We had the good fortune of connecting with Deana Panza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deana, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is authenticity. My work is based on building trusting relationships and it’s nearly impossible to trust someone if you feel like they are aren’t being real. We’re all experiencing being human at the same time and that comes with so much confusion, unknown, exploration, questioning, awesomeness, and learning. To pretend that we are anything other than human is doing ourselves and our relationships a disservice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It has taken a whole lot of hard work to get to where I am today. During my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Program I was working three jobs and going to school full time at one point. It was tireless work for years. Also, when you are learning to work and help others, you simultaneously are learning to help yourself so there is a lot of introspection that happens in this job and during my education, which can be hard and exhausting all on its own. But, that personal work is so important for the work that I do and how I show up with clients. I pull from my own experience which acknowledges that we are all unique individuals and the way that we heal will be unique as well. I wholeheartedly believe that my clients are the expert on their own lives and it’s my honor and privilege to work with them. I strive to create an environment of non-judgement, empowerment, and trust to support my client’s on their journey toward wellness. It is truly an exciting honor for me to watch other people’s goals unfold, celebrate their wins, and hold space for their hard times.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely start on the East Side Beltline. So much to do and eat from Shake Shack to Ponce City Market some of my favorites are Hawkers, Glide, Yalla, and the view from the top of Ponce Market or New Realm. Another one of my new favorite spots is the Beacon for eating, drinking, and fun activities. We would also have to check out the amazing views at sunset from the Jackson Street Bridge and the top of Arabia Mountain. They are both so different and so magical.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe a lot of my success to my family. When I was younger my parents and sisters encouraged my weirdness and provided me with a safe space to explore and experience who I truly was in this life. Having the space to get curious about myself, who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do in this world is what led me to where I am today. In essence, I hope to create a space with my client’s where they are able to do that as well. And now, as I have embarked on the journey of pulling my big ideas together and really reigning it all in, my husband has supported me endlessly, even when it was hard for me to support myself anymore. His ability to remind me of who I am when I need it {because that time does come} and to continue to build that safe space for exploration that my family started, has allowed me to feel comfortable enough to shoot for all of my big dreams.

Website: http://deanapanza.com

Instagram: @deanapanza

Twitter: @deanapanza

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDee9ue7he63ok55G6Ll87A

Image Credits
The headshot is from Virginia Reese Photography. The photos that aren’t of me are from Pixabay.

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