February 17, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode of Palm Harbor Local, host Donnie Hathaway sits down with Mona McGregor and Deanna Breeze, licensed mental health counselors and co-owners of Ideal Life Counseling. Together, they share their journey of building a successful private practice, how they navigated the challenges of COVID, and their mission to foster a supportive community for mental health professionals.
Learn about their unique networking group, Cocktails with Counselors, and how they connect with other healers to provide better care for their clients. Plus, get the inside scoop on their upcoming International Women's Day event at the Fenway Hotel on March 8th, featuring keynote speaker Fawn Germer.
Key Takeaways:
- How Mona and Deanna built a strong partnership and business
- The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and therapy practices
- The importance of networking and collaboration in the counseling field
- Self-care practices for mental health professionals and clients alike
- Details on the International Women's Day event and how you can get involved
📌 Follow Ideal Life Counseling: Website: IdealLifeCounseling.com
Instagram: @IdealLifeCounseling
Facebook: Ideal Life Counseling
📌 Get Tickets for International Women’s Day:
Eventbrite Link
Stroll through the laid-back streets of the Palm Harbor community with this informative podcast, proudly brought to you by Donnie Hathaway with The Hathaway Group, your trusted guide and local expert in navigating the diverse and ever-changing property landscape of Palm Harbor.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Palm Harbor Local, where we bring you
inspiring stories from theheart of our community.
I'm your host, donnie Hathaway,and today we are joined by Mona
McGregor and Deanna Breeze, whoare owners and licensed mental
health counselors at Ideal LifeCounseling.
Now our show is all about thosewho put in the sweat, overcome
the hurdles and still find timeto give back to the community.
(00:23):
If you want to be inspired byhow they got started, what keeps
them going and what they'redoing today to make Palm Harbor
even more awesome, you're in theright place Now.
In today's episode, you willlearn how these two became
partners in business, how COVIDimpacted the mental health of so
many people around us and theirupcoming event for
International Women's Day onMarch 8th at the Fenway Hotel,
(00:45):
and why you should go Now.
Be sure to follow us onInstagram at palmharborlocal for
behind the scenes content andjoin our weekly newsletter at
palmharborlocalcom.
Let's jump into it, mona andDeanna.
Welcome to the podcast.
Thank you so much for having usyeah so I'm excited to chat with
you guys and this is our firstconversation, so this will be
(01:09):
fun.
I haven't learned any of yourbackground and story and that
sort of stuff, so let's startthere.
What do you guys do?
How did you get into it?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So we are both mental health counselors, licensed
mental health counselors.
We own Ideal Life Counseling.
I've been in practice since1998, so you can tell how old I
am probably by that.
Do you want to know a littlebit?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
about what my practice, what I specialize in.
Yeah Well, so 1998, what gotyou into it in the first place?
Is that something you've alwaysdone in your career?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
So my dad was one of the first child and adolescent
psychiatrists in the countryback in the 1950s, and my mom
was a psychologist.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
So I guess that kind of probably answers yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I think I just grew up in a family of healers.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Cool, and so at an early age you knew this is what
you wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, so from the time I was in high school, my
nickname was dr d, that's whatmy friends called me.
Nice, everybody came to me withtheir problems and I would try
to fix them.
Wow, and what?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
about you so, uh, originally I was a special
education teacher and as timewent on, I realized that my
biggest interest, and where mystudents needed the most help,
was sort of with mental healthand emotional health, and so I
became a school counselor.
I was a school counselor formany, many years and then, when
(02:37):
I became licensed, I specializedin clinical sex therapy, which
is a big departure from workingwith little kids in clinical sex
therapy, which is a bigdeparture from working with
little kids.
But that's part of what makesour two practices a little bit
different, and so I'm workingright now on a PhD in clinical
sexology.
So that's kind of my interestthere, and so we have a diverse.
(02:58):
We do a lot of things that aresimilar.
We have some diversity in ourpractice.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, and so your practice is ideal life
counseling.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And when did you guys start that?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So we've actually been together.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
This is my longest relationship.
I have to tell you that I'mvery proud of this relationship.
It's my longest relationship.
Yeah, I know I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So we were actually renting office space in a group
practice about 20 years ago andI decided I was going to leave
that practice and just rent myown office space in a
psychiatrist's office and wejust kind of hit it off.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I invited myself along.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
She did.
Yeah, I did, and I've been sohappy ever since I know Because
we've traveled around todifferent offices on our own for
the past 20 years.
We're currently in Oldsmar, indowntown Oldsmar.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, no, it's always been a great fit.
And you know one of the thingsas time went on and I left the
school system and we had moreand more time together, we
realized we wanted what we weredoing to grow because, honestly,
being a therapist can be quiteisolating you go into a room
(04:12):
with your client and the sessionends and you go home.
But as we spent more timetogether, we had dreams of
opening a holistic practicewhere different healers were
coming together in one place andwe would get clients that had
different needs than we weretrained or that we were
specialized in, and we we didn'treally know how to reach out
(04:34):
and connect because our ourfirst, our first, what's most
important for us, is the healingof our clients and so getting
them maybe someone thatspecialized in a different area,
whether it was a differenttherapist or psychiatrist or
psychologist or acupuncturist orsomething like that.
So we wanted to createopportunities to expand our own
(04:57):
knowledge, connect with otherpeople and also to be in support
of other healers.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yeah, I think only counselors or healers really
understand, like the stress andwhat we go through every day and
what that's like seeing youknow six, seven, eight clients a
day.
And so, from there, we decidedwe wanted to start a networking
group.
Decided we wanted to start anetworking group and we did back
(05:30):
in like 2019, we started ournetworking group and it's called
Cocktails with Calphers,because we are not stuffy,
boring therapists.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
We belong to some groups not naming any of those
groups but we wanted somethingbecause what we do is heavy and
so we wanted, if we had a chanceto connect with other healers,
something a bit light andplayful and fun.
And we threw that name togetherand it happens to be a very
popular name, and so our eventswhen we get together about four
(05:59):
times a year with our group,there's a happy hour, there's
lots of opportunities to connect, and then we will feature a
different private practice or adifferent healer so they get a
chance to talk about the workthat they're doing, so other
therapists can learn more aboutthem and really, built an
incredible network of counselors.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think we have about 450 members, yeah, and so like.
Mona was saying we don'tspecialize in everything.
So I think we have about 450members, Um, and so, like Mona
was saying, we don't specializein everything.
So now that we have theseconnections, we know who to
refer our clients to.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah, Is it typical for counselors to to like have
their own practice?
Or or partner with each other.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Like how does that?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
typically work.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
I think there are are multiple ways um counselors can
have their practices.
