We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joi Gedeon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joi below.

Hi Joi, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

I had a client that already tried conventional therapy and hit a wall, so they came to me seeking an alternative and holistic method of healing. This person had an issue understanding and honoring their own boundaries. She was raised in a house where boundaries were seen as a sign as disrespect and distance, so she never learned what healthy boundaries looked like. She was holding so much shame for things she believed she “allowed” to happen. I had to remind her the same she was carrying did not belong to her, it was internalized from her family who was taught these lessons which now, were passed down to her. I asked her if her best friend shared the same story, would she blame her friend or be able to find compassion? We also discussed how she could treat herself as well as she treats others, if not even better. Through journal prompts, yoga, and meditations we were able to turn the love she easily shared with others with herself. Today, she has healthy self-care practice and can easily honor her boundaries without shaming herself.

She is now able to have more authentic connections with herself and others. With her self care practice now well figured out she has the confidence to take on whatever challenges come up. Our favorite quote from that time is “Be like the bee, get there in your own time.” And she did.

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I had a client come to me who was suicidal. She tried conventional therapy but it wasn’t working. Before doing anything, I had her ask how do I show myself love? How do I show myself compassion? When I get stuck in a negative thought loop, whose voice or vocabulary do I hear? After some discussion she began to see the voice was her mother, the life she was trying to live was for her creating an intense feeling of unhappiness. I reminded her that she was the most important person in her life and she deserved to live the life she wanted. The ability to cultivate the life she dreamed of was still possible and all was not lost. In this work it’s not about the advice, it’s asking questions and guiding them to their full understanding of what they want and who they are. I hold space for them to be seen and cared for exactly as they are without judgment, allowing them to take control of their own healing with a safety net.

Joi, 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?

Joi Gedeon is the owner of Joi of Holistic Coaching. She is a shadow work coach, a witch, and a holistic healer who is dedicated to helping people, but specifically members of the BIPOC community, have access to improve their whole health – mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional. After being in therapy herself, she also noticed a distinct lack of therapists of color and knew that she could add something to this space for others who looked like her who want to better themselves but want to also have a healthy blend of spiritual practices. Joi has cultivated a space for her clients that is open and safe for them to explore their full identities. She offers one on one coaching, group and single yoga sessions, as well as downloadable documents to assist in healing and self understanding.

The BIPOC community is often underrepresented in the spaces of non-traditional spiritual and earth-based practices and found it difficult to discuss her practices with her traditional therapist. She didn’t feel safe sharing her spiritual practice with her because it is not widely accepted (yet). There was a fear of being misunderstood or misdiagnosed because of her beliefs.

Her goal is to help others overcome trauma and their negative self-talk so that they can thrive and create the life of their dreams. She works with clients to create a sacred space where people can speak honestly and freely to allow them to ease into their healing/shadow work, so they can heal more quickly and step into their best self more comfortably. She has her certificate in Life Coaching and Spiritual Life Coaching from Transformation Academy and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I would absolutely choose the same profession and area of focus. I am very passionate about my job and love all the reading and learning that comes with it. Watching someone grow and begin to embrace each aspect of themselves is so special. I am so honored each time a client places their faith in me to guide them through some of the hardest parts of their lives and come out the other side even stronger.

To be able to hold space for another person to explore themselves fully is not something I take lightly or take for granted. I want my clients to know that they have a safe space with me always and I genuinely care about their well-being. This is more than just a job to me, it’s my way of healing the community and helping facilitate change.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I started out with another business teaching others about self care and created a handmade blend of CBD products. I realized many people didn’t know understand the true depth of what self care is. I began a podcast with a friend talking about spirituality, BIPOC issues, and shadow work. Many clients have reached out to me from there and more from word of mouth.

My reputation has been built because I have been consistent, kind, and compassionate. I am very much a “what you see, it what you get” kind of person. Once I showed people who I am, truly as I am, people learned they could trust me. Building a reputation has required consistency and patience, I believe if you are authentic and open, the right people will always find you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joiofholisticcoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joiofholisticcoaching
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joiofholisticcoaching
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joiofholisticcoaching

Image Credits
Kristi Littman Britney Britton Brown