We recently connected with Mara Palermo and have shared our conversation below.

Mara, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for my business came to me during a time of personal and professional transformation. At the time, I owned a salon and worked as a beauty therapist, and I noticed something interesting: nearly every one of my clients would end up talking about their relationships during their appointments. As I listened to their stories, I realized we were all going through similar struggles—myself included.

I was in a difficult relationship at the time and felt stuck in an emotional rollercoaster. One day, things would seem fine, and the next, they would fall apart. I kept thinking the solution was to find someone new, but no matter who I was with, I always ended up feeling the same—anxious, confused, and unfulfilled. It wasn’t until I started working with a relationship coach that I realized the problem wasn’t about finding the ‘right’ person—it was about understanding my own patterns and behaviors.

That was my breakthrough moment. I discovered attachment theory and realized how deeply it shaped the way we show up in relationships. Once I understood my own attachment style, I was able to reprogram those subconscious patterns and finally experience the kind of secure, fulfilling connections I had always wanted.

At that point, I knew this was something that could help so many others who were stuck in the same cycles I had been. What excited me most was the idea that we could heal from the inside out—that we didn’t have to keep repeating the same patterns or feel stuck in unfulfilling relationships. I realized that while many people go to therapy or read books, they often don’t get to the root of what’s truly holding them back.

I decided to become a certified relationship coach and specialist in attachment theory. What set my approach apart was not just talking about problems, but getting to the core of them and helping people reprogram the subconscious patterns that were running their relationships. That’s what got me excited—knowing that this approach offered something deeper and more transformative than just surface-level advice.

It was clear to me that this was a worthwhile endeavor because I had lived it myself. I had experienced the change, and I knew there were countless others out there feeling lost and stuck, who were ready to break free from old habits and build secure, lasting relationships. Seeing my own transformation made me confident that this was a problem I could help solve for others—and that’s how my business was born.

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.

Hi, I’m Mara, a relationship coach and integrated attachment theory specialist. My journey into this work started during my time as a beauty therapist and salon owner. While I was helping clients transform their outer appearance, I realized that most of our conversations were about their relationships—romantic, familial, and even their relationship with themselves. I quickly saw how much of their emotional struggles were linked to these relationships, and, to be honest, I was going through the same things myself.

At the time, I was in a difficult relationship, constantly feeling anxious and stuck in a cycle of emotional highs and lows. I thought the solution was to find a new partner, but no matter who I was with, the same patterns repeated. It wasn’t until I worked with a relationship coach and discovered attachment theory that I realized the issue wasn’t about finding the right person—it was about understanding and healing my own patterns.

After experiencing my own transformation, I knew I had to help others do the same. That’s what led me to become a certified relationship coach, specializing in attachment theory and somatic processing. I also became an integrated attachment theory specialist, which means I help people understand their attachment styles and reprogram subconscious beliefs that hold them back in relationships.

What I Do:
Through my coaching programs, I help clients break free from unhealthy relationship cycles, whether they’re struggling with anxiety in relationships, attracting emotionally unavailable partners, or having difficulty setting boundaries and expressing their needs. My clients come to me feeling stuck, confused, and often believing that love just isn’t for them. I guide them through a process that helps them not only understand their attachment style but also heal the underlying wounds that keep them stuck.

I offer one-on-one coaching, group programs, and workshops designed to help people transform their relationships from the inside out. My signature program, the Unshakeable Love Method, focuses on uncovering deeply ingrained patterns, teaching emotional regulation, and helping clients build secure, fulfilling relationships.

What Sets Me Apart:
What sets my approach apart is the deep inner work we do to get to the root of relationship issues. Many people have gone through traditional therapy or other coaching programs but still feel like they’re not making progress. Therapy often helps people become aware of their issues, but awareness isn’t enough. In my programs, we don’t just talk about the problems—we get to the root cause, heal it, and reprogram the subconscious patterns that drive behaviors in relationships. This allows for real, lasting transformation.

I also focus on emotional regulation, which is critical in maintaining healthy, secure relationships. My clients learn how to manage their emotions effectively so they can stop reacting out of fear or anxiety and start responding with clarity and confidence.

What I’m Most Proud Of:
I’m incredibly proud of the transformations my clients experience. Seeing them go from feeling lost and anxious to feeling confident, secure, and capable of building healthy relationships is incredibly rewarding. I’m also proud of the community we’ve built—one where people support each other as they grow, heal, and create the relationships they’ve always wanted.

What I Want People to Know:
I want people to know that real change is possible. If you’ve been stuck in the same patterns for years, it doesn’t have to be that way. The way you attach in relationships isn’t set in stone, and by doing the deeper work, you can change how you show up, attract healthier partners, and feel secure in your connections.

I also want potential clients to know that this process requires commitment. It’s not about quick fixes—it’s about lasting transformation. If you’re ready to do the work, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

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

One of the most significant pivots I made was transitioning from owning a salon and working as a beauty therapist to becoming a relationship coach. In the salon, I noticed that almost every client was sharing their struggles with relationships, and it resonated deeply with me because I was going through the same thing. At the time, I was in a difficult relationship and felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster, but I didn’t know how to break free from that cycle. It wasn’t until I worked with a coach and discovered attachment theory that I realized the key to healthier relationships was healing from within.

After seeing the transformation in my own life, I felt a calling to help others in a deeper way, beyond just physical transformations. That’s when I decided to pivot into coaching, specifically focusing on helping people understand and heal their attachment styles. It was a huge shift in terms of career, but it felt like the natural next step because it aligned with my deeper purpose: helping people not just look good but feel good from the inside out. This pivot allowed me to not only change my life but also make a lasting impact on others.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One major lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that changing external circumstances—like finding the “right” partner—would fix my internal struggles. For a long time, I thought that if I just met someone different, my relationship issues would go away. But no matter who I was with, I kept ending up in the same emotionally draining cycles. I thought the problem was always with the other person.

The real breakthrough came when I realized that I was repeating patterns that stemmed from my own attachment wounds. I had to unlearn the belief that love was something to be found externally and instead understand that the foundation of healthy relationships comes from within. By healing my own attachment style and emotional wounds, I was able to finally attract and sustain secure, fulfilling connections. This lesson has become a core part of what I now teach my clients—that the first relationship you need to heal is the one you have with yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: Under construction
• Instagram: Https://www.instagram.com/marapalermo
• Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/coachmarapalermo