We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Whitby and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have an M.A.Ed in School Counseling and worked as a school counselor for several years before beginning my own business. I felt that traditional talk therapy, while valuable and important, can only take healing so far. I expanded into my own spiritual practices and knew that if I combined talk therapy with less traditional modalities, the work I was doing could be taken much deeper. My desire to begin a business was to be able to serve in a different, more unique way. I wanted to build upon the mainstream mental health background I already possessed and expand upon it.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I call myself a Divine Messenger because I am able to bring messages from the other side and share them with my clients in order to facilitate healing and personal evolution. However, I started out as a traditional therapist after earning my M.A.Ed in School Counseling. I realized that traditional therapy was only able to serve people to a certain extent, and I knew there were modalities that could bring deeper healing to my clients. I obtained certifications in Regression Therapy, Meditation, and Holy Fire Reiki. I am different from those in the traditional mental health field because I utilize these spiritual modalities to find deeper self-awareness for my clients. But I am also different from those in the spiritual field because I have a traditional background and am able to utilize those formal skills that I possess. I love to find the axis point between the mainstream and the mystical.
Getting to this place in my business has not been easy at all. I had to address quite a bit of fear around how I would be perceived by others who didn’t agree with my work. I can’t say these fears are completely gone, but each time they arise, I remind myself of the higher purpose of my work. I want to be a safe place for people to express their emotions, to feel seen, and to find real results from the modalities I offer. That is truly what keeps me going!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely love Charlotte and the surrounding areas! I would have to make sure we visited the Whitewater Center for either a fun outdoor adventure, or to watch one of their concert series. We would also head to NoDa for the cute shops and great restaurants including my favorite, The Goodyear House. Assuming all of the construction is complete, we would take a half-day trip to Catawba Falls for an easy hike to such a beautiful waterfall and a picnic lunch.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to thank my husband, Jon Whitby. Without his support, I truly would not have this business in the capacity that I do. His endless encouragement, financial backing, emotional support, and belief in my abilities is truly invaluable.
Website: https://www.danawhitby.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danasoulrises/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danasoulrises
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesoulrisingpodcast
Youtube: https://youtu.be/HA8TOBkAzKI
Other: Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/soulrisingpodcast