Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meera Duncan, founder of 3rd Eye Hypnotherapy Clinic, located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a Registered Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist, founder of Environmental Stress-Targeted Therapy (EVSTT), and published Author of "A Therapist's Guide to Treating Bipolar Disorder with Hypnosis: An Introduction to Environmental Stress-Targeted Therapy, International Lecturer and Speaker, and the Board of Directors with ACTA, the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta and also on the Board of Directors with FACT-AB, the Federation of Associations of Counselling Therapists in Alberta.

I specialize in treating clients with Bipolar Disorder but also work with clients to heal and resolve other issues, which may be emotional, physical, or psychological. Offers an array of therapeutic modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), clinical counseling, drug and alcohol addiction therapy, DBT, EFT tapping, and clinical hypnosis. I am truly passionate about my research and work!

Tell us about yourself

I found my true-calling as a Clinical Hypnotherapist after experiencing a life-altering trauma that I miraculously survived. On March 24th, 1998 a catastrophic event took place in my life. The elevator at my work place suddenly free fell 6.5 floors, then dropped another 5.5 floors. My injuries were severe and most were permanent: severe concussion, severe cervical strain (whiplash), nerve damage, fractured jaw, herniated, bulging, and shortened discs in my neck, upper back, and lower back, and post-traumatic syringomyelia (a fluid-filled cyst in the centre of my spinal cord from T4 to T11, damaging nerves and possibly eventually causing permanent paralysis). I was soon diagnosed with PTSD and clinical depression from searing daily chronic pain levels and emotional trauma. Over a decade of procedures, medications, experimental treatments, and therapies but nothing changed. I had almost no mobility and the excruciating pain levels were locked in a continuous debilitating loop, rotating throughout my countless injuries each and every day.
Over a decade later and in the midst of my deepest despair, a new vision suddenly crystallized in my mind: a clear and vivid scene, an image of myself overflowing with happiness and health. Actually living! Pain free. This was in fact hypnosis, and not only the pivotal catalyst to my journey of healing, but a gift shared by the Universe to instruct me to heal myself. Void of any evidence, any proof, any facts.
Completely against the skilled team of physicians and specialists who clearly stated in unison that I would never work again, the damage is permanent, the intense pain levels and extreme restrictions on my ability to walk and function would never resolve or improve. And yet, this was the gift of knowing, a powerful life-changing vivid visualization. A form of self-hypnosis called Auto Suggestion.

My life was immediately changed and this moment of hypnosis was the pivotal catalyst in my healing journey. The subconscious mind controls all of our
physiological responses, all of our involuntary body functions. If it receives clear instructions to reduce inflammation levels it will comply, and chronic pain levels will therefore reduce and resolve. I was able to reduce my chronic pain levels by 80%, and completely resolve my PTSD and clinical depression associated with this trauma through self-hypnosis and other additional changes. Hypnosis helped me to reduce my inflammation levels, in addition to other changes such as adapting a strict plant-based diet, incorporating yoga, and Pilates.

I had found my true-calling.

If hypnosis could resolve the emotional trauma and chronic searing pain from the permanent physical injuries I sustained, what couldn’t it do? The possibilities fascinated me and I began a new journey to become a Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist to share this powerful modality of healing with others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

There is nothing more gratifying than being a part of the healing journey of others. I am also passionate about my research and book. EVSTT is the very first psychotherapeutic treatment protocol created for this disorder that specifically targets the stress-response connected to manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes and includes clinical hypnosis.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

When I first opened my practice over a decade ago, it was very difficult to create a budget as some months I would see many clients, and other months were very few. It takes time to build up a reputation and presence when in private practice as a Therapist.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Believe in yourself!
    If you are educated, skilled, and passionate about what you do, it just takes a leap of faith, confidence in yourself, and perseverance to achieve your goals.
  2. Trust that the Universe has your back!
    Have you read the New York Times bestselling book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne?
    From Henry Ford to Carl Jung to Buddha or Jack Canfield and so many more of the incredible minds of our time are cited in this book:
    "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way, you are right." Henry Ford (1863-1947)
    A must-read for any entrepreneur!
  3. Have a sense of humor and go with the flow!
    As the COVID pandemic has taught us, unexpected things happen in every industry. Being a successful business owner, regardless of the industry, requires patience, the ability to pivot in any direction at a moment's notice, and keep that sense of humor! What's done is done; take a deep breath, accept it, and move forward.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.3rdeyehypnotherapy.com/
Author's Website: https://www.meeraduncan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3rdeyehypnotherapy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/meeraduncan
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3FBd7kE


If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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