If you’ve ever felt hesitant about embracing holistic practices or worried about being perceived as too woo woo, this article is for you. I’m here to remind you that you are not alone as a holistic therapist or other holistic provider, and you are absolutely allowed to take up the space you deserve.
Are you holding yourself back from fully sharing all your holistic practices with the world for fear of judgment, ridicule, or just a fear of being labeled as maybe overly mystical, unprofessional, or even worse? Well, today it’s time to break down those barriers.
Our holistic journey should be reflection of our authentic selves.
And I’m here to tell you. That you are not too woo woo. So no matter how many practices you’re using holistic wise, no matter what you believe in, you can be you and that’s so important.
Not everyone is open to Holistic Practices
But I think we’ve got to step back for a minute and remind ourselves that, yes, not everyone is open to holistic practices. And that’s okay. We don’t want to judge them others who may not be open like we are. That puts us down to their level for those that are calling names and judging.
Getting to that place of acceptance and remind ourselves that they have not had experiences, we have with holistic practices. Maybe they learned a negative view of them from family. Or they haven’t learned anything about them other than something they’ve seen quickly on TikTok, I think just try to find that compassion and understanding, even if they are putting down what you believe in, because I know it’s so hard. If you’re like me, you believe this to the core and you’re so passionate about all the things that you’ve learned so far and are just yearning to learn more. You are ready to go to more trainings and see how much more you can grow?
How can you help other people grow and learn and heal? So when somebody says something that’s insulting, like I’ve heard yoga poses are created to summon demons.. Being in the Bible belt can be a little challenging and it’s hard to sit back and not say anything or to want to jump in and challenge that.
The importance of finding a holistic tribe/Community
I think just reminding ourselves, remembering that maybe they don’t have the experience we have and we shouldn’t judge them. I think that’s the moral of the story. But I wonder do you have a holistic community, whether that’s through yoga, maybe you go to a studio and have a group you hang out with, or maybe it’s a meditation group.
But if you don’t have your tribe and you’re feeling isolated and alone, just know you’re not alone. You could put out the intention to find your tribe and to put it out into the universe. Let me find my tribe. How can I find my holistic community? I have not always had mine either. When I first started this journey with this podcast, I.didn’t know even know many other therapists that were holistic. It’s really frustrating. I have a few family members and friends that like some of these practices, but they’re not as passionate as you know I am and as you know, this is body mind spirit for me to the core
The Holistic Counseling and Self-Care Facebook group is a community you can join for Free!
Many just don’t understand or they’ll say things like which I hate about yoga like “ I’m not flexible”, when there is so much more to yoga than just flexibility. To hear complaints about a holistic modality or how they don’t like it is a struggle,. but finding your peeps, can be so helpful. Who are the people that you can connect with ? And this is another reason I created my holistic counseling and self care free Facebook group.
If you haven’t joined, please come join us its for licensed therapists, or if you’re in school to studying to be one, you’re welcome to come as well. What I’ve found is people who are more holistic are more open minded. They are usually so engaging. That’s why I love having holistic people on my podcast. They’re just energized and we connect easily. You have to find people who are aligned with you and your beliefs and just to feel. that connection and understanding. When you do, you are going to be able to accept who you are. And realizing that you are not too woo woo, no matter how many holistic practices you like to do, it’s okay.
It’s okay to have multiple things that you’re learning and making these part of your daily life. That’s the key, isn’t it? It’s not just, most of us aren’t just doing this professionally, its something we do in our personal lives as well. And it is in every part of ourselves, body, mind, and spirit, and it’s okay to share these practices, but I have a challenge for you.
Find the most difficult person who is not open and share your practice with them
Let’s get the conversations going. I always challenge you to find the most difficult person that is not open to holistic practices and just ask them some questions. What do you know about “fill in the blank”, (whatever holistic practice), would you be willing to learn a little more?
And if you’re able to teach them some of what you know is the best way. Like, for example, with energy healing, maybe you could send them some healing and see how they feel. I’ve done this with my husband a lot, who’s not the most holistic person, but he’s noticed a difference even with that. And he’s become a little more open minded since then. Or you could just share how it’s been helpful for you.
Let me just share this with you, I’ve been more vulnerable with this too sharing more with people because it’s an energy I want to share and help other people to experience it too. Maybe this could spark some other people. Maybe this could help us to overcome the stigma of holistic practices.
I think just allowing yourself to authentically be you. We need more holistic practices in this world, don’t we? Traditional medicine. is not enough. There is more out there and people need to hear from you. They need to find other ways to heal themselves, to grow in this world, to have something else to believe in.
And just remember you are allowed to stand tall, to take up space and not hide in the shadows anymore. No matter how many people have shared that they don’t agree with your practices or have put you down in some way, you’re too woo woo. Just don’t accept that. Continue to stand in your strength, your resilience, and just allow that to slide off of you.
And I know it’s hard for me too, especially when you see the positive results and how powerful it can be. And just remind yourself, I am allowed to be here, and say it to yourself again, I am allowed to be here and to take up space and to be present and to share this with the world.
How can you step into the light and really come out and be authentically you? Be fully your holistic self and remind yourself you’re not too woo woo, there’s no such thing.
Now, even if somebody says that to you, that’s just out there, that’s too woo woo. Well, what does that mean? Really question them and call them out. And remember, the more you can share about who you are, the more it encourages others to do the same. That’s the beauty, isn’t it? That with you opening up, maybe others will open up too.
And we can have more of these conversations and bring more of this light and love into the world with these practices and just be proud of all that you’ve learned and how many people you’ve helped. We’ve also got to give ourselves more credit for this too. And just know that you are making a difference with what you’re doing.
It’s easy to forget this as a therapist, I know. Sometimes it’s a thankless job. Sometimes it’s got to come from within us. I hope you found this conversation helpful.
And just a reminder, my Art of Breath work course is 90 minutes and available on replay. Continuing education credits from NBCC are now available.
I have found breath work to be one of the most powerful holistic modalities that therapists can use in session. And through the training, you’ll be learning how to facilitate breath work with your clients safely and ethically, so you can help them deepen their healing. So join me on this remarkable journey.
As we delve into breath work techniques, you’ll earn 1. 5 credit hours for this. Go to hcpodcast.org/breathworkcourse
