Meet Candice, a healer for trauma and domestic violence for Indigenous locals in Ali Curung NT and the small business owner of Candice Kemarre Pethybridge Holistic Counselling and Healings.
Candice has always had an interest in healing for Indigenous people. However, after giving clinical counselling a try and realising that this way of working was not for her, she decided to start her own healing small business for local Indigenous people. Candice mainly focuses on working with those who have experienced sexual abuse, trauma and domestic violence.
“I had a vision of what I wanted to do, and we met halfway, and he would show me how to bring my vision to life. Mani also helped me work out all of the things that have to happen behind the scenes before I go out to meet people.”
Read more about Candice Kemarre Pethybridge Holistic Counselling and Healings.
Meet Candice
I started my business in December 2021. I am an Aboriginal woman, and I am from the Alyawarre tribe. I do healing for trauma and domestic violence for Indigenous locals, including women’s healing circles and counselling healing sessions. I was already a healer but in the Western world they want to know where your degree is. When I was trying to finish off my degree in Sydney, I found that the urban way was very different to the way that I worked as a traditional healer. The clinical approach did not work for me, so I left that in October 2021. I wanted to work with traditional healers to heal the trauma that Indigenous locals are experiencing. I also specialise in trauma informed practices, mindfulness approaches, art therapy, and walk and talk counselling methods. Holistic counselling is healing oneself as a while from a spiritual aspect.
I used to be a child-care worker, and I worked as a dental nurse a few years ago. I always had that healing interest.
My aunty has a business with Many Rivers, but I wasn’t quite ready to start my business yet. It wasn’t until October 2021 that I left my job at the Women’s Refuge and decided to start working with Many Rivers.
In the end, it came down to me. I had a set vision, and it was my path. I was a bit nervous at first, and although I had people encouraging me, I didn’t know how to bring it to life. I felt a bit nervous; even though I had the people who needed my services, I didn’t know how to put it all together and bring it to life.
Working with Many Rivers
I was nervous to step away from the clinical space as a Counsellor to work on my own. My Many Rivers business coach Mani, was gentle yet specific with his approaches. We meet every week to set goals and write them down on paper. He helped me set boundaries that were healthy so that I could get my work done.
Mani is a really good mentor, and he would ground my ideas. He knows what he is doing, and the way that he mentors is so helpful. Mani supports showing me how to bring my ideas into a creative space that allows me to bring them to life and how the business world works. He showed me things such as; how to advertise your business, how to make sure that your clients are happy, make a website, get funding and cashflow.
I had a vision of what I wanted to do, and we met halfway, and he would show me how to bring my vision to life. Mani also helped me work out all of the things that have to happen behind the scenes before I go out to meet people. We went over and over cashflow because I was finding that difficult, and then one day it clicked!
He also made me look at other situations or visions that came up in my business and consider how it would work and what I would have to do if that situation occurred.
Biggest Challenge
All of the financial stuff has been pretty challenging. I have dyslexia, and I was a bit worried that I might miss some things. Mani was really understanding and put me on to different courses and things like that to help me learn.
Just starting my business and getting it off the ground was quite a challenge.
Biggest Success
My biggest success has been landing a contract already and just going with it and starting it. I’m even just using my daughter’s laptop to get the ball rolling.
Future Goals for Candice Pethybridge Holistic Counselling and Healings
I have a year’s plan already! I will continue the healing circles, and I want to work on one-on-one counselling. I am also going to do some more study. Then in June, I would like to move my business to Darwin because I was born there, and I know some healers around there.
Thanks Candice
Thanks Candice for sharing the story of Candice Pethybridge Holistic Counselling and Healings with us. We can’t wait to support you on this journey to achieving your business goals. Follow her on Instagram to stay updated.
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