My life has been full of decisions some may see as controversial or risky. I consider those decisions bold moves, which have brought huge successes and some failures. But at the end of every day, I know that I’ve pursued life with passion and conviction.

My first memory of taking a big risk started when I “left” my home in Colombia when I was 10 years old. Yes, I “had enough” and felt constricted by my parent’s upbringing, which was very traditionally Latin. At that time in Colombia, children were expected to do as they were told, no questions asked. This, however, went completely against my curious spirit. My dad was extremely strict, and he feared that somehow I would get hurt if he gave me any sort of freedom.

So, on that day, at 10 years old, I took a cab and paid with an American dollar that I found in my house. I paid my maternal grandmother an “unexpected visit,” while seeking refuge from my father’s authoritarian parenting style. I chose that grandma because she lived remotely and did not have a land phone to be contacted. It took my parents a few hours to find me. It was my way to break free of rigid rules and standards, and today I laugh at my boldness and creativity. My father who is about to turn 82 this month, told me that on that day he realized that he would have his “hands full” with me. We still laugh when reminiscing about little Stellita’s boldness and courage.

Fast-forward 42 years later, I am still making bold moves like my 10-year-old inner-child. I decided to open a Life-Coaching and Wellness practice while the country was still recovering from the pandemic. I knew the type of suffering that people were going through while isolated due to the pandemic. As a Mental Health Therapist, I was conducting telehealth sessions with hundreds of patients during the full-blown Covid pandemic. I saw young children suffering from severe anxiety and adults trying to cope in a world full of fear and panic.

Self-Love Harbor has now been open for over a year and is having phenomenal success!! Since then, I have obtained my Reiki Master Certification and have incorporated Energy Work as part of my practice. Furthermore, I’ve worked diligently on integrating my practice with the community while serving its needs, by conducting monthly support groups on topics such as Mindfulness and Inner-Child work.

I was born in Cali, Colombia (the salsa-dancing capital of the world) As a teenager, I witnessed how the drug cartels slowly took over my country so my parents decided to take us out of an unsafe country.  In 1986 my young family and I came to New York, and there was where my journey in the USA began. I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and later obtained a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University in 1997.

In addition to being a therapist and energy healer, I am also an artist, a certified personal trainer, and a Nationally Board-Certified Wellness Coach. One of my proudest moments is when I published my book, 7 Intentions to a Happier You! It allowed me to engage with a wider audience and teach them on maximizing the capacity to find happiness.

As a sexual abuse survivor, my life quest has been, not only to continue healing but to also be a voice for survivors. I am grateful that the abuse didn’t happen for long because I was able to tell a trusted adult. I was fortunate to have had an amazing support system, but many young children are not that fortunate, and they grow up extremely traumatized by these horrific experiences.

I have received the treatment I needed to overcome the abuse, but it is 100% an ongoing process with good days and bad days. Talking about sexual abuse is not easy and I know that it makes many people uncomfortable, however, I am living proof that you can take an extremely traumatic event in your life and use it to positively affect others. Providing hope is my mission in life.

My life experiences allow me to have unmeasurable empathy for those who are suffering. I believe that each person has the capacity to find happiness but if they are not guided in the right ways so many get lost. I approach each client’s situation with a comprehensive and holistic look at how their minds, bodies, and SPIRIT react to their environment. Throughout my particular process, I acknowledge that a person’s happiness may seem “DIFFERENT” or incompatible with others. However, I define progress as the ability to embrace one’s concept of happiness without allowing others’ opinions to hinder our progress OR ability to practice SELF-LOVE.

My modality is extremely efficient because of its holistic and humanistic style. You can check out my Google reviews under Self-Love Harbor and my website www.selfloveharbor.com

What is your business philosophy? How do you help people?

Yes absolutely! I love reading and increasing my knowledge in several topics at once, although they are all related to mental and spiritual wellness. I myself have survived different types of traumas, including sexual abuse, as stated previously.

My own search for answers on how to restore that child-like spirit after surviving childhood trauma has allowed me to learn various healing modalities that I can now share with my patients. I believe that we are multidimensional beings, and as such, we require an array of tools and interventions in order to heal and succeed in life.  I believe that this is part of my effectiveness when helping others overcome horrific events that traumatized them.

One thing about trauma is that it is very subjective. What is traumatic to me may not be traumatic to you. One thing is for sure though, the pandemic did bring the trauma of many shades and depths. It left us alone to face our fears, however, I am grateful that it allowed me to fulfill my Dharma (my life’s calling).

The book I recommend if you are overcoming trauma is, The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD It helps the reader understand how trauma is more a disease of the brain which negatively impacts the body. The knowledge that one gets from this book is life-changing whether you’re a professional working with trauma survivors or if you’re a survivor yourself. Word of caution: It’s heavy stuff, read in small chunks, and process with a therapist if possible. It will bring up some old wounds but if addressed properly, it will bring understanding and healing as a result.

I was able to work from home for a year as a Mental Health Therapist and saved enough money to have the start-up capital. I did it the right way, expanding to a new space once my home office became too small and non-functional.

My hundreds of patients were “crawling out of their skin” with anxiety, isolation, and fatigue. Many started to ask for in-person sessions, so I knew then that it was the perfect moment despite some resistance from family and reluctance from friends (all well intentioned). So here we go again, talking about BOLD MOVES hee hee. I opened Self-Love Harbor Miami in May of 2021 and NEVER LOOKED BACK!

I decided to start small instead of waiting for my more comprehensive dream to come to reality. Basically, the current version of Self-Love Harbor is a “mini” footprint of what I intend it to be. I’ve learned that PATIENCE is essential as a business entrepreneur. Having a clear vision, setting your daily intentions, and being relentless in the pursuit of your dreams is imperative to being successful. Patience allows us to go with the flow when things that we can’t control come up. As part of my wellness program, I also help humans set daily goals and routines that become the pillars for the big picture. Finally, FAITH is what brings it all together. I truly believe that without faith (in yourself, God, and the universe), there is no manifestation. Why faith? Because many times we can’t see positive things unfolding, but with faith, we are reassured that there is a Higher Power working behind the scenes to provide us with what we’ve earned and deserve.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to tell my story. I hope that it inspires someone and gives them the understanding that we are capable of incredible things despite what our past looks like. I hope that if you’re out there reading this, you know that you are NOT your past narrative. You can always change it to accommodate your true worth. Love you. Stella