Joseph CascianiGeropsychologist, Consultant, Public Speaking, Freelance · Podcast Host of the Living to 100 Club | Clinical Strategies for Senior Residential Settings & Lifestyle Directors | Geropsychologist | Keynote Speaker

A Prescription for Happiness Written by Katie Wee, Wellness Leader

20 Mar 2024 · 1 min

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In this reflective monologue, the speaker—who identifies as a wellness leader and psychologist—explains her current passion for mindset coaching, emphasizing the goal of helping people cultivate happiness regardless of past hardships. She recounts her upbringing in the Bay Area, her intensive training to become a professional ballerina, and the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a private ballet teacher from ages 12 to 16, which she kept secret. She describes the typical psychological response of repressing emotions and striving for perfection as a coping mechanism. The narrative sets the stage for her coaching approach, which aims to address such hidden trauma and guide individuals toward resilient, joyful mindsets.

Chapters

So mindset coaching is at the forefront of what I'm most passionate about right now. And so much of what I'm excited about teaching people is how to overcome circumstances and create a happy mindset regardless of what's happened to them. So that brings me back into my past a little bit. I grew up with a great family in the Bay Area, and I was a dancer training professionally to be— training to be a professional ballerina. That was my goal, my dream. And I loved it. And I was very intensely working and, you know, on pointe shoes at age 10 and taking all these private lessons. But unfortunately, when I I was 12, my private ballet teacher started sexually abusing me, and that went on until I was 16. I didn't tell anyone. And as a psychologist, I'm sure you can understand the kind of normal pattern of repressing emotion. Sure. Pretending like it didn't happen. And I just went on trying to be really perfect.