Some are in group practices,some of our um the people in our
group own pretty big grouppractices where they have
multiple counselors that they'remanaging and all different
specialties yeah and then youhave just your counselor, like I
was for a long time just on myown, until I met mona, and then
(07:04):
we were just the two of I wasfor a long time just on my own,
until I met Mona, and then wewere just the two of us, so
we're still a small practice.
We have a couple of otherclinicians who rent office space
from us, but they're their ownbusiness Business.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You guys have hopes or dreams of expanding and
having like more.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
I think at this age I think we're kind of on the
downhill with our career.
But what I love about our groupis all of the young counselors
and I always feel like thedinosaur of the group, but the
young counselors, speak foryourself, but anyway, no, I'm
just kidding.
And all of the just reallyamazing and exciting things that
(07:44):
they're doing.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And you know, I don't know, we we do a terrible job
of marketing ourselves.
That's the one thing.
But we love to connect and whenpeople reply to referrals
(08:11):
they're recommending friends andother therapists.
It's not a self-centered groupat all and we're just so proud
of again what's come out of thatLots of young interns that are
coming in, that are just gettingstarted, and lots of support
that they have from supervisors,and that's just beautiful to
watch something grow.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So I would traditionally think, like you
know, you're networking with abunch of people that are your
competition, right?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
And we never look at it that way.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Is that something that other counselors are
concerned about?
I?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
don't think the counselors that we have
attracted in our group, likeMona was saying, most of the
time.
So on our Facebook page it's aprivate Facebook page so
clinicians can go in and ask.
For you know, I'm looking for acounselor who specializes in
this and I would say 90% of thetime it's clinicians referring
(09:10):
to other clinicians orrecommending other clinicians.
So I don't see a competitivenature.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, I don't think that I think.
I think that they wouldn't alignto what we're doing because,
because I think there's just,there's more of a flow going out
than people even expecting toreceive something.
So estate too it's been, Iwould say, in the past.
We've become more collaborativeand working together and stuff,
which is the way I believe itshould be, and then certain
certain corporations orcompanies are more collaborative
than other companies and stuff.
(09:57):
So I think every business andevery professional should
collaborate and work together,because it just brings out the
best in those individuals.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, and it perpetuates abundance for
everybody, right, and the wholeidea is for the good of all.
How can we, how can we createsomething for the good of all?
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah, I love that.
What do you guys love aboutwhat you do?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I really love my.
I really love my clients.
I really do.
I've learned so much from myclients.
You know we've had I don't knowif this makes us terrible
therapists a lot.
We've had a lot of we've had alot of clients for many years.
Like, sometimes people willcome in maybe a few years ago we
saw them because they wentthrough a divorce and now
they're in a new marriage andthey're working on things or
(10:40):
occasionally, you know, they'llrefer a relative.
So we, we tend to know abouteach other's worlds and I think
a lot of our clients know aboutour world.
You know, just in terms oftheir, their very I mean my
clients are really flexible andsupportive.
You know, if we need to go froman in session to a telehealth
session, um, I love the clientsthat show up that are really
(11:01):
ready for change, you know, andare open to doing the work, and
it's so exciting to watch theirtransformation.
Yeah, and and to I always sayI'm here to ride shotgun.
You know, I'm here to help youget from point A to point B.
So I, I love, I love watchingpeople make the choice to work
(11:21):
on themselves and create thattransformation, you know, and to
build that.
So we see a lot of beautifulthings.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
What we do is just so incredibly rewarding.
Because we do, we're more of aguide for people Right.
So we don't fix them like Ithought I was supposed to do in
high school.
But when they come in, we guidethem and we just kind of help
them achieve their ideal life,their ideal relationships.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
And I hope, too, that we can shine a light on areas
of their life that they haven'tbeen able to see.
That will help empower them tomake the change and have the
courage.
And I think the other thingthat is so beautiful about the
therapeutic process is, in thisworld that we live in, many
(12:08):
people don't listen to whatother people have to say, and so
when you can be that person forsomeone, when you can hold
space and it's just all aboutthem for 50 minutes, oh, that's
transformative.
I mean when I've seencounselors or coaches before,
having that time and attention,and research has shown that it's
(12:32):
the rapport that you have withyour clients that can help
create the most change.
It's that connection, feelingseen and heard.
Yes, it's more important thannecessarily the methodology
that's used.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah, is more important than necessarily the
methodology that's used.
Yeah, is that hard for you guys?
Or is that something that comesnatural to both of you, just
being able to connect with yourclients?
Like, has there ever been anydifficulty, like early in your
career, as you've, you know,progressed and learned and grown
?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Well, I think that we are not.
We're probably not an ideal fitfor every different person.
I mean, and so, and you know,I'll tell clients.
I'm sort of I shoot from thehip, I'm straight up.
I'm going to call it like it is.
I think Dionne is a little moregentle than I am.
I think you'd be surprised.
No, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I actually am a very I'm not afraid of confrontation
in a healthy way, yeah, and Ithink that's why probably our
clients like us that we're notjust what would be the word,
we're not just there holdingtheir hand.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
We're challenging and encouraging.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
We're actually trying to promote growth, and you
can't promote growth if youdon't confront the things that
need to be confronted.
And you can't promote growth ifyou don't confront the things
that need to be confronted.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
But I think maybe along the lines of what you're
saying, if I were to feel asthough I was not a good fit, I
would easily say you know what Ilove working with you, but I
really think that this person oranother person or this type of
therapy was really going to helpyou get where you're going.
I mean, that's ethical andcaring and so definitely we
(14:10):
would refer out and we do a lotof referring to each other.
I might see somebody forindividual counseling and she
might see them for couplescounseling.
So that's been something that'sworked well, because we really
refer to people that we trustand that we know are going to
hold space and be the healthiestconnection for our clients.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Is it when people come to you?
Are most of them like ready forchange, or there is some?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
work.
So because we are in privatepractice, I would say all of our
clients, with the exception ofmaybe some teenagers we see, but
the majority of our clients arethere because they're wanting
something different in theirlife yeah, and so I think that
also helps with the reward thatwe get.
They're there to work, they'rethere, they're, they're paying
(15:03):
us, they're investing their timeand so they're very motivated.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Has any has that always been the case for your
career or?
Oh gosh, or is that an excusethat created what you have now,
like you're attracting the rightpeople?
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, so prior to 1998, I worked in hospitals and
I worked in community mentalhealth.
So that is quite a differentenvironment because some of
those people are thereinvoluntarily or they're court
ordered for counseling, so itmakes a big difference.
But that shift from communitymental health slash inpatient
hospitalization to privatepractice was huge because
(15:43):
everybody's there voluntarily.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Can you guys talk to me about?
Like what you've what you'veseen change in in mental health,
um, since you've been in it,and and like both from the
counselor perspective and maybelike techniques or just or just
how you approach the business,and then also like the the
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Ladies leaders and change makers, it is time to accelerate
action.
