Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Royal.
Hi Carla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a family of anxious, stressed-out people, but everyone hid it. We looked good, capable, and just fine, but there was always an undercurrent of unease. We used alcohol, pharmaceuticals, food, rigidity, affairs, permissiveness, religion, and various other attempts to manage stress and anxiety. We looked good and successful, but we were missing out on all the juice life had to offer. From an early age, I learned to keep my own mental chatter and anxiety to myself lest I rock our fragile boat. It’s lonely and frightening, managing hidden stress, anxiety, and mental chatter. My path became about breaking through my patterns of stress and anxiety and then helping others do the same. I hired therapists and coaches all along the way to support me on my path, and I became a psychotherapist and then a coach myself. I discovered through my own personal journey and by working with hundreds of people that a healthy and clear mind creates a healthy and fulfilling life, better work performance, and richer relationships. When you quiet your insecure or anxious thinking and an overactive imagination, even temporarily, you can access your inner wisdom, resourcefulness, and wellbeing.
My work as a coach is all about deep transformation. I’m not only a master certified coach, but I was also a licensed psychotherapist for 15 years before becoming a coach, and that work still informs me now. I’ve gone through extensive training both as a therapist and coach. I’ve been doing this work since 1990. Most importantly, I’ve done the work myself. I’ve had a therapist or coach since 1985 because I have learned that that level of support and accountability is the foundation for success, growth, and breaking free. My life has bloomed in ways I never expected, given the past, I come from. It’s why I wake up every day excited to serve my clients.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I’d say my biggest struggle along the way was a lack of self-confidence and a lack of belief in myself. I had this idea that I had to be perfect before I could put myself out there fully. This, of course, held me back terribly, especially in the world of business. I had much shame and self-doubt that took me decades to unravel. I had to unravel myself in order to find my way. I completely devolved a little over 20 years ago. I went to the utter depths of despair and almost didn’t find my way through, but, in the end, I did. I call that time my break down breakthrough. Hitting the absolute bottom was the best thing that ever happened to me and allowed for massive transformation. I think this is what makes me such a good mindset and performance coach. I’m not afraid to walk with people through their pain and confusion. I have an absolute belief in the wisdom of my clients. I have no doubt that they can find their way with a bit of good support.
We’ve been impressed with Carla Royal Coaching & Consulting, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a mindset and performance coach. I am a certified master coach and was a psychotherapist for 15 years before becoming a coach. I work primarily with high achieving, high-performance entrepreneurs and business owners who are quietly dealing with hidden anxiety, stress, and too much mental chatter. I help my clients find more headspace, be less guarded, value mistakes, sleep better, find more meaning, be less judgmental, be more confident, and lead more effectively. I work with both men and women, but in early 2020, more and more young male entrepreneurs began contacting me. They are highly successful and know how to run a business. They are making mounds of money, and they believed that money and success would make them feel better and give them a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment. Many are shocked to find that money and success don’t make them happy.
In fact, I often find that more money and more success add more stress and discontent. So, while they are experts in business, their interior worlds suffer. That’s why they hire me. They want to feel better, more fulfilled, calmer and find an inner sense of wellbeing that isn’t so tied to their business. They want to know who they are apart from their business. I help them come home to themselves, take things off their minds, and find their value, which can only be found within. I offer six month and yearlong coaching programs that I supplement with my proprietary Thrive Stepwise™ curriculum. It is an absolute thrill and joy to work with my clients. Another passion I have is my Riffing on Realness podcast. My cohost, Juliet Fay, and I riff on the idea of removing our masks and being real in a world full of superficiality. We create a weekly episode, and our listeners love it.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had considerable support in life all along the way, both personally and professionally. Too many to mention! My business’s turning point came when I finally hired someone to help me with the backend of things. While I knew I was a good therapist and coach, I didn’t face the backend of my business for far too long, so I limped along for years. Only when I finally invested in getting help did things turn around. I enrolled in Christine Kane’s yearlong mastermind group and she and two of her lead coaches, Jennifer Flynn and Elaine Bailey, helped me slay my business. I made huge strides that year and then chose to go forward working with Jenn Flynn alone. She is amazing and helps me stay on track with my business. It’s invaluable to have a coach of my own.
Contact Info:
- Email: Carla@CarlaRoyal.com
- Website: https://www.carlaroyal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlaroyalcoach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaRoyalCoach
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlaRoyal
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riffing-on-realness/id1529489723?fbclid=IwAR35sgrBRvwHKci1Toi1LHoS094ZY4N4PQxuQ1Eghq4wiHSZxweUoyTbuXE
