Meet Hannah Chism | Mental Health Therapist & Career Coach

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

Hi Hannah, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Peripateo Consulting was born out of a passion for getting to walk alongside people in their life journey. This passion  zeal started for me at a young age and has continued to grow. I have always loved hearing people’s stories, but stepped into this more deeply as a backpacking guide for adolescents during college. I then chose an undergraduate degree in Secondary English Education out of a desire to help kids rewrite their narratives – to empower them to not be defined by hurts or trauma. Through teaching, I discovered most kids were still in the midst of their trauma and in survival mode, therefore not in a place to rewrite their narrative. At that point, I realized I wanted to be a part of the healing process after individuals were no longer in those settings and had become adults having more autonomy to make choices on their own volition.

Peripateo Consulting began in 2017 as a primarily career coaching business. I blended what I had learned from my time as a Human Resource Recruiter (roughly five years) and teaching, to support clients in finding a congruent career that aligns with their priorities, values, personality, goals and so forth. By 2020, I completed my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and added counseling to my service offerings.

I believe we have the power to change our life course and not be confined by others, circumstances, or past trauma. We each have a story and we have a choice of what we do with that story. I believe in the importance of being heard, seen, and loved, as it results in healing, empowerment and positive change. Being a coach and therapist affords me the honor of holding that role in my client’s lives.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a mental health therapist in Colorado Springs and primarily work with trauma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, career counseling, and Christian counseling. I am a trauma-informed therapist and work with clients in the past, present, and future; so they can live present, whole-hearted lives that are congruent with their present circumstances, personality, values, goals, and priorities.

I have had incredible support from my clinical supervisor, spouse, and personal therapist. So much of the battle of starting and developing a business is overcoming the mental challenges of financial stress and getting clients. This requires patience and investing time in places that may not result in an immediate return. The greatest lesson I have learned is patience, but I am continuing to learn and practice it.
What do I want the world to know about my me, my brand and story? The importance of truly seeing others. I desire for every person on this earth to live a full and wholehearted life. For people to not be confined or defined by past trauma. For people to feel empowered to seek a present-minded and congruent life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend was visiting for a week, we would hike or bike everyday. There are so many parks and trails in Colorado Springs: Ute Valley, Garden of the Gods/Rock Ledge Ranch, Red Rock Open Space, Palmer Park, the Sante Fe/Greenway trail, etc. Coffee shops would also be on the agenda, including: Loyal Coffee, The Wild Goose, Pikes Perk, and Cafe 225. We would likely get breakfast burritos from Monica’s Tacos off Fillmore. In the late afternoons or evenings, we would probably visit a brewery or bar: The Principal’s Office at Ivywild, Phantom Canyon Brewery, Red Leg Brewery, or Cerberus. We get so much sunshine here that outdoor seating is almost always an option.

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?
There are several women throughout the course of my life who have had a life-altering impact on me, by seeing, hearing, and loving me. That includes, my aunt, a few English teachers, camp counselors, camp Directors, therapists, and best girl friends. We can never underestimate the power of a relationship. When someone genuinely and safely (trustworthy) asks “How are you?” that can change one’s life course and give the amount of hope needed to keep on walking.

Website: https://peripateoconsulting.com

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