We asked some brilliant folks to tell us about the best advice they’ve ever given to a client and have highlighted some of the responses below.

Vimmi Jaggi

My work with my clients—whom I often refer to as my patients—has been an incredibly intimate and meaningful journey. As a therapist, I find immense joy in working with individuals who are deeply committed to their healing process and who aspire to live their lives to their fullest potential. What many don’t realize is that therapy is a two-way street: we therapists learn just as much from our patients as they learn from us. Every person brings their unique perspective, and in the process, we grow together. One of the key supports I offer my patients is the reminder of their inherent strengths. While we may recognize our strengths intellectually, emotionally, it can be much more difficult to truly believe in them. This is especially true for those who have faced trauma, as their emotional resilience may feel tested. Read more>>

Cynthia Okimoto

The best advice I ever gave to a client was to take some time for herself everyday just for her- it didn’t matter if she took a nap, read a magazine or just took a walk for herself. She benefitted and her pet/family all repeated the rewards of this as her dog was previously super anxious (making the walks stressful and anxiety provoking). As a holistic dog trainer, one of my jobs is to help clients get back to a place of embodiment and presence. When I am working with dog parents I not only hear the problems they are having, I am also taking into account their emotional state. Over time her prioritizing her need for her own time allowed her to slow down and put herself first- so that she could be an anchor for herself and her family. Read more>>

Dr. Rosie Garcia

Before I became a therapist, I struggled at one point to accept my anxiety and learn to sit with it. I once wanted my anxiety just to go away, not understanding that anxiety is an emotion that is just as important as all the other emotions. I remember trying all different anxiety techniques, not understanding the purpose of those techniques was not to eliminate anxiety but to reduce it. Therefore, the best two-part advice I have ever given to clients was the ROSE method and learning to befriend their anxiety. The first step of the ROSE Method is to “recognize and accept” the anxiety. Read more>>

Mel Parent

There is a positive correlation between Mind & Body. You cannot be fully well without nurturing both.

I had a post partum client that, like many mom’s, was struggling in the slump of an extended 4th trimester. She was fatigued, unmotivated, anxious, had gut issues, back pain and breakouts. The general overwhelm of where to begin and how to find the time while navigating motherhood, was an invisible road block that was ultimately leading to physical symptoms. Once she acknowledged that her current mindset was impacting her physical health and even appearance, she was ready to take action. Through 6 months of 1:1 coaching focused on mindset, anti inflammatory living and movement, she has experienced weight loss, decreased anxiety, improved energy and is feeling joy and fulfillment in motherhood. Read more>>

Lauri Stern

The best advice I ever gave to a client came as a spontaneous download in the middle of our session, which is something that happens a lot when working with clients, groups, etc., and why I named my businenss: Custom Designed Wellness. She was feeling overwhelmed and helpless, stuck in the highs and lows of a manic boss who made her days unpredictable and stressful. She often felt like she had no control over her day and dreaded heading into work. When I asked her if there was anything positive to find in her day, despite how she described its environment, she said, “Well, when I get home at the end of the day, I try to think of something that went well.” And the download came right in making me blurt out, “Well that’s too f-ing long to wait to find joy!” Read more>>