Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tara O’sullivan Dye. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
After eight years in the mental health industry, I decided to step away in favor of uncharted waters.
I would like to note that what follows is my personal account and is not a generalization for all clinicians. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I had the privilege of supporting people in some of their most vulnerable moments. The therapeutic alliance is a sacred connection that I hold with reverence. I loved the art of therapy. Due to several unfortunate factors such as inadequate compensation, insurance debacles, and untenable productivity standards- I needed to make a change. The compassion fatigue was too much.
I went on a quest of sorts to find more coping skills. I eventually opened up to “alternative healing” methods such as Reiki and sound healing. I anticipated going into these experiences that they would help regulate my nervous system. I did not realize how it would connect me to something greater.
I became cemented into the knowing that I am a soul having a human experience.
Blending this higher perspective with a healthy ego changed the way I healed, how I moved through daily life, and my approach to working with others. A domino effect was set into motion. Within 18 months I sold my house, moved to another state, quit my clinical job, became certified in sound healing, and started a business called Peaceful Stillness.
I pivoted into holistic wellness as a pathway to more dynamic healing. I weave clinical knowledge, Eastern philosophies, Sound healing, and Spirituality into our sessions. Each session is intuitively led and tailored to each person’s needs. Clients are taught a variety of self-regulation skills including energy hygiene. Clients are also supported in processing unhealed wounds and are encouraged to create a belief system with their higher perspective in mind. Whatever that means to each person.
This leap of faith has proven to be a master class in overcoming lack and scarcity mentality. I accepted the potential failure of trying something new as welcomed respite from the way I felt. I believed in myself and the Universe. With stunning synchronicity, my partner received a raise that compensated for my decrease in income while I filed for my LLC. It has been an exciting and rewarding journey. Following my intuition with wisdom has led to fruitful community connections and opportunities to grow my business. I provide virtual sessions by zoom and in-person sessions with two healing centers in the Albuquerque area.
The old adage, “man plans, God laughs” has proven to be remarkably true. I never imagined I’d step away from the clinical field, much less start a holistic wellness business. It’s taught me to live mindfully and in harmony with the flow of life. With an open heart and grounded mind, I am happier than ever to be in service of humanity.
Tara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello, my name is Tara O’Sullivan Dye. I am blessed to live in enchanting New Mexico. I have a passion for hiking and connecting with nature. Adventure and creativity help me feel my best. Since I can remember, I have been a highly sensitive person in terms of emotions. Out of desire to better understand myself and others I had a career in mental health. Eventually I moved into holistic wellness and started my own business- Peaceful Stillness. I provide sound healing and individual wellness sessions that I call ‘soul support.’ I guide others in healing their body and mind through Spirit.
Clients can expect to feel unconditional positive regard and acceptance while working together. I believe our worth is beyond measure and it is our birthright to have inner peace. I am proud of the work I’ve done to heal my ego and embody my best self. I am passionate about physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual transformation. I walk along side people in their journey, as others have done for me. It is not my intention to tell anyone what to believe. However, I do ask clients to believe in something greater than themselves. This belief system will be unique to each person and provides a more stable foundation to grow from. Ultimately, clients are empowered to create their own sense of peaceful stillness.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I mentioned a few of the professional hardships that led to a change in direction. I was also going through personal events that contributed to the momentum.
My sister, Amanda, underwent breast cancer treatment for most of the time I worked in mental health. She was diagnosed at 28 and passed on at 33 years old. This happened in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and I was six months pregnant at her funeral. Losing a sibling is hard enough. But witnessing my parents watch the decline of their first born while being pregnant was another level of emotional chaos. I had considerable difficulty regulating my body and mind. My nervous system was rapid cycling between states of hopelessness and fight or flight. This chapter was the proverbial mud from which my lotus flower bloomed.
The cross roads I found myself at were daunting to navigate. I wanted to honor Amanda’s Spirit by living to the fullest in the present moment. To do that, I needed to get out of my head. I had fallen into the trap of “thinking through” my emotions rather than allowing myself to feel and heal them. I sought out methods to quiet the mind and focus on the body. Traditional means were helpful yet insufficient. I opened up to “alternative healing” services that have aspects of Spirituality. From there, I was able to integrate the wise parts of my mind with the courage and truth in my heart. I believe this is reflected in the work I do now and in how much my life satisfaction has radically improved.
I miss my sister’s physical presence and I don’t believe she is gone. I think “losing her” forced me to make peace with that dichotomy. I have immense gratitude for how Amanda’s passing revolutionized my world view. Her strength inspired me to make a life more aligned with joy and contentment.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
Yes, absolutely. I am privileged and grateful for the education, training, and clinical experience from the mental health field. It set groundwork for personal growth and allows me to help others evolve in their own way.
Years of unaddressed issues in the industry made it viscerally clear- I needed to take what I learned and move on. I appreciate how those hardships acted as a catalyst. I’m happier facilitating a healing experience that is sustainable and more expansive for everyone involved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gotsoulsupport.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_stillness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peacefulstillness1
Image Credits
Ponic Photography