Meet Tamara Driskell

We were lucky to catch up with Tamara Driskell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tamara , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

Standing tall and firm against resistance was a skill I began developing from the moment I chose to go back to school to become a counselor, and it came (as it often does) from those closest to me first.

I was going through a divorce at age 28, and up until that point, had been a stay at home mom to two little girls, with only a year of college under my belt nearly a decade prior. The idea of working low-paying, dead end jobs for the rest of my life sounded like soul death to me yet that is exactly what my well-meaning loved ones advised me to do to put food on the table immediately. Learning to follow my gut while speaking my truth in love was paramount to not only success but my sanity.

A quote by the late great innovator, Steve Jobs, became one of the anchor points for me as I made the tough decision to move in with my younger sister and her family while I put myself through night school with the help of student loans:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Over the next 7 years as I completed two degrees and subsequent internships and licensure, I encountered plenty more pushback from those in my industry who prefer a cookie cutter approach to not just therapy methods but marketing ones as well.

Early on in my career, I found myself lamenting to an older mentor about some of the mean girl behavior I was experiencing and not knowing whether I should follow my then supervisor’s request to “fly my freak flag a little (or a LOT) lower.” He slid me a box of tissues and simply asked, “Tamara, would you stake your license on this issue? In other words, if you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you aren’t violating any ethical codes, then stand loud and proud for those called to work with you.”

He was so right. What’s ironic is that I was working as an adjunct psychology professor at the time, teaching those very codes that these more sensitive and conforming types were so concerned about and was confident in my ethical compliance. I then taped a second quote on my desk:

“And then there is the turning point. The place where you become intimate with your intuition. Where you realize other people’s input can be valuable, but it is never vital. Where you are no longer afraid to make the call, to have the final say, and to become the CEO of your universe.” – Cara Alwill Leyba

Following my own intuition and owning my voice so that I can serve those who have been waiting for someone just like me to come along is how I persist.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I got my start in the personal development world originally through health and fitness, first obtaining my personal trainer’s certificate back in 2000, but then I discovered psychology in college and fell in love with what I believe to be the perfect companion in a truly holistic framework.

I now practice what I call “sacred psychology,” focusing on the intersectionality across ALL levels of being – mind, body, and spirit – and the subtle yet powerful layers in-between, so everything from trauma work, mindset empowerment, nutrition, exercise, mindfulness practices, and even energy healing or other spiritually focused modalities are considered.

Being an Omnist myself (someone who embraces all religious paths and spiritual worldviews), it was a no-brainer from the jump. My mission became centered around providing comprehensive wellness services, especially for the non-conformists of the world. And since my physical location is located deep in the Bible Belt, the need has been great.

With deeper specializations in religious trauma as well as sexual, erotic, and relational diversity along with business identity, my passions have guided the expansion of my services into private intensives, coaching packages, and some non-profit work through Pineapple Support which offers free to extremely low cost counseling for sex workers of all kinds.

I’m excited to be launching some online courses very soon and there’s also a book or two in the works combining personal history, philosophical musings, and sociopolitical advocacy. My hope is to inspire others to shake off any complacency, heal from their past, and push forward into the life of their dreams.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe anyone wishing to own a business needs to be incredibly driven, flexible, and definitely a bit rebellious.

There’s going to be times where the market naturally fluctuates, where you find yourself tired, unmotivated, and uninspired, or where you’re simply out of your natural zone of genius. It’s crucial to, like Nitezche said, know your why so you can endure any how. Those who make it to their goals are ruthlessly pragmatic in keeping their eyes on the prize while holding their own feet to the fire. That drive has to come from within. You can have a bad day, or maybe even a couple, but you cannot allow yourself to throw sustained or even frequent pity parties.

And when things seem to slow down or not work as well as they used to, the ability to be flexible and pivot aids that inner drive. Humans are fickle and tend to follow trends. Business owners who refuse to stay open to learning everything from new tech to ways to implement advances in research in their area to what their particular niche client or customer wants and needs will be left behind.

Furthermore, as Picasso is attributed with saying, “learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist” is the success mantra every business owner needs. Sustainable growth requires that you stand out from the crowd. You have to be a market disruptor, not just a trend rider. I bet Blockbuster would give anything to go back and change their mind on streaming, for example, but Netflix was the rebel leading the pack that day. If you don’t have the guts to be rebellious in your ideology and marketing, you’ll either be a quick flash and then gone, or never stand out enough to make it out of the friend zone in marketing.

DRIVEN. DYNAMIC. DISRUPTIVE.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

I’m a great fit for people who find themselves frustrated by a longing for MORE, from themselves, from their relationships, or even their business. They feel the push from existential dread and are determined to, like Henry David Thoreau, “suck out all the marrow of life” before they leave this planet.

Perhaps, like me, they were raised in a rigid or even traumatic religious environment, maybe they were made to feel bad about simply being themselves, especially if they stood out in any way, and they’re just sick and tired of feeling stuck. They can’t stand the idea of complacent and complicit conformity and know that if they don’t do something soon, they’re going to miss out on the experiences they’ve always wanted.

I tend to do the best work with those who:

– appreciate when someone doesn’t mince words and gets right to the heart of the issue
– prefer solutions rather than just talking about feelings
– are forward thinking and done living in the past
– are willing to be uncomfortable for a little while until new beliefs and behaviors start to feel normal

If they find themselves feeling less and less like the real them and have no idea where to start to get your mojo back, I’m their woman. I specialize in breaking through barriers of dogma and trauma and igniting fresh passion to worn out businesses, bedrooms and more.

As a mentor, I embody the archetype of the LIBERTINE. I’m not afraid to let you feel uncomfortable. My unique giftings allow me to bring a laser-like precision to what’s holding you back while also holding you accountable to reach the goals you claim you want.

I’m encouraging but I don’t coddle. You can get that from any run of the mill therapist or life coach. I love my people way too much to leave them stuck in their BS. Placating never cures existential suffocation.

My paradox of being both the stoic and the hedonist allows me to show you how to live completely and unapologetically unleashed:

– by disregarding any convention handed to you by parents, peers, culture or religion … any “dogma” – living with the results of others’ thinking

– by becoming immune to fears of selfishness

– by healing any trauma associated with being YOU

– by identifying and channeling your authentic sexual energy, whatever that is across the erotic spectrum, through your solar plexus (personal power) for increased orgasms, profit, and more

I’m not the soft and feely type but I’m perfect for those who are ready to die to illusion and need freedom from disillusionment.

So whenever you’re ready to have true and sustainable peace and satisfaction, call me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tamaradriskell.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trapezoidtales/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aryatherapyservices

Image Credits

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