Hypnotherapist and Life Coach, Mary Beth Svatek, developer of The Energy Model of Change, was persuaded to switch from Clinical Counseling to Holistic Life Coaching and Hypnotherapy because of the ‘victim’ mentality that is prevalent today. She says, “While trauma and painful experiences are real, they are also part of human existence. I have seen so many clients, friends, family and colleagues overcome huge life obstacles due to trauma, but I have never seen anyone overcome PTSD or trauma if they adopt it as their identity or primary focus.” She has observed that the fruit born in life comes from where energy is invested. This energy goes to thoughts and thoughts create reality.

Svatek continues, “I’m always amazed to see the scales of pain, self-condemnation and even self-pity fall off people’s eyes when challenged to discover their own gifts and strengths and to identify with those instead of their pain.” She challenges her clients to identify with strengths and gifts to learn to recognize the amazing, strong person that is hiding inside behind a wall of faulty thinking because trauma doesn’t have to limit one’s life and self-confidence.

“Healing trauma can be done simultaneously while developing personal strength and confidence. In most cases, a multi-level approach speeds up the wholeness process,” Svatek says. “So, rather than the client allowing trauma to define them, they can leverage it as a stepping stone for overcoming obstacles. Trauma can be a wealth of information to be leveraged as the foundation for the self-work needed to become our own best advocate and supporter and is one of the best paths to wellness and well-being. Focusing on the ‘Can-Do’s’ rather than the limitations brings healing much closer at hand than many believe possible and goals and dreams are suddenly within grasp.”