice, I had 4 new clients on the first day because I had unintentionally been building a reputation within my market long before I made it “official.”

Ultimately, I think this is where authenticity is extremely important in your market. When people can see you in your authentic nature, you are the undoubtable person to work with to create their desired solution.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Believing in yourself is hands-down the most important ingredient for success, no matter what field you’re in. In my experience, I’ve taken so many trainings, read so many books, and consumed so much knowledge only to still have to transform self-doubt at the end of the day.

There is no amount of information you can possibly consume that will replace the fact that you have to believe in yourself and your vision in order to achieve it.

I know countless extremely intelligent and highly trained people who could absolutely create their version of ultimate success, but they don’t believe that, so they don’t try, they quit, or they unconsciously self-sabotage.

How do you believe in yourself if you’ve never done something before and you don’t have the experience to trust you can do it? — You take the courageous action anyways, gain the experience, learn, and trust that even if you fail, you’ll still be there for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jackieoleary.co
• Instagram: @transformwithjackie
• Other: I create email newsletters packed with free support, guidance, self-help, and resources to support holistic well-being. Subscribe on my website!

Image Credits
Sammy Peltz