Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Schiek.
Hi Haley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I suppose I’ll start by introducing myself– My name is Haley Schiek. I am the owner and founder of Cosana Coaching, an eating disorder recovery and psycho-spiritual wellness service located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
My work as an eating disorder coach is most influenced (and inspired by) my own experience in overcoming an almost decade-long battle with an eating disorder. At age 15, I was a freshman in high school, thriving academically but struggling in all other regards. My career as a competitive gymnast had just ended due to a succession of injuries, and I had recently transferred to the massive public education system after having spent my entire life at the same Catholic school with 30 other kids. I felt lost. Like many other girls my age, I found that funneling my energy into controlling my body size provided some level of relief from the intense emotional discomfort I was going through. But dieting quickly evolved into a disorder. Managing my weight consumed my thoughts, drained my energy, dictated my actions, and obliterated my sense of self-worth. My eating disorder ran my life, and I struggled to regain control for years.
I tried every imaginable treatment modality possible. I was very privileged to have the level of support that I did. And it is amazing to me that I continued to struggle despite all these amazing resources. I think that speaks to just how hard it can be to overcome an eating disorder. It’s certainly not impossible. I am living, breathing proof of that. But it can take a lot of help and a lot of time. When I look back on the whole experience from where I am now, I am just grateful that my loved ones did not give up on me, and that I was stubborn enough to not give up on myself.
My Path to Entrepreneurship:
Equipped with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Outdoor Education & Leadership, I made my way into “the real world” in 2020, just as the pandemic was ramping up. I accepted an admin position with a company in Salt Lake City. I felt lucky to have a job when so many of my friends were experiencing unemployment, but I also felt horribly misaligned. I knew I would be happiest in a role where I could help people heal and where I could talk about mental health, but to do that professionally, it seemed like I needed to go back to school (having just graduated, that did not exactly appeal to me). My heart ached to do meaningful work, but I wasn’t sure how to make that happen. So, I did my best with the job that I had. I watched as my passion and productivity dwindled
One day, after nearly two years with this company, my husband gave me the push I needed. “You either need to change your attitude or quit your job,” he said. “Whatever you do, you just can’t keep being this unhappy.” Thank God, I thought. I had known in my gut for months that the job was the problem, not me. Time and time again, I tried changing how I felt, and it hadn’t worked. So, I quit.
And you know what happened as a result? My “zest for life” returned immediately. Job opportunities started pouring in from more spickets than I could drink from! And what I wanted to do became clearer to me by the day. I enrolled in a coaching course and immersed myself in learning about social media marketing, web design, copywriting, and branding. I worked catering gigs on the weekends and traded labor with a local marketing company to get help building my website on weekdays. There were days I spent 14 hours staring at my computer, and yet it felt like no time had passed at all. I would frequently wake up at 5 am so excited to pick up wherever I had left off. I loved building my business. And now, four months later, Cosana Coaching is thriving.
In hindsight, it makes complete sense why I felt so unfulfilled in my previous job. In a corporate environment, I felt like I had to hide the most powerful aspects of my life story to appear “professional.” In the mental health industry, however, the very same experiences that I felt made me be perceived as “a liability” in an office setting are what enable me to work effectively with others as a coach. My clients can rely on me because of my experiences with addiction, depression, and trauma, not despite them.
In the traditional corporate setting, there was an apparent lack of emotional and social transparency. We had fliers posted in the office about the importance of mental health and seeking support, but it was clear that very few people in the office felt comfortable discussing how they were actually doing. “How are you?” was always met with “Great!” or “Fine, thanks.” These superficial interactions made me uncomfortable! It reinforced the feeling that my whole human self was not welcome in this space. Meanwhile, in the realm of recovery, transparency is not just normal, but necessary. Everyone is encouraged to be honest about how they feel. A work environment where emotional expression and vulnerability are integral to everyone’s success is far more aligned with my nature and is one reason, I love being a coach. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. Doing anything less would feel inauthentic and awkward for me. I cannot tell you how big of a relief it is to finally able in a position to do that professionally. Now, when I show up for work, I get to bring my whole self to the table. And my clients feel allowed to be who they are, where they are, as a result.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being a self-taught entrepreneur, the road has actually been very bumpy. I think any small business owner can relate to the level of problem solving and perseverance required to get your dreams up and running! But truth be told, even before deciding to quit my corporate job and launch my coaching business, I feel like I have been metaphorically “off-roading” my way through life. I have always been one to carve my own path. And I think the things that I have gone through have necessitated that kind of innovation and bravery.
