71. Stress, Success, and Starting Over: Lessons from Clare Welsh

February 07, 2025

Clare Welsh is an ex-burnt out educator turned Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach. She helps burnt out teachers shift out of Survival mode into Balance and Thrive. And helps frustrated therapists fall in love with, and get more consistent clients from Instagram!

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

Clare’s 20+ years as a teacher and her experience with burnout.
The wake-up call that changed everything.
How she transitioned into a thriving career as a therapist and coach.
The mindset shifts and strategies she used to build a business that fuels her soul.
Why therapists and teachers are uniquely positioned to create impactful, freedom-based businesses.

Key takeaways:

Recognise burnout and take action to realign your life with your values.
Learn the power of authentic connection and aligned action in building a sustainable business.
Clare’s advice on overcoming fears, finding confidence, and creating harmony between work and life.

If you’re feeling stuck or looking for inspiration to start over, Clare’s story is a powerful reminder that transformation is always possible.

Free Resource: Download Beki’s free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief.

Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership:

Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose.

Connect with Clare Welsh:
Instagram: @selfingwithclare
Coaching Account: @selfingwithclarecoach

Connect with Beki

Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online businesses. Learn how to tap into your purpose and create an offer that sells with ease..

Follow Beki:

Website: www.bekieakins.com
Instagram: OT Yourself to Freedom
Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community
LinkedIn: Beki Eakins

Book an Inspiration Call: Click here

Main Topic :

00:00 Introduction to Beki Eakins and Her Mission

00:44 Meet Clare Welsh: A Special Connection

02:33 Clare's Journey Through Burnout

05:25 The Turning Point: Cancer Diagnosis and Resignation

06:51 Building a New Career: From Teacher to Therapist

11:49 The Power of Authenticity and Niche Marketing

21:10 The Impact of High-Ticket Offers

25:17 The Impact of Covid on Education

25:45 Transitioning from Teaching to Therapy

26:16 Building an Authentic Business

28:09 Creating Signature Programs

28:56 Growing a Social Media Presence

40:09 Balancing Business and Personal Life

45:07 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

About the Podcast

OT Yourself To Freedom Podcast helps occupational therapists create a life and business they love. Host Beki Eakins shares practical tips, strategies, and real-world stories to inspire your journey to freedom

Episode Transcript

Stress, Success, and Starting Over: Lessons from Claire Welsh

[00:00:00] Hi, I'm Beki Eakins, Business Mindset and Lifestyle Coach for Occupational Therapists.
[00:00:05] I focus on creating a freedom-based online business, helping OTs to package up their skills into unique and exciting offers that feel so good that they sell with ease in the online space.
[00:00:10] Since leaving the profession of OT, I have worked with hundreds of clients online, helping them to create a life they feel inspired by.

[00:00:15] In this podcast, I will talk about the lifestyle goals, mindset, and strategy you need to create your own life of freedom.
[00:00:20] Hello, so today's podcast, we are interviewing Clare Welsh.
[00:00:25] Welcome to the OT Yourself to Freedom podcast, Clare.
[00:00:30] Clare: Hello, lovely, so lovely to be here, Beki. Thank you so much for inviting me.
[00:00:35] Beki: That's okay. So, I'm going to explain a little bit about the relationship between me and Clare first, and then I'll get Clare to do an introduction.

[00:00:40] Clare's actually an ex-client from a while back when I wasn’t just working with OTs. Clare’s a very special connection for me.
[00:00:45] She has fantastic energy, but she isn’t an OT.
[00:00:50] We often joke that she's the honorary OT, because Clare worked with me when I started shifting and helping OTs.
[00:00:55] Clare’s actually a teacher by background.
[00:01:00] One of the things I’ve learned from working with Clare, and have noticed with teachers, is there’s a lot of overlap between education and occupational therapy.
[00:01:05] This may explain why there’s often a natural attraction between the two professions.
[00:01:10] Clare: That’s so true.

[00:01:15] Clare: So, about me, I was a teacher for 20 years, working in both the UK and the Middle East.
[00:01:20] During this time, I experienced chronic stress, and eventually severe burnout.
[00:01:25] What accelerated it for me was personal family challenges—my father passed, and my mother showed signs of early-onset dementia.
[00:01:30] Trying to juggle teaching and caring for my mom was the breaking point.
[00:01:35] I vividly remember the day in 2019 when I woke up and thought, "You’re done."

[00:01:40] Clare: That same year, I was diagnosed with cancer. That diagnosis forced me to stop, reflect, and make a change.
[00:01:45] I gave my resignation and felt an immediate sense of relief, realizing it was chronic stress—not depression—that I had been suffering from.
[00:01:50] Eventually, I transitioned into a new chapter.
[00:01:55] I trained as a cognitive behavioral hypnotherapist and mindset coach.

[00:02:00] Clare: However, I quickly realized that building a therapy business wasn’t straightforward.
[00:02:05] There’s a steep learning curve when it comes to attracting clients, and that’s where you helped me, Beki.
[00:02:10] Beki: Absolutely. Many therapists focus on their therapeutic skills but don’t invest in learning how to run a business.

[00:02:15] Clare: Yes, and with your guidance, I learned to package my offers, build visibility on Instagram, and confidently get on sales calls.
[00:02:20] My first breakthrough was developing a signature program.

[00:02:25] Beki: I remember you were initially resistant to the idea of high-ticket offers, feeling they were “unethical.”
[00:02:30] But as you saw the deeper transformation they enabled for clients, you realized their value.

[00:02:35] Clare: Absolutely. My clients began to experience profound changes, and that affirmed that I was on the right track.
[00:02:40] My first program, The Self Belief Shift, was a turning point.
[00:02:45] One of my clients, who was a teacher, completely shifted her mindset and life trajectory through the program.

[00:02:50] Clare: From there, I built another signature program, Rise in 2025, designed to help therapists establish their businesses.
[00:02:55] It’s been incredible to see these two programs grow organically.

[00:03:00] Clare: Now, I enjoy working with teachers transitioning out of the profession and therapists setting up their practices.
[00:03:05] I balance this work with family responsibilities, including caring for my mum, and I love the flexibility my business gives me.

[00:03:10] Clare: For anyone interested in working with me, you can find me on Instagram at @SelfingWithClare for teachers and @SelfingWithClareCoach for therapists.

[00:03:15] Beki: Thank you, Clare. It’s been wonderful hearing your story and seeing how far you’ve come.

71. Stress, Success, and Starting Over: Lessons from Clare Welsh

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