Join us on Saturday, march 8th,from 11 am to 2 pm at the
(17:13):
Fenway Hotel for InternationalWomen's Day 2025, presented by
Ideal Life Counseling.
This year's keynote speaker isFawn Germer.
She's a four-time PulitzerPrize nominee and best-selling
author of 10 books.
And the best part is she's fromDunedin.
Explore and shop from anincredible lineup of local
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(17:34):
A portion of all the ticketsales will go to the Raising
Relief Foundation to supportwomen and families affected by
the hurricanes.
Whether you're an entrepreneur,a professional or simply
passionate about empoweringwomen, this event is for you.
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Backslash ideal.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I think one thing that comes to mind for me is
what took place post-COVID, youknow, when no one knew what was
going to happen next, andwatching what happened with our
clients, college students,because they missed so many of
(18:16):
these beautiful life transitions.
It was just they were robbed ofit and seeing, oh gosh, seeing
people grieve over what theycouldn't experience or, you know
, their loved ones, and thingslike that, and what it did is we
weren't sure what it was goingto do.
I mean, we all went from inoffice to telehealth.
(18:37):
Are we going to have jobs?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
We were going to have a practice.
Yeah, but it blew upno-transcript to have support
for mental health during such aninternational crisis, one that
we were collectivelyexperiencing, which was so
different for us as mentalhealth counselors.
(18:59):
Normally we're not experiencingthe same traumas or the same
situations that they're facing,but during that time it was a
collective experience.
So not only were we trying tohelp them cope with this
pandemic, we were trying toprocess it all ourselves, same
with the hurricanes that justhappened Again here in Florida.
(19:21):
That collective experience thatwe were all going through, even
if we weren't impactedpersonally, we were impacted by
everything that was going onaround us.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
But I think it's definitely raised a great deal
of awareness toward having moredifficult conversations about
our mental health, becauseeveryone's mental health was
affected.
No matter what you did, youwere affected by it or somebody
you loved was affected.
So I think it got people tostart taking a look at how to
(20:00):
take better care of themselvesmentally and emotionally, which
was good to see, and more talkabout it and more support.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah, so, speaking of like, how to do that, what are
some, some best practices, tipsfor someone who is like, okay, I
want to start, you know, beinga better version of myself,
mentally, physically.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
I think that we have to.
I know self-care is kind of abig buzzword, but I think that
it's so important to look at allaspects of that.
So, whether that's personally,emotionally, spiritually,
physically, taking care of allof those aspects and really
paying attention to them, and Ithink maybe even during COVID I
(20:47):
hate to keep going back to that,but I do think we look at like
pre-COVID-covid that was a bigtransition, yeah yeah, it was,
and the importance of doing allof those things, and along with
personal care, was social likehow are we doing that?
people were longing and cravingconnection, especially our young
folks that we see, yeah whatare you guys doing to to take
(21:11):
care of yourselves mentally,like?
Speaker 1 (21:13):
what are some of your best practices?
Speaker 3 (21:14):
well, we are both very uh, physically active we
act.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I think we, we exercise every day, which is
really, really important.
I mean, it's good to feel fitand feel good in my body, but I
think for me that's huge mentalhealth, um, and I think yeah um,
for and this was something thatI had to learn was setting
appropriate boundaries formyself.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
I remember one time one of my neighbors bought me a
magnet so my kids were little atthe time bought me a magnet and
it said stop me before Ivolunteer again.
Gosh, this is how she sees meLike.
I run a private practice, I'mroom mom, I'm helping with the
baseball team.
I'm, you know, doing all ofthis and I thought, gosh, I
(21:56):
don't want to be seen like that.
I want to be able to sethealthy boundaries, so I worked
very hard on that.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
So I remember buying I can't remember if I was gifted
this or bought it a tea towelthat said, I give great advice,
I don't follow, and I used tothink that was so funny and then
I realized how very unfunnythat was for a therapist to have
that in her home.
So I strive to do more of that.
(22:23):
I teach restorative yoga andhypnosis and so I try to
meditate as often as I can.
And we have a beautifulcommunity.
Now, I think, another thingthat's come out we have so many
more opportunities to practicemeditation and yoga and other
energy work within our communityand beyond, and a lot of
(22:49):
therapists have merged thosebusinesses and so there's more
opportunities to attend thingslike that, and that's really
important to me.
If I can get my legs up thewall and restorative yoga, or I
can go meditate at OM or do yogaat Savage Yoga Studio here in
Palm Harbor, I do it and I geton the mat and I thank myself
(23:11):
for showing up because I know itmakes a huge difference.
So those are some of the things.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, I think that is cool, like the it's.
It does seem like there's a lot.
There are many moreopportunities to be fit, like to
, to build a community, to findthese different things for
meditation, um, fitness.
I feel like more gyms haveopened up and stuff you know.
So different styles right,there's a bunch of different
styles of fitness, like whateverworks for you.
And obviously being afforded,like the ability to get outside.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
As often as possible.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I think anything we can do that feeds our souls like
we have to look for thosethings and that's different,
with every different, every,every person, and really being
in touch with what that is, andI think too, along with that is
for me it's connection to bewith people, to be with
(24:03):
like-minded people, so you canhave those conversations,
whether it's conversations aboutyour own personal growth or
theirs, or to hear what theirpractices for self-care,
self-nurturing or their ownmental health.
So that's one thing I try to do.
I have a beautiful group offriends where we're like-minded
and we encourage and we supportand we nudge, and whether it's
(24:24):
our cocktails with counselors orjust within my own social
circle really important.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Yeah, I love it.
So you guys have an eventcoming up International Women's
Day.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
This is our labor of love.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
How long have you guys put?
How many years have you donethis event?
Speaker 3 (24:43):
We were trying to count that.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Over nine or ten years I started very.
It was something, so it's ahuge celebration in Europe and,
um, as though they celebratemother's day.
It's got that that level ofimportance, and I always loved
the idea behind it.
Nobody was ever doing anythingin the Tampa Bay area, so I
think my first event was like asmall dinner party with my
(25:07):
girlfriends.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
And then, I think, in in about 2019, mona mentioned
it to me and I had never heardof International Women's Day and
I think, like she said, havingtraveled so much in Europe, she
was more familiar with it, andso I got on board with her and
our very first InternationalWomen's Day was at a very kind
of small venue in downtownDunedin.
(25:32):
We could not believe how manypeople showed up.
We are not event planners andso we are literally knocking on
doors asking for free food, freedrinks donations few speakers
that came and it was just theenergy in the room was so
(25:52):
electric and just so amazing.
And then the next year, 2020, wedid it at the Fenway in Dunedin
.
So we're circling back aroundto that.
This year it was March,probably March 8th or around
there 2020.
And so we weren't sure we weregoing to have an event At that
(26:12):
time.
Everything was closing down andI think we were probably one of
the last events that could takeplace that had a hundred people
like before everything wentclosed.
