Creating a Balanced Approach to Wellness

In 2011, Laura Wilkinson had hit her version of rock bottom, and was desperately in need of some kind of life shift. Having looked into the Life Coaching program offered at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) previously, Laura explains, “After the rug was pulled out from under my feet I knew it was time to do something transformational,” she said. “I had a clean slate and I needed to build a solid foundation. Life Coaching was the perfect place for me to rebuild from.”

Laura enrolled in SWIHA’s online Mind-Body Transformational Psychology program, where she not only studied Life Coaching, she also took courses in Hypnotherapy, Holistic Nutrition, Aromatherapy, and business courses including Writing for Publication.

Once she completed her program (with a 4.0 grade point average!), Laura was ready for the next phase in her life. Inspired by her program, and armed with the knowledge that there were many others in the world just like her, who went through experiences similar to hers, she decided to start a business. Laura’s mission was to help healers who were stuck in their minds, holding themselves back from reaching their full potential.

Laura launched The Wilkinson Effect, an integrative practice that applies Life Coaching, Transformational Hypnotherapy and Holistic Nutrition into customized client sessions.

In addition, Laura provides Reiki sessions, Toe Readings, a hypnotherapy smoking cessation program, a stress management program, flower essences, aromatherapy recommendations, and personalized integrative wellness packages which can be purchased as three, six, nine or twelve sessions.

“The basic approach of my practice is harnessing the chakra system to help people evaluate where they feel their life is out of balance,” Laura says. “I assist them in finding their way back to balance!”

The Wilkinson Effect is all about balance. The majority of Laura’s clients come to her looking to find balance, mostly between their professional and personal lives. “Balance is different for everyone,” she affirms. Which is why, before the first session with a client, Laura conducts a thorough intake process so both she and her clients have a clear understanding of what the focus of the session will be. She then creates a ‘safe space’ so the client can get to the root of their imbalance. “People often feel unheard or unable to express their true feelings,” Laura reveals. “My approach is to validate what the client is experiencing, and create space where honesty is not judged, rather simply observed.” The client leaves with a plan of action, created with Laura’s intuitive and practical guidance.

Clients find Laura and The Wilkinson Effect through multiple avenues of marketing. She actively promotes her business through social media such as her Facebook page, as well as her business blog, which is part of her website. She is also a contributor for the online magazine LightWorkersWorld.com, and will soon be releasing presentations and video blogs on YouTube.

Laura has chosen to grow her successful holistic business from the comfort of her home. She has a virtual office and holds sessions with clients through a variety of mediums, including Skype and Google Hangout, as well as phone and email sessions.

“I leave sessions with clients feeling euphoric,” Laura says passionately. “It feels amazing to be able to contribute to a solution and share so much vulnerability with someone.”

While Laura has experienced success with her business, she still recalls some of the challenges of first starting out as a business owner. On top of it all, Laura was pregnant when she first started her business! “The most challenging parts for me were finding the niche I wanted to work with, finding my voice and balancing my life as a full time mom,” she explains.

“My lesson was learning to be patient with myself and finding a balance that worked for me. Reflecting back, being pregnant with a child and pregnant with possibilities was a lot. Having now birthed both a baby and a business, I’m better at coaching my clients around balance!”

Birthing The Wilkinson Effect has been about learning to embrace the momentary struggles, while focusing on loving the greater outcome. From the very beginning Laura says she knew she wanted to create a fully integrative practice. “I had so many great skills and tools; my passion was to use my gifts by designing customized sessions for each unique client.

"I fell in love with everything that I learned at SWIHA!” From a place of unconditional support, Laura embraces each client’s needs the way a mother nurtures each of her children exactly they need to be supported to create balance in their life.

For those who are looking to take their SWIHA education and create a successful, sustainable holistic business from it, Laura offers the following words of wisdom:

• Don’t be afraid to fully embrace who you are.

• Focus on who you are and what you desire.

• Map out your road to success and break through any barriers that stand in your way.

• Run like a bull towards your dreams.