We were lucky to catch up with Joan Judson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joan, thanks for joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

For years, I built my career in traditional professional roles — first as an elementary school teacher, then an art teacher, and later, a mediator. These roles were deeply meaningful, rooted in structure and service, and I learned so much about communication, patience, and the human spirit. But while I was immersed in these conventional paths, something in me was quietly reaching for more.
Outside of work, I began exploring alternative modalities that spoke to a deeper, more intuitive part of myself. I studied Nonviolent Communication – a process that encourages compassionate dialogue and helps people connect to their needs and emotions. I trained in Shadow coaching, which involves uncovering the unconscious parts of ourselves that influence behavior and limit growth. I even immersed myself in Awakening Joy, a program designed to cultivate well-being through mindfulness, gratitude, and intention.
These non-traditional paths weren’t just extracurricular; they were transformational. They helped me understand myself beyond my roles and gave me language for truths I’d always felt but couldn’t name. Still, whether in classrooms or coaching circles, I noticed a common thread: systems, leaders, and institutions were often the gatekeepers of growth. There was always someone or something external – a curriculum, a certification, a mentor – telling me when I was “ready” for the next step.
My defining moment came when I realized that only I could decide when I was ready. That moment of clarity changed everything. I understood that the deepest authority in my life had to be my own inner knowing – not a job title, not a system, not even a spiritual framework.
Today, I’ve woven together everything I’ve learned – from the structure of traditional education to the wisdom of alternative healing – into a unique offering. My work centers on helping others come home to themselves, to listen inward, and to stand in the center of their own knowing. Because readiness isn’t something someone else grants you. It’s something you claim.

Joan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For over 25 years, I’ve been immersed in non-traditional paths of personal growth and inner inquiry – from studying shadow work and Nonviolent Communication to engaging with creative and spiritual practices that support deep transformation. My journey has been one of consistent exploration: understanding myself, understanding the world, and learning how to guide others through the same.
Out of this lifelong exploration, I’ve created a unique offering: a 15-month guided journey designed for individuals ready to dive deep into their inner world – not alone, but within the support of an intimate and committed group. This isn’t group therapy. It’s a soulful, creative, and rigorous path of self-discovery that blends art, writing, and ritual practices and meaningful connection.
Participants meet twice a month over the course of 30 sessions. During this time, the group becomes a trusted community – a container where it’s safe to be seen, to be vulnerable, and to explore the parts of yourself that may have long been hidden, dismissed, or forgotten.
This work is for people who are ready to ask: Why am I the way I am? What makes me come alive? What patterns no longer serve me? And who am I underneath all the conditioning?
This is deep work. It requires commitment. And it invites you to peel back the layers – not to fix yourself, but to remember who you are at your core. My role is not to give you answers, but to walk beside you as you ask brave questions and learn to trust your own inner knowing.
If you’re looking for a space to come home to yourself – supported by creative tools, soulful practices, and a like-hearted community – this journey might be for you.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Several times in my life, I’ve found myself standing at a crossroads – often between the comfort of the familiar and the call of something deeper.

One pivotal moment came after years of working as a teacher and mediator. These were fulfilling roles in many ways, but something in me was restless. I had been studying healing modalities on the side for years — diving into Nonviolent Communication, shadow work, mindfulness, and creativity as tools for transformation. But I was treating that part of my life as separate, almost like a hobby.

Eventually, the separation became unsustainable. I felt split between what I was supposed to be doing and what I longed to be doing. So I pivoted — not abruptly, but with deep intentionality. I left behind the traditional frameworks I had relied on and began weaving together everything I had learned into a new kind of offering – one that honored both the structure of my past and the calling of my soul.

That pivot wasn’t just professional. It was personal. It required me to trust myself more than I ever had – and to believe that the path I was being called toward was just as valid, even if it didn’t come with a roadmap.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that validation comes from outside of me – that I needed someone else’s permission or approval to move forward, or be who I am.

For so long, I looked to external markers to tell me I was doing things “right”: a teaching credential, a job title, a mentor’s nod, a curriculum’s structure. Even in the world of healing and coaching, I found myself chasing certifications or waiting for someone to affirm that I was ready to guide others.

But over time, and especially through inner inquiry, I began to notice the quiet but persistent voice within – the one that already knew. It wasn’t loud or flashy; it was steady. And when I finally began to trust it, I realized: readiness isn’t given, it’s claimed. That shift changed everything. I stopped chasing credentials and certifications and started embodying the wisdom I’d spent years cultivating. I stopped asking for permission and started listening inward.

Unlearning the need for external validation is still an ongoing process – but it’s also one of the most liberating lessons I’ve ever integrated.

Contact Info:

• Other: Email: [email protected]