Yeah, wow yeah, so it's kind of.
It's kind of fun to come backto that event, this, that venue,
so it's the first time back atthe family.
So you've had a differentlocations over the over the
years you know one year, uh,yoga and that venue.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
So this is the first time back at the family.
This is the first time back atthe family, so you've had a
different locations over theyears.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
You know, one year, yoga and mimosas you know that
was kind of like I we had maskson, it was still COVID, was
still sort of like happening.
So we were careful, but we'vejust whether we did something.
And a few years ago we didsomething just for cocktails
with counselors and brought thehealers together.
But this year we wanted toreally create something even
(26:59):
more spectacular.
So we hired a coach, sharonFechety, our beautiful friend
Sharon Fechety, who is becausewe are not event planners.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
We are not good at she has leveled us up in every
way.
I am not an event planner.
I'm an only event planner forthese two ladies.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
It is so true, and she is.
You know, she's a therapypusher, so she was when she saw
that what we were doing withCocktails, with Counselors and
within our community, she's justalways encouraging us to be
bigger and more badass at whatwe're doing, so we appreciate
that.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Actually, Sharon was at our event in 2020 at the
Fenway.
She was a guest of Dr Lara,who's one of our sponsors, and
we called her up on stage.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
She had no idea we were doing this to talk about a
group that she was involved with, and we've been friends with
her ever since and and having uma bigger vision has been
fantastic to help this grow,because the more it grows, the
more we can be in support ofwomen.
Um, in our community, the morewe can bring together our
(28:09):
healers, the more people knowabout what we're doing as
healers and mental healthcounselors and more we can get
that message out there.
Um, it's exciting.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, it's really beautiful so this is the first
like really big event that youguys have put on for this, or?
Speaker 3 (28:25):
this will be, hopefully, the biggest yeah, the
then when we did the Fenwayevent in 2020, it was a pretty
big event.
And then last year we had about100 people at last year's event
.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Yeah, what does International Women's Day mean
to you?
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Oh boy, you know when you.
Well, first of all, none of uswould be here right now if it
weren't for a woman, would we?
So in celebration of that?
But the opportunity to supporta charitable cause and our
charitable cause this year israising relief, so partial
proceeds will be going tosupport women and families that
(29:09):
have been affected by ourhurricanes.
So we keep everything, whateverwe do, very grassroots within
our community.
We want to know where thatmoney is going.
We want to know directly whoit's going to affect.
So that's one part, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
I think, just the opportunity to celebrate women
and all of the accomplishments.
Celebrate women and all of theaccomplishments.
We have so many amazing womenright here in our community.
We have our.
We are just so lucky to haveFawn Germer our keynote speaker.
She is local here to Dunedin.
(29:45):
She is a four-time Pulitzernominee Author.
How many books has she written?
I don't know how many.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Nine or 10 books.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yes, one of her books was an Oprah book.
She is a keynote speaker to alot of Fortune 500 companies.
She is just absolutely amazing.
Luckily, mona had a connectionwith her and she was so excited
to do something here in her owncommunity.
So, and all of our vendors, oursponsors we have 13 so far
(30:16):
amazing sponsors and I thinkmore coming in.
Our vendors are almost alllocal, women-owned businesses.
So we love just supporting thewomen in our community.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
And our community supports us.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
You know um they, they love to be a part of
helping this grow, which hasbeen, which has been great yeah,
the people have have dug intomore is the community aspect and
being involved in in whateverway they possibly can, whether
it's a business or whether it'sjust people like coming out to
(30:51):
support an event, because youknow it's a way to bring the
community together.
That seems like it's reallygrown since COVID too.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Going back to how I think we realized how important
connection was when we couldn'thave it.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah, and I think, as individuals there's so much.
What can I do?
I'm just one person.
Well, so much if you decide tocome together and be in support
of a project or an initiative,and so I think that's what you
can do, by showing up, bygetting a ticket, by letting
other people know about itno-transcript why we're on this
(31:35):
planet Really All of us, I hopethat's how I feel Is to be of
service, and so this is justanother way to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
So someone who's going to be attending the event,
what can they expect?
Speaker 3 (31:48):
So we are having, I think, about 16 vendors Like I
said, mostly women-ownedbusinesses.
We have a fabulous brunch.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Beautiful brunch.
It's the Fenway, it's so.
Everything is chic at theFenway.
Everything is beautiful andchic and well done.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
He doesn't want to spend a Saturday afternoon in
downtown Dunedin.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Oh, we have a mimosa bar, a beautiful mimosa bar.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Yes, yeah, and a mocktails and a mocktails bar
will be set up as well, and thenwe have fun speaking.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Our keynote speaker.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
And then, of course, shopping.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Shopping yes, that's right, and we have shopping on a
Saturday morning.
And our emcee, natasha Pierre,is going to be there doing our
job this year, so we get toactually.
We get to actually participateand enjoy our attendees and
enjoy what's happening andobserve, because usually it's a
little frenetic for us, and sothis time it's so wonderful to
(32:49):
have that support so that we canwe can enjoy the reactions of
the people around us.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Yeah, that's awesome.
It's, it's um, it should begood turnout.
And how can people?
If people want to buy tickets,what's the best way?
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Um, there is an event bright link.
They can, probably the easiestway if they want to follow our
Facebook page.
It's ideal life counseling onFacebook and we're, and we also
have an Instagram.
We have a new Instagram.
That's how old we are, I shouldsay me, you've always had it uh,
yeah, thank you, sharon againum and then they can follow all
(33:27):
of the um event updates on thatpage, on our ideal life
counseling page, and thenthey're the event right tickets
yep, and if you're listening tothe podcast, you can just click
the link below in thedescription and we'll we'll link
it to it.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
So if people want to learn more about what you guys
do, I see your website,obviously, but how can they get
in touch with you and so ourwebsite is
ideallifecounselingcom, and thenwe have our pages that talk
about our different specialties,and our phone numbers are on
there as well.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Yeah, perfect, and the theme of International
Women's Day this year isAccelerate.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Action and we're definitely embracing diversity
and inclusion, and you will seethat you will not just hear
about that from the backgroundin a podcast.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Yes, yeah.
So can you elaborate on that alittle bit, like what is that?
When you think of that theme?
What does that mean to you guys?
Accelerate action.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
I think that, like we've been talking about, the
more we can do within our owncommunities is part of
accelerating that action.
Mona was saying that we oftenthink that I'm just one person,
I don't really have a voice, Ican't really make change, but
one of the things that we reallypromote is mental health
awareness and we're just twolittle mental health counselors
(34:47):
here in Palm Harbor, florida,right now and I think just
having that voice and sharingthat message is so important.
So, any way you can accelerateaction, whatever you are
passionate about, whatever ismeaningful to you.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Whether it's building your community, supporting
other groups that need thatadditional voice right, and
that's what the importance ofthe diversity.
