Meet Selena Anduze | Essence Coach

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

Hi Selena, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
We are a species that thrives on community! When that element of comradery and support is absent, we feel it deeply, like a piece of us is missing. And if ever there was a need for community, it’s now! In today’s world of digital screen interviews, Zoom calls and self-tapes, many of us are seeking the answer to WHO we are to each other, HOW we best fit in to the collective, and WHAT our unique talents and gifts are so we can be celebrated in our most authentic form. Yet, in all the noise of the Who’s, the How’s, and the What’s, we often neglect the most important part of what makes a community in the first place, and that’s the WHY.
When someone knows why they do the things they do, why they like the superheroes they like, why they gravitate towards or away from certain occupations or people, the answer to these questions are the true gold. And to find those answers, I coach you back to your most authentic self so you can tell the clearest story and walk the clearest path to personal and professional success. When you know who you are and how to step into the spotlight as the lead role in your own life story, it’s easier for the rest of the community to see you and find a place for you to collaborate in the making of their story. Talk about a deep impact on the world! We are all master storytellers, a cast of players seeking a target audience. I help you tell the kind of story that others want to hear, and listen to the kind of story that you want to be a part of.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My favorite character in childhood was Cinderella. And more recently… I’ll admit, I may have a soft spot for the Marvel villain, Thanos, but that’s a story for another time… Hi, my name is Selena Anduze, and I’m a story-holic! You may have seen me in some of your favorite TV shows or films, such as Wandavision, Candy, and The Haunting of Hill House. I’ve kissed the stage with song and dance, stood on desks a la Robin Williams style in Dead Poets Society, and dished out soul-healing wellness like candy to trick-o-treaters. And wherever I go, I bring all my stories and experiences with me, bundled in a unique blend of spicy talents to Coach and mentor other humans along the way in their own endeavors. But I think what really sets me apart as a Coach is my approach. I use my incredibly unique background to connect with people on a deeper emotional level, helping them navigate their inner landscapes and giving them the power to transform their perspectives of their world so that they may impact their outer world.
Simply put, my purpose is to clean you up and sprinkle glitter in your soul sauce so you can sparkle too!
I won’t take you all the way back to the beginning of my incarnation, but I’ll start my story a decade in, when I was relocated to Atlanta from the Caribbean as a pre-teen and refugee from a horrific natural disaster. To say I was shell-shocked would be an understatement! As a mixed-race island girl with little knowledge of the southern United States, I had to learn how to fit in fast if I was to survive my new environment. As luck would have it, the place I found the most solace was in the theater. It was my haven, my home, and my bridge to connecting with others. Fast forward a few decades later (don’t ask how many!) and I’m privileged to say I have found success as a professional Actor. I’m an emotion athlete and I bring a skillset to the table that connects the audience with the stories that need to be told.
But I’m not just an Actor… As a certified Jungian Coach, I’m adept at helping individuals explore how their personal narratives, archetype, upbringing, and cultural identity shapes how they carry out their own story. My method of archetype-based coaching allows for playful introspection and the gentle release of blockages that may be holding one back from their full potential.
Wait, hang on there’s more! I’m also a science nerd with a Doctorate in Natural Health, so yes, I am a Doctor… and I play one on TV (well, PhD not MD)! I combine scientific knowledge of how the human body tells a story with knowledge of how the energetic body tells a story to offer a well-rounded approach of guiding others to the clearest understanding of how they show up in the world. Whether it’s through acting out scenes, engaging in body movement, or diving in to well-rounded discussion, I seek to provide each and every client with the most enlightening path to well-being.
My sessions and workshops aim to connect you with your CineChi so you can uncover the missing ingredient that will get you UNSTUCK once and for all! Be it your work life, your relationships, or something you can’t quite put your finger on yet know is misaligned, there is a path you can take to step into the lead role and quit being an extra on the sidelines. I call it “CineChi”–the marriage of Cinematic story bonded with life force Chi energy. Cultivate both and you’re unstoppable! Whether you’re an Actor, an Entrepreneur, a CEO, or “undecided”, I’ve got you covered. I’m your Coach.

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?
As a notable introvert who becomes an extrovert when my besties are around, there are always a few spots in town that we target every time they visit! First stop, a dinner splurge on Nan Thai Fine Dining in midtown. There is no such thing as a bad meal there, plus, they have lots of options for vegans like me to eat with my non-vegan pals. Follow that up with a show at any of Atlanta’s many richly entertaining shows, and I instantly wonder why I don’t drive into the city more often!
Sometimes, you just have to do the touristy thing and indulge the Atlanta culture vibe. For that, I highly recommend a trip to the artisan shops in Ponce City Market, followed by a leisurely stroll along the beltline. Each visit there and I have to be rolled out like Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka. It’s a problem y’all!
But don’t forget to give some love to our local mom-n-pop shops! I’ll let you in on a secret… those are always my favorites, with or without company in town. I’m a sucker for a smooth Speakeasy, and the quaint atmosphere of Eleanor’s concealed within Muss & Turner’s Bistro in Smyrna is just the ticket. But if you want a more lively vibe with live blues and entertainment, it’s The Velvet Note in Alpharetta.
Last but not least, you should know that my first love is an authentic high quality matcha, and I can get my fix while my friend gets the very best coffee from Ground & Pound Coffee off Holcomb road. The owners and baristas are warm creatives with a panache for gourmet goodies!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Goodness! By the time I gave a Shoutout to every person who has influenced my journey, the music would have finished and everyone would have already made it home from the Oscars…
But in a snapshot attempt to acknowledge those who have impacted me the most in lighting my way through the forest, it’s the works and wisdom of Carl Jung, Nicole LePera, and Sam Christensen. With them, I learned the deliciousness of healing my own story so that I may reciprocate in kind through my studio, CineChi Studio, and teach others the profound strength of creating from a healed space instead of a despaired space.
And I am especially enthused to join efforts with phenomenal organizations here in Atlanta such as Blue Quill Creative (@bluequillcreative), Actors Empowerment Summit (@actorsummit), and The Working Actor Group (@workingactoratl)! Additionally, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share my work with more and more businesses and individuals who continue to reach out to collaborate in spreading the “CineChi”!–just like SHOUTOUT ATLANTA for graciously receiving me as a spotlight on their platform!

Website: https://www.cinechistudio.com

Instagram: @selenaanduze

Linkedin: @selenaanduze

Facebook: @selenaanduze

Youtube: @selenaanduze

Other: TV/Film Work: www.demoreel.com/selenaanduze
IMDb: www.imdb.me/selenaanduze

Image Credits
Tara Gulledge Photo