Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Swenson.
Sheila, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Most people think of childhood as a happy time, but not me. At a young age, my mother married an abusive alcoholic and many years of daily abuse had taken its toll.
One particularly bad night, at age fifteen, changed me forever. I was crying, cracking at the seams, and overcome with intense despair and sadness. Suddenly, I felt calm and had the clear but surreal knowledge that this was not how life was supposed to be. This was not how a family was supposed to be. I was aware of another reality that existed where there was love, kindness, safety, and support. It was palpable and gave me immense strength to endure the last few years.
My eighteenth birthday marked the beginning of my healing process as I began to sculpt my internal landscape over the next years. I lacked self-confidence and self-esteem then, but I had to change in order to be the person I wanted to become: someone who wasn’t a victim and someone who was happy. I looked for hope and inspiration wherever I could find it. I worked at it over the years and became stronger, happier, healthier, and empowered.
It took me a long while to find my way but at 29, I discovered hypnotherapy and with it, a passion for helping others in ways I never knew existed. I immediately fell in love with hypnosis and it’s gentle, profound ability to heal and quickly facilitate truly remarkable positive change. I felt, and still feel, a deep desire to help people get to the other side of their issues with ease and compassion.
I never understood how this hopeful revelation came to me, never having experienced it in my life. Somehow that positive feeling remained with me and has guided me for many years. These days, I have healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, loyal friends and an empowered sense of self.
Has it been a smooth road?
Having found my passion has made building a practice and owning a school feel like more of a calling to educate others on the power of their own mind. It also helps that I utilizing hypnotherapy myself on a regular basis not just for challenges but for goal achieving. I did have public speaking fears early on which I overcame in order to teach. Thank goodness too because I went on to speak at countless events and was even featured on the Steve Harvey Show!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Greater Achievements Hypnosis story. Tell us more about the business.
With the intention to be more of a general practitioner for the mind, I studied every advanced technique available including Clinical and Medical Hypnotherapy. Teaching and mentoring doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists along with 18 years of full-time private practice enables me to work with stressed, analytical clients who may find relaxing in other ways challenging.
My own past experiences have also given me a unique ability to relate to every client in some way. I pride myself on creating a safe, validating space for clients to have self-awareness, empowerment and growth without blame and self-criticism. My favorite part of private practice is connecting with people while helping them resolve things they never thought possible with a very high success rate. It’s an honor to be a trusted practitioner that people can turn to for help or support as needed in life and truly a joy to see them flourish in so many ways.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
People frequently ask what hypnosis helps with as most associate it with simple things such as habits and weight loss. However, as every person has a subconscious that literally creates their reality, there’s no limit to the application of hypnotherapy. With the emergence of neuroscience, the subconscious mind is finally being acknowledged as the most powerful natural resource available. As this becomes more widely accepted, so does hypnotherapy, being the only means of direct access to the subconscious for change. It’s an exciting time!
Contact Info:
- Address: 155 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 563
Chicago, IL 60601 - Website: www.greaterachievements.com
- Phone: 312.878.7786
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Greater-Achievements-HypnosisSheila-Swenson-CH-143493965671699/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/greater-achievements-hypnosis-chicago-2
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