How can we celebrate that?
How can we help raise eachother up?
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Yeah, even if you are just one person, that's right.
Yeah, cool.
Well, thank you guys for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Thank you so much for having us.
That's great.
It's just such an honor.
We appreciate that.
Thank you so much for sharingour message about International
Women's Day and the importanceof mental health.
We're grateful for that.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Yes, sherry, and I have talked quite a bit about
that, so it's.
I'm glad it's, you know, becomemore of a discussion.
You know so cool, great, thankyou.
Welcome to Palm Harbor Local, where we bring you
inspiring stories from theheart of our community.
I'm your host, donnie Hathaway,and today we are joined by Mona
McGregor and Deanna Breeze, whoare owners and licensed mental
health counselors at Ideal LifeCounseling.
Now our show is all about thosewho put in the sweat, overcome
the hurdles and still find timeto give back to the community.
(00:23):
If you want to be inspired byhow they got started, what keeps
them going and what they'redoing today to make Palm Harbor
even more awesome, you're in theright place Now.
In today's episode, you willlearn how these two became
partners in business, how COVIDimpacted the mental health of so
many people around us and theirupcoming event for
International Women's Day onMarch 8th at the Fenway Hotel,
(00:45):
and why you should go Now.
Be sure to follow us onInstagram at palmharborlocal for
behind the scenes content andjoin our weekly newsletter at
palmharborlocalcom.
Let's jump into it, mona andDeanna.
Welcome to the podcast.
Thank you so much for having usyeah so I'm excited to chat with
you guys and this is our firstconversation, so this will be
(01:09):
fun.
I haven't learned any of yourbackground and story and that
sort of stuff, so let's startthere.
What do you guys do?
How did you get into it?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So we are both mental health counselors, licensed
mental health counselors.
We own Ideal Life Counseling.
I've been in practice since1998, so you can tell how old I
am probably by that.
Do you want to know a littlebit?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
about what my practice, what I specialize in.
Yeah Well, so 1998, what gotyou into it in the first place?
Is that something you've alwaysdone in your career?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
So my dad was one of the first child and adolescent
psychiatrists in the countryback in the 1950s, and my mom
was a psychologist.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
So I guess that kind of probably answers yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I think I just grew up in a family of healers.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Cool, and so at an early age you knew this is what
you wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, so from the time I was in high school, my
nickname was dr d, that's whatmy friends called me.
Nice, everybody came to me withtheir problems and I would try
to fix them.
Wow, and what?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
about you so, uh, originally I was a special
education teacher and as timewent on, I realized that my
biggest interest, and where mystudents needed the most help,
was sort of with mental healthand emotional health, and so I
became a school counselor.
I was a school counselor formany, many years and then, when
(02:37):
I became licensed, I specializedin clinical sex therapy, which
is a big departure from workingwith little kids in clinical sex
therapy, which is a bigdeparture from working with
little kids.
But that's part of what makesour two practices a little bit
different, and so I'm workingright now on a PhD in clinical
sexology.
So that's kind of my interestthere, and so we have a diverse.
(02:58):
We do a lot of things that aresimilar.
We have some diversity in ourpractice.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, and so your practice is ideal life
counseling.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And when did you guys start that?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So we've actually been together.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
This is my longest relationship.
I have to tell you that I'mvery proud of this relationship.
It's my longest relationship.
Yeah, I know I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So we were actually renting office space in a group
practice about 20 years ago andI decided I was going to leave
that practice and just rent myown office space in a
psychiatrist's office and wejust kind of hit it off.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I invited myself along.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
She did.
Yeah, I did, and I've been sohappy ever since I know Because
we've traveled around todifferent offices on our own for
the past 20 years.
We're currently in Oldsmar, indowntown Oldsmar.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, no, it's always been a great fit.
And you know one of the thingsas time went on and I left the
school system and we had moreand more time together, we
realized we wanted what we weredoing to grow because, honestly,
being a therapist can be quiteisolating you go into a room
(04:12):
with your client and the sessionends and you go home.
But as we spent more timetogether, we had dreams of
opening a holistic practicewhere different healers were
coming together in one place andwe would get clients that had
different needs than we weretrained or that we were
specialized in, and we we didn'treally know how to reach out
(04:34):
and connect because our ourfirst, our first, what's most
important for us, is the healingof our clients and so getting
them maybe someone thatspecialized in a different area,
whether it was a differenttherapist or psychiatrist or
psychologist or acupuncturist orsomething like that.
So we wanted to createopportunities to expand our own
(04:57):
knowledge, connect with otherpeople and also to be in support
of other healers.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yeah, I think only counselors or healers really
understand, like the stress andwhat we go through every day and
what that's like seeing youknow six, seven, eight clients a
day.
And so, from there, we decidedwe wanted to start a networking
group.
Decided we wanted to start anetworking group and we did back
(05:30):
in like 2019, we started ournetworking group and it's called
Cocktails with Calphers,because we are not stuffy,
boring therapists.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
We belong to some groups not naming any of those
groups but we wanted somethingbecause what we do is heavy and
so we wanted, if we had a chanceto connect with other healers,
something a bit light andplayful and fun.
And we threw that name togetherand it happens to be a very
popular name, and so our eventswhen we get together about four
(05:59):
times a year with our group,there's a happy hour, there's
lots of opportunities to connect, and then we will feature a
different private practice or adifferent healer so they get a
chance to talk about the workthat they're doing, so other
therapists can learn more aboutthem and really, built an
incredible network of counselors.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think we have about 450 members, yeah, and so like.
Mona was saying we don'tspecialize in everything.
So I think we have about 450members, Um, and so, like Mona
was saying, we don't specializein everything.
So now that we have theseconnections, we know who to
refer our clients to.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah, Is it typical for counselors to to like have
their own practice?
Or or partner with each other.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Like how does that?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
typically work.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
I think there are are multiple ways um counselors can
have their practices.
Some are in group practices,some of our um the people in our
group own pretty big grouppractices where they have
multiple counselors that they'remanaging and all different
specialties yeah and then youhave just your counselor, like I
was for a long time just on myown, until I met mona, and then
(07:04):
we were just the two of I wasfor a long time just on my own,
until I met Mona, and then wewere just the two of us, so
we're still a small practice.
We have a couple of otherclinicians who rent office space
from us, but they're their ownbusiness Business.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You guys have hopes or dreams of expanding and
having like more.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
I think at this age I think we're kind of on the
downhill with our career.
But what I love about our groupis all of the young counselors
and I always feel like thedinosaur of the group, but the
young counselors, speak foryourself, but anyway, no, I'm
just kidding.
And all of the just reallyamazing and exciting things that
(07:44):
they're doing.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And you know, I don't know, we we do a terrible job
of marketing ourselves.
That's the one thing.
