In this edition of our Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, we're diving into the transformative journey of Lauren Friedwald, a visionary in the realm of emotional and physical healing. Lauren's odyssey from a speech-language pathologist grappling with her own chronic health issues to a pioneering entrepreneur in holistic healing is nothing short of inspiring. Through her multifaceted approach incorporating Neo-Emotional Release, somatic coaching, and various other healing modalities, Lauren empowers her clients to unearth and reprogram deep-seated emotional patterns and traumas. Her work is a beacon for those navigating the complexities of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the fear of visibility.
Witnessing clients break free from the shackles of their past to embrace a future of confidence and action, Lauren’s story is a testament to the power of healing from within. Her journey is marked by pivotal moments of realization, self-reflection, and adaptation, including embracing the simplicity of tools like Calendly to manage her thriving practice. Lauren’s narrative is a compelling account of personal growth, the importance of self-care, and the ripple effect of transforming lives through emotional wellness. Prepare to be inspired by a tale of resilience, innovation, and the courage to follow one’s passion against all odds.
Hi, Lauren! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?
I work with people who want to explore the emotional root causes of physical issues or unhealthy patterns in their life through a variety of modalities such as Neo-Emotional Release, somatic coaching, breathwork, sound healing, subconscious reprogramming, and energy work. I love helping people connect to their bodies and release repressed emotions and trauma. Many people have emotional patterns such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, or avoidance, and fears around being seen and heard, and it’s fascinating to explore the root cause of them and then start to reprogram these patterns. It’s incredible when my clients figure out what has been holding them back and can start taking action in their lives from a healthier, more confident place.
Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.
I remember the excitement when people started finding me through my website, blogs, instagram account, and word-of-mouth and booked clarity calls and sessions. I thought, “Wow, people are seeking me out because they want to work with me!” What started out as a passionate idea had now become reality.
Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.
Up until 2020, I was working as a speech-language pathologist in a school. I had been dealing with chronic health issues for years and dove deep into learning everything I could to heal myself- including the mind-body connection and how repressed emotional trauma could cause chronic physical symptoms. I was laid off in 2020 and began to get certified in all of the healing modalities that helped me the most. I knew I wanted to go into the field of emotional healing and share everything I was learning. I started to create my own sessions and programs on my own schedule as I continued to focus on my own healing.
Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?
I’m a big fan of Calendly. It’s a scheduling software that helps me book client sessions and workshops easily. I create a calendar with my availability each month, and clients can book time slots and pay for sessions. I also set it up so they can fill out questionnaires and get follow-up emails and session reminders. I’m not super tech-savvy, and I find it really easy to use and navigate without feeling overwhelmed.
We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.
When I first started my business, I decided I was going to go all out and try multiple strategies at once. I offered free mini-sessions to people on Facebook groups. I created a website and advertised on email lists and social media. Then I got really overwhelmed and realized that the most important thing- as someone healing from chronic illness- is to take care of myself first. I needed to accept that I have to go slowly and only take on what I can handle. So I stopped everything and then started again- advertising in one way at a time, only taking on the amount of clients that feels doable at any given time. Making sure my own cup is filled before giving to others has been vital, especially with the work I do.
What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?
Doing my own work to reprogram subconscious limiting beliefs and work with emotional patterns I have such as perfectionism, fears around being seen, and expressing myself has been vital to shifting the way I show up in the world, and subsequently, the way I show up for my business. I believe that our business is a reflection of ourselves, and when we are doing our own inner work to shift and expand, it becomes easier for our business to follow.
What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?
Small doable steps! I am familiar with the enthusiasm and excitement of new entrepreneurs with the mindset “I’m immediately going to go all-in and do all the things!” And if that works for you, great. But that could also lead to overwhelm, stress, and burnout. What has worked for me is taking small action steps, consistency and patience, and constantly checking in with myself to make sure I’m not overdoing it.
Want to go deeper into Lauren's work? Here are some links:
- Visit Lauren's business website
- Find Lauren on Instagram @healingwithlaurenjill
