conversations With
vivienne o’keffe continued
“When you're really pressured, it can be
very challenging to value mental
wellness or be mentally well yourself...”
job because we’re orchestrating an experience, and
caring for people during very joyful and very sad times.
That can weigh on a therapist and contribute negatively
to their mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing, which
negatively affects clients and guests—if we’re not well
and whole ourselves, we’re unable to facilitate and be
there totally for somebody.
There can also be intense pressure in the spa industry
to increase revenue, to increase roi. When you’re really
pressured—when you have a hotel manager or owner
telling you to increase the return and maximize the
investment—it can be very challenging to value mental
wellness or be mentally well yourself if you don’t have a
strong support network.
46
PULSE
■
MAY 2019
P: What’s the larger significance? Why is
now the right time to focus on mental
health?
o: roughly a billion people suffer from anxiety
worldwide. one in four people experience mental
disorders. The spa industry is no different. But the brain is
able to continually grow—it’s called neuroplasticity—and
we can all adapt our minds in ways that are conducive to
mental wellness if we start now. With this new under-
standing, awareness, knowledge and practice of
self-directed neuroplasticity and continual development,
we can achieve mental and overall wellness.