But we love to connect and whenpeople reply to referrals
(08:11):
they're recommending friends andother therapists.
It's not a self-centered groupat all and we're just so proud
of again what's come out of thatLots of young interns that are
coming in, that are just gettingstarted, and lots of support
that they have from supervisors,and that's just beautiful to
watch something grow.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So I would traditionally think, like you
know, you're networking with abunch of people that are your
competition, right?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
And we never look at it that way.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Is that something that other counselors are
concerned about?
I?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
don't think the counselors that we have
attracted in our group, likeMona was saying, most of the
time.
So on our Facebook page it's aprivate Facebook page so
clinicians can go in and ask.
For you know, I'm looking for acounselor who specializes in
this and I would say 90% of thetime it's clinicians referring
(09:10):
to other clinicians orrecommending other clinicians.
So I don't see a competitivenature.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, I don't think that I think.
I think that they wouldn't alignto what we're doing because,
because I think there's just,there's more of a flow going out
than people even expecting toreceive something.
So estate too it's been, Iwould say, in the past.
We've become more collaborativeand working together and stuff,
which is the way I believe itshould be, and then certain
certain corporations orcompanies are more collaborative
than other companies and stuff.
(09:57):
So I think every business andevery professional should
collaborate and work together,because it just brings out the
best in those individuals.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, and it perpetuates abundance for
everybody, right, and the wholeidea is for the good of all.
How can we, how can we createsomething for the good of all?
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah, I love that.
What do you guys love aboutwhat you do?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I really love my.
I really love my clients.
I really do.
I've learned so much from myclients.
You know we've had I don't knowif this makes us terrible
therapists a lot.
We've had a lot of we've had alot of clients for many years.
Like, sometimes people willcome in maybe a few years ago we
saw them because they wentthrough a divorce and now
they're in a new marriage andthey're working on things or
(10:40):
occasionally, you know, they'llrefer a relative.
So we, we tend to know abouteach other's worlds and I think
a lot of our clients know aboutour world.
You know, just in terms oftheir, their very I mean my
clients are really flexible andsupportive.
You know, if we need to go froman in session to a telehealth
session, um, I love the clientsthat show up that are really
(11:01):
ready for change, you know, andare open to doing the work, and
it's so exciting to watch theirtransformation.
Yeah, and and to I always sayI'm here to ride shotgun.
You know, I'm here to help youget from point A to point B.
So I, I love, I love watchingpeople make the choice to work
(11:21):
on themselves and create thattransformation, you know, and to
build that.
So we see a lot of beautifulthings.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
What we do is just so incredibly rewarding.
Because we do, we're more of aguide for people Right.
So we don't fix them like Ithought I was supposed to do in
high school.
But when they come in, we guidethem and we just kind of help
them achieve their ideal life,their ideal relationships.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
And I hope, too, that we can shine a light on areas
of their life that they haven'tbeen able to see.
That will help empower them tomake the change and have the
courage.
And I think the other thingthat is so beautiful about the
therapeutic process is, in thisworld that we live in, many
(12:08):
people don't listen to whatother people have to say, and so
when you can be that person forsomeone, when you can hold
space and it's just all aboutthem for 50 minutes, oh, that's
transformative.
I mean when I've seencounselors or coaches before,
having that time and attention,and research has shown that it's
(12:32):
the rapport that you have withyour clients that can help
create the most change.
It's that connection, feelingseen and heard.
Yes, it's more important thannecessarily the methodology
that's used.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah, is more important than necessarily the
methodology that's used.
Yeah, is that hard for you guys?
Or is that something that comesnatural to both of you, just
being able to connect with yourclients?
Like, has there ever been anydifficulty, like early in your
career, as you've, you know,progressed and learned and grown
?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Well, I think that we are not.
We're probably not an ideal fitfor every different person.
I mean, and so, and you know,I'll tell clients.
I'm sort of I shoot from thehip, I'm straight up.
I'm going to call it like it is.
I think Dionne is a little moregentle than I am.
I think you'd be surprised.
No, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I actually am a very I'm not afraid of confrontation
in a healthy way, yeah, and Ithink that's why probably our
clients like us that we're notjust what would be the word,
we're not just there holdingtheir hand.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
We're challenging and encouraging.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
We're actually trying to promote growth, and you
can't promote growth if youdon't confront the things that
need to be confronted.
And you can't promote growth ifyou don't confront the things
that need to be confronted.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
But I think maybe along the lines of what you're
saying, if I were to feel asthough I was not a good fit, I
would easily say you know what Ilove working with you, but I
really think that this person oranother person or this type of
therapy was really going to helpyou get where you're going.
I mean, that's ethical andcaring and so definitely we
(14:10):
would refer out and we do a lotof referring to each other.
I might see somebody forindividual counseling and she
might see them for couplescounseling.
So that's been something that'sworked well, because we really
refer to people that we trustand that we know are going to
hold space and be the healthiestconnection for our clients.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Is it when people come to you?
Are most of them like ready forchange, or there is some?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
work.
So because we are in privatepractice, I would say all of our
clients, with the exception ofmaybe some teenagers we see, but
the majority of our clients arethere because they're wanting
something different in theirlife yeah, and so I think that
also helps with the reward thatwe get.
They're there to work, they'rethere, they're, they're paying
(15:03):
us, they're investing their timeand so they're very motivated.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Has any has that always been the case for your
career or?
Oh gosh, or is that an excusethat created what you have now,
like you're attracting the rightpeople?
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, so prior to 1998, I worked in hospitals and
I worked in community mentalhealth.
So that is quite a differentenvironment because some of
those people are thereinvoluntarily or they're court
ordered for counseling, so itmakes a big difference.
But that shift from communitymental health slash inpatient
hospitalization to privatepractice was huge because
(15:43):
everybody's there voluntarily.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Can you guys talk to me about?
Like what you've what you'veseen change in in mental health,
um, since you've been in it,and and like both from the
counselor perspective and maybelike techniques or just or just
how you approach the business,and then also like the the
awareness of it and the abilityto discuss it now more often.
(16:09):
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Ladies leaders and change makers, it is time to accelerate
action.
Join us on Saturday, march 8th,from 11 am to 2 pm at the
(17:13):
Fenway Hotel for InternationalWomen's Day 2025, presented by
Ideal Life Counseling.
This year's keynote speaker isFawn Germer.
She's a four-time PulitzerPrize nominee and best-selling
author of 10 books.
And the best part is she's fromDunedin.
Explore and shop from anincredible lineup of local
vendors and connect withlike-minded professional women.
(17:34):
A portion of all the ticketsales will go to the Raising
Relief Foundation to supportwomen and families affected by
the hurricanes.
Whether you're an entrepreneur,a professional or simply
passionate about empoweringwomen, this event is for you.
Tickets are available now, butthey won't last long, so secure
yours today at palmoverlocalcom.
Backslash ideal.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I think one thing that comes to mind for me is
what took place post-COVID, youknow, when no one knew what was
going to happen next, andwatching what happened with our
clients, college students,because they missed so many of
(18:16):
these beautiful life transitions.
It was just they were robbed ofit and seeing, oh gosh, seeing
people grieve over what theycouldn't experience or, you know
, their loved ones, and thingslike that, and what it did is we
weren't sure what it was goingto do.
I mean, we all went from inoffice to telehealth.
(18:37):
Are we going to have jobs?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
We were going to have a practice.
Yeah, but it blew upno-transcript to have support
for mental health during such aninternational crisis, one that
we were collectivelyexperiencing, which was so
different for us as mentalhealth counselors.
(18:59):
Normally we're not experiencingthe same traumas or the same
situations that they're facing,but during that time it was a
collective experience.
So not only were we trying tohelp them cope with this
pandemic, we were trying toprocess it all ourselves, same
with the hurricanes that justhappened Again here in Florida.
(19:21):
That collective experience thatwe were all going through, even
if we weren't impactedpersonally, we were impacted by
everything that was going onaround us.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
But I think it's definitely raised a great deal
of awareness toward having moredifficult conversations about
our mental health, becauseeveryone's mental health was
affected.
No matter what you did, youwere affected by it or somebody
you loved was affected.
So I think it got people tostart taking a look at how to
(20:00):
take better care of themselvesmentally and emotionally, which
was good to see, and more talkabout it and more support.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah, so, speaking of like, how to do that, what are
some, some best practices, tipsfor someone who is like, okay, I
want to start, you know, beinga better version of myself,
mentally, physically.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
I think that we have to.
I know self-care is kind of abig buzzword, but I think that
it's so important to look at allaspects of that.
So, whether that's personally,emotionally, spiritually,
physically, taking care of allof those aspects and really
paying attention to them, and Ithink maybe even during COVID I
(20:47):
hate to keep going back to that,but I do think we look at like
pre-COVID-covid that was a bigtransition, yeah yeah, it was,
and the importance of doing allof those things, and along with
personal care, was social likehow are we doing that?
people were longing and cravingconnection, especially our young
folks that we see, yeah whatare you guys doing to to take
(21:11):
care of yourselves mentally,like?
Speaker 1 (21:13):
what are some of your best practices?
Speaker 3 (21:14):
well, we are both very uh, physically active we
act.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I think we, we exercise every day, which is
really, really important.
I mean, it's good to feel fitand feel good in my body, but I
think for me that's huge mentalhealth, um, and I think yeah um,
for and this was something thatI had to learn was setting
appropriate boundaries formyself.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
I remember one time one of my neighbors bought me a
magnet so my kids were little atthe time bought me a magnet and
it said stop me before Ivolunteer again.
Gosh, this is how she sees meLike.
I run a private practice, I'mroom mom, I'm helping with the
baseball team.
I'm, you know, doing all ofthis and I thought, gosh, I
(21:56):
don't want to be seen like that.
I want to be able to sethealthy boundaries, so I worked
very hard on that.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
So I remember buying I can't remember if I was gifted
this or bought it a tea towelthat said, I give great advice,
I don't follow, and I used tothink that was so funny and then
I realized how very unfunnythat was for a therapist to have
that in her home.
So I strive to do more of that.
(22:23):
I teach restorative yoga andhypnosis and so I try to
meditate as often as I can.
And we have a beautifulcommunity.
Now, I think, another thingthat's come out we have so many
more opportunities to practicemeditation and yoga and other
energy work within our communityand beyond, and a lot of
(22:49):
therapists have merged thosebusinesses and so there's more
opportunities to attend thingslike that, and that's really
important to me.
If I can get my legs up thewall and restorative yoga, or I
can go meditate at OM or do yogaat Savage Yoga Studio here in
Palm Harbor, I do it and I geton the mat and I thank myself
(23:11):
for showing up because I know itmakes a huge difference.
So those are some of the things.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, I think that is cool, like the it's.
It does seem like there's a lot.
There are many moreopportunities to be fit, like to
, to build a community, to findthese different things for
meditation, um, fitness.
I feel like more gyms haveopened up and stuff you know.
So different styles right,there's a bunch of different
styles of fitness, like whateverworks for you.
And obviously being afforded,like the ability to get outside.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
As often as possible.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I think anything we can do that feeds our souls like
we have to look for thosethings and that's different,
with every different, every,every person, and really being
in touch with what that is, andI think too, along with that is
for me it's connection to bewith people, to be with
(24:03):
like-minded people, so you canhave those conversations,
whether it's conversations aboutyour own personal growth or
theirs, or to hear what theirpractices for self-care,
self-nurturing or their ownmental health.
So that's one thing I try to do.
I have a beautiful group offriends where we're like-minded
and we encourage and we supportand we nudge, and whether it's
(24:24):
our cocktails with counselors orjust within my own social
circle really important.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Yeah, I love it.
So you guys have an eventcoming up International Women's
Day.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
This is our labor of love.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
How long have you guys put?
How many years have you donethis event?
Speaker 3 (24:43):
We were trying to count that.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Over nine or ten years I started very.
It was something, so it's ahuge celebration in Europe and,
um, as though they celebratemother's day.
It's got that that level ofimportance, and I always loved
the idea behind it.
Nobody was ever doing anythingin the Tampa Bay area, so I
think my first event was like asmall dinner party with my
(25:07):
girlfriends.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
And then, I think, in in about 2019, mona mentioned
it to me and I had never heardof International Women's Day and
I think, like she said, havingtraveled so much in Europe, she
was more familiar with it, andso I got on board with her and
our very first InternationalWomen's Day was at a very kind
of small venue in downtownDunedin.
(25:32):
We could not believe how manypeople showed up.
We are not event planners andso we are literally knocking on
doors asking for free food, freedrinks donations few speakers
that came and it was just theenergy in the room was so
(25:52):
electric and just so amazing.
And then the next year, 2020, wedid it at the Fenway in Dunedin
.
So we're circling back aroundto that.
This year it was March,probably March 8th or around
there 2020.
And so we weren't sure we weregoing to have an event At that
(26:12):
time.
Everything was closing down andI think we were probably one of
the last events that could takeplace that had a hundred people
like before everything wentclosed.
Yeah, wow yeah, so it's kind of.
It's kind of fun to come backto that event, this, that venue,
so it's the first time back atthe family.
So you've had a differentlocations over the over the
years you know one year, uh,yoga and that venue.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
So this is the first time back at the family.
This is the first time back atthe family, so you've had a
different locations over theyears.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
You know, one year, yoga and mimosas you know that
was kind of like I we had maskson, it was still COVID, was
still sort of like happening.
So we were careful, but we'vejust whether we did something.
And a few years ago we didsomething just for cocktails
with counselors and brought thehealers together.
But this year we wanted toreally create something even
(26:59):
more spectacular.
So we hired a coach, sharonFechety, our beautiful friend
Sharon Fechety, who is becausewe are not event planners.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
We are not good at she has leveled us up in every
way.
I am not an event planner.
I'm an only event planner forthese two ladies.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
It is so true, and she is.
You know, she's a therapypusher, so she was when she saw
that what we were doing withCocktails, with Counselors and
within our community, she's justalways encouraging us to be
bigger and more badass at whatwe're doing, so we appreciate
that.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Actually, Sharon was at our event in 2020 at the
Fenway.
She was a guest of Dr Lara,who's one of our sponsors, and
we called her up on stage.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
She had no idea we were doing this to talk about a
group that she was involved with, and we've been friends with
her ever since and and having uma bigger vision has been
fantastic to help this grow,because the more it grows, the
more we can be in support ofwomen.
Um, in our community, the morewe can bring together our
(28:09):
healers, the more people knowabout what we're doing as
healers and mental healthcounselors and more we can get
that message out there.
Um, it's exciting.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, it's really beautiful so this is the first
like really big event that youguys have put on for this, or?
Speaker 3 (28:25):
this will be, hopefully, the biggest yeah, the
then when we did the Fenwayevent in 2020, it was a pretty
big event.
And then last year we had about100 people at last year's event
.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Yeah, what does International Women's Day mean
to you?
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Oh boy, you know when you.
Well, first of all, none of uswould be here right now if it
weren't for a woman, would we?
So in celebration of that?
But the opportunity to supporta charitable cause and our
charitable cause this year israising relief, so partial
proceeds will be going tosupport women and families that
(29:09):
have been affected by ourhurricanes.
So we keep everything, whateverwe do, very grassroots within
our community.
We want to know where thatmoney is going.
We want to know directly whoit's going to affect.
So that's one part, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
I think, just the opportunity to celebrate women
and all of the accomplishments.
Celebrate women and all of theaccomplishments.
We have so many amazing womenright here in our community.
We have our.
We are just so lucky to haveFawn Germer our keynote speaker.
She is local here to Dunedin.
(29:45):
She is a four-time Pulitzernominee Author.
How many books has she written?
I don't know how many.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Nine or 10 books.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yes, one of her books was an Oprah book.
She is a keynote speaker to alot of Fortune 500 companies.
She is just absolutely amazing.
Luckily, mona had a connectionwith her and she was so excited
to do something here in her owncommunity.
So, and all of our vendors, oursponsors we have 13 so far
(30:16):
amazing sponsors and I thinkmore coming in.
Our vendors are almost alllocal, women-owned businesses.
So we love just supporting thewomen in our community.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
And our community supports us.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
You know um they, they love to be a part of
helping this grow, which hasbeen, which has been great yeah,
the people have have dug intomore is the community aspect and
being involved in in whateverway they possibly can, whether
it's a business or whether it'sjust people like coming out to
(30:51):
support an event, because youknow it's a way to bring the
community together.
That seems like it's reallygrown since COVID too.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Going back to how I think we realized how important
connection was when we couldn'thave it.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah, and I think, as individuals there's so much.
What can I do?
I'm just one person.
Well, so much if you decide tocome together and be in support
of a project or an initiative,and so I think that's what you
can do, by showing up, bygetting a ticket, by letting
other people know about itno-transcript why we're on this
(31:35):
planet Really All of us, I hopethat's how I feel Is to be of
service, and so this is justanother way to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
So someone who's going to be attending the event,
what can they expect?
Speaker 3 (31:48):
So we are having, I think, about 16 vendors Like I
said, mostly women-ownedbusinesses.
We have a fabulous brunch.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Beautiful brunch.
It's the Fenway, it's so.
Everything is chic at theFenway.
Everything is beautiful andchic and well done.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
He doesn't want to spend a Saturday afternoon in
downtown Dunedin.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Oh, we have a mimosa bar, a beautiful mimosa bar.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Yes, yeah, and a mocktails and a mocktails bar
will be set up as well, and thenwe have fun speaking.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Our keynote speaker.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
And then, of course, shopping.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Shopping yes, that's right, and we have shopping on a
Saturday morning.
And our emcee, natasha Pierre,is going to be there doing our
job this year, so we get toactually.
We get to actually participateand enjoy our attendees and
enjoy what's happening andobserve, because usually it's a
little frenetic for us, and sothis time it's so wonderful to
(32:49):
have that support so that we canwe can enjoy the reactions of
the people around us.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Yeah, that's awesome.
It's, it's um, it should begood turnout.
And how can people?
If people want to buy tickets,what's the best way?
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Um, there is an event bright link.
They can, probably the easiestway if they want to follow our
Facebook page.
It's ideal life counseling onFacebook and we're, and we also
have an Instagram.
We have a new Instagram.
That's how old we are, I shouldsay me, you've always had it uh,
yeah, thank you, sharon againum and then they can follow all
(33:27):
of the um event updates on thatpage, on our ideal life
counseling page, and thenthey're the event right tickets
yep, and if you're listening tothe podcast, you can just click
the link below in thedescription and we'll we'll link
it to it.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
So if people want to learn more about what you guys
do, I see your website,obviously, but how can they get
in touch with you and so ourwebsite is
ideallifecounselingcom, and thenwe have our pages that talk
about our different specialties,and our phone numbers are on
there as well.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Yeah, perfect, and the theme of International
Women's Day this year isAccelerate.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Action and we're definitely embracing diversity
and inclusion, and you will seethat you will not just hear
about that from the backgroundin a podcast.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Yes, yeah.
So can you elaborate on that alittle bit, like what is that?
When you think of that theme?
What does that mean to you guys?
Accelerate action.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
I think that, like we've been talking about, the
more we can do within our owncommunities is part of
accelerating that action.
Mona was saying that we oftenthink that I'm just one person,
I don't really have a voice, Ican't really make change, but
one of the things that we reallypromote is mental health
awareness and we're just twolittle mental health counselors
(34:47):
here in Palm Harbor, florida,right now and I think just
having that voice and sharingthat message is so important.
So, any way you can accelerateaction, whatever you are
passionate about, whatever ismeaningful to you.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Whether it's building your community, supporting
other groups that need thatadditional voice right, and
that's what the importance ofthe diversity.
How can we celebrate that?
How can we help raise eachother up?
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Yeah, even if you are just one person, that's right.
Yeah, cool.
Well, thank you guys for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Thank you so much for having us.
That's great.
It's just such an honor.
We appreciate that.
Thank you so much for sharingour message about International
Women's Day and the importanceof mental health.
We're grateful for that.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Yes, sherry, and I have talked quite a bit about
that, so it's.
I'm glad it's, you know, becomemore of a discussion.
You know so cool, great, thankyou.
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