Besides, my spirit has never been one to take the easy way. It’s not satisfied with easy. As a person, I have always craved and taken on more (that may explain my decision to learn how to build a website from scratch instead of going with a more straightforward, user-friendly platform). It is in my nature to pursue every opportunity to learn, evolve, and make a difference in this world. I won’t settle for living a life lacking in luster when I know that fulfillment is possible. This is the reason I have made it through so many hard times. My experiences all have helped me cultivate a deep well of inner strength and self-knowledge that have left me feeling very powerful and grounded. And from this position, I get to support others as they rise to feeling whole, healthy, and happy too.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Cosana Coaching?
Cosana Coaching is an eating disorder recovery and mental health service. I myself am a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Yoga Instructor (E-CYT 200) who specializes in eating disorder recovery and psycho-spiritual wellness. I have been working with others in a spiritual/communal context for over six years as a yoga instructor and began working with private clients at the end of 2021 as a coach.
About Eating Disorder Coaching:
Eating disorder coaching is part of a very new and fast-growing phenomena in the field of eating disorder treatment. As an eating disorder coach, I bridge the gap between doctors, therapists, and nutritionists. Using my lived experience with eating disorder recovery, I am able to relate to and support clients in a way that friends, family, and therapists can’t (this is the essence of the “peer support model”). It is exciting to be on the forefront of this recovery movement. And so far, it is proving to be extremely effective.
About Cosana Coaching:
Cosana coaching is different from a lot of health services for a multitude of reasons. The first is that we do not focus on weight at all. We really strive to go beyond discussing food consumption and body image in our coaching sessions. We reject the idea of a “one-size fits all” approach to health. And I am a firm believer that you can never tell how healthy (or happy) someone is from looks alone.
We also recognize that many people who struggle with food struggle with a general sense of powerlessness, or they learned to derive their sense of power in unhealthy ways, such as by manipulating their food intake and body size to fit a social standard that receives more visibility and praise. At Cosana, we prioritize helping clients restore their sense of power, so that food has less control over their thoughts, actions, and identity. As a coach, I personally aim to facilitate discussions about health through a holistic, systemic frame of mind, taking particular care to understand how my clients’ socio-cultural beliefs, gender, and identity intersect to impact their mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. It is through understanding the factors that shape a person’s identity that we can address the roots of shame, powerlessness, and self-hatred, build self-trust, and recover one’s powerful, balanced Self.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Oh man. Being a kid was the best. My childhood was full of adventure and imagination. Some of my fondest memories are of me and my neighborhood friends playing “airplane wreck” or “spies” in the woods– which pretty much involved us building forts, swinging from vines, collecting nuts “for survival,” and tromping around in the creek.
Another particularly joyful childhood memory I have is with my dad. While I was growing up in Georgia, we had a big trampoline in the backyard. My dad and I would bounce on it together to “get my energy out” before bed. With my hands in his hands, he could bounce me so high that I did a handstand on top of his extended arms. It was such a thrill. Flying above my dad’s head made me feel like a graceful and brave trapeze artist.
Pricing:
- Online & In-person Coaching Session (60 min): $100
- Student Rate Coaching Session (60 min): $60
- In-Person Intensive Eating Disorder Coaching: Contract Basis Only (Email for more information)
- Embodiment Activity – Surf Lesson (60 min): $50
- Embodiment Activity – Private Yoga Lesson (60 min): $30
Contact Info:
- Email: haley@cosanacoaching.com
- Website: https://cosanacoaching.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosanacoaching/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosanacoaching
