Artwork for podcast Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals
Empower and Evolve: Inside Mary Baca’s Mentorship and Training for Mental Health Professionals
Episode 49th January 2025 • Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals • Natasha Moharter
00:00:00 00:54:19

Share Episode

Shownotes

Welcome to the Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals podcast!

Join host Natasha Moharter, a licensed counselor and OCD specialist, as she welcomes Mary Baca—a professional counselor from New Mexico with over 34 years of experience. Discover Mary's journey from a shy teenager to a dynamic professional trainer, her passion for providing impactful CEU trainings, and her new mentorship program for helping professionals. Explore topics such as working with first responders, the significance of intuition in therapy, and creating a safe, engaging learning environment. Learn valuable insights on overcoming fear, following intuition, and the art of mentorship. Dive into this inspiring conversation about personal and professional growth!

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:26 Meet Mary Baca: A Journey in Counseling

02:15 Not so Accidental Beginnings in Professional Training

04:19 Intuitive Guidance and Empathy in Practice

09:43 The Power of Mentorship

17:01 Balancing Professional and Personal Growth

22:21 Creating Engaging and Dynamic Trainings

23:59 Specialized Training for First Responders

27:55 The Importance of Mentorship in Training

30:51 Challenges in Supervision and Mentorship

31:39 The Concept of 'Become' and Its Symbolism

32:57 The Role of Vulnerability in Mentorship

33:54 Starting a Professional Training Business

34:43 Overcoming Fear and Taking Risks

36:56 Customizing Mentorship Programs

40:59 Dealing with Competition and Collaboration

47:56 Balancing Passion and Practicality in Training

51:54 The Impact of Mentorship and Training

52:45 Conclusion and Contact Information

Transcripts

Natasha Moharter:

Welcome to the Continuing Education for Mental

2

:

Health Professionals podcast.

3

:

Today we are hosting another CEU

Provider Spotlight Conversation.

4

:

This is where we learn more

about CEU providers in our

5

:

community and their journeys.

6

:

My name is Natasha Moharter, and I'm a

licensed counselor and OCD specialist.

7

:

I run the Facebook group CE for Mental

Health Professionals, and if you're a

8

:

mental health professional, we'd love

to have you join us in that space.

9

:

Today.

10

:

I'm so excited to welcome Mary

Baca, a professional counselor

11

:

licensed in New Mexico with over 34

years of experience in the field.

12

:

Mary has worked across expansive

areas of focus and is passionate

13

:

about mentoring individuals and

groups, creating opportunities for

14

:

growth, learning, and providing CEUs.

15

:

For the past eight years, Mary

has delivered continuing education

16

:

trainings on impactful topics like

doing therapy with first responders

17

:

and their families, the interplay

of shame, abandonment, and control.

18

:

Intuitive goal setting.

19

:

And self care for the helping

professional, among others.

20

:

As a professional trainer for

over 25 years, Mary has mastered

21

:

the art of creating dynamic and

engaging learning environments.

22

:

Her trainings are not only

informative, but transformative,

23

:

equipping attendees with practical

tools they can apply right away.

24

:

Mary, thank you so much for being here.

25

:

It's such a pleasure

to have you here today.

26

:

Mary Baca: Thank you for having me.

27

:

Natasha Moharter: Can you share a

little bit about your background and

28

:

what got you interested in becoming a

professional trainer and CEU provider?

29

:

Mary Baca: Well, I started, I have four

businesses, but the one that has the

30

:

longest time, is Odyssey Counseling.

31

:

I started Odyssey Counseling

when I was 26 years old.

32

:

I can't even believe it, 34 years.

33

:

I know every time I say that number,

like, it just doesn't fit, you know,

34

:

because it's gone by like that.

35

:

And so, going back to even, in high school

and elementary school, I was the shy kid.

36

:

Like, I had my insecurities

and I was just so shy.

37

:

I'd be the kid like you'd never

really hear anything from.

38

:

I remember being in high school and we

had Speech class and they'd have impromptu

39

:

speeches and I'd be shaking in my boots,

you know, before during and after.

40

:

And then here I am today, I can deliver

a training to a hundred plus people and

41

:

it's, I'm probably nervous about the first

5 or 10 minutes and then it all is fine.

42

:

As long as technology works, right?

43

:

Natasha Moharter: Absolutely.

44

:

Mary Baca: But so it actually

happened accidentally that I

45

:

became a professional trainer.

46

:

I started my practice when I was

26, but while I was building up

47

:

my clientele, I had to work for

supplemental income for other companies.

48

:

And one of the companies, Vasquez

Management Company and United Healthcare

49

:

actually, had the Postal Service Employee

Assistance Program contract at the time.

50

:

This was many moons ago.

51

:

But that job really forced

me to do group trainings.

52

:

I had to go to all over because

the Postal Service is national.

53

:

I had to do critical incident stress

debriefings and stress management

54

:

trainings and so that kind of started

me putting me in that form of things.

55

:

I started getting more used to

people in college because I went

56

:

to UNM and so there's tons of

people from all over the world.

57

:

And so I started kind of getting out

of my shell, but really the training

58

:

piece of it was the post office.

59

:

That was what ignited

the flames, so to speak.

60

:

Natasha Moharter: It's so interesting

when we have kind of these happenstance

61

:

circumstances that come up and

we didn't know that this would be

62

:

something maybe that I liked or would

have pursued, but opportunity arises.

63

:

Mary Baca: So happenstance, I

use that word too, but, I believe

64

:

like as I've evolved, right?

65

:

Like my foundation really is

that nothing happens by accident.

66

:

I believe, and I've seen and experienced

over and over and over through the years,

67

:

that if I just find what I'm guided to

do, that it falls into place, and that

68

:

when I try to make something happen, try

too hard, because it sounds like a good

69

:

idea, but I don't feel it in my heart.

70

:

It's like I run into a brick wall, you

know, so I don't think it was accidental,

71

:

even though it seemed like it was.

72

:

And I use that word, I think in

hindsight, because it's something

73

:

I'm so passionate about and love,

that it wasn't accidental really.

74

:

Natasha Moharter: I'm so curious to hear

more about that insight that you have.

75

:

Even in looking at, the work that

you do and some of the trainings that

76

:

you provide, it really seems that you

kind of bring that belief or that,

77

:

power even maybe into your trainings.

78

:

Mary Baca: Yes, I have one of the

trainings or certifications I have, you

79

:

mentioned the intuitive guidance coach.

80

:

You don't have to be a life

coach to get the certification.

81

:

In fact, it yields CEUs.

82

:

It's usually done over seven weeks.

83

:

I like the seven weeks because

it kind of stretches out and

84

:

gives people the opportunity.

85

:

Truly, I help people identify if

they're empaths, a lot of us helping

86

:

professionals are empaths, right?

87

:

Natasha Moharter: Absolutely.

88

:

Mary Baca: You know, so many people

have never even heard that term, or

89

:

they're like, they've heard that term,

and they don't know what to do with it.

90

:

I'm thinking of a couple of

counselors that I've seen in the

91

:

past who know they're empaths,

but they get burnt out, right?

92

:

Because if you don't know, you're

an empath, and you don't know what

93

:

to do with that as a mental health

professional, you can really burn out.

94

:

So in the intuitive guidance

coach certification, I

95

:

teach and other classes too.

96

:

I have one, a really cool one.

97

:

That's about, the power of words.

98

:

And I talk a lot about energy, energy

psychology is one of my specialties.

99

:

And so, I talk in various trainings

about how important that is, and what

100

:

does that even mean, because all the

clients that come into our offices,

101

:

they bring their energy with them.

102

:

And if you can read a person's energy,

it tells you a lot about a person.

103

:

Even with each other, it tells you a

lot, if you go to a conference, you can

104

:

read people's energy a lot, you know, if

somebody's really nervous or they're very

105

:

self confident and energy never lies.

106

:

I don't know how many years ago I

started really consciously incorporating

107

:

intuition into my sessions.

108

:

What that kind of looks like

is just listening to my gut.

109

:

Like not always going by, okay, what

theoretical approach am I using right

110

:

now and what, you know, strategy, right?

111

:

But really listening to my right

brain and following those nudges.

112

:

And what I found is that they oftentimes

are right on point, whether I'm doing

113

:

EMDR and I get kind of nudged by my gut

to kind of go in this direction and I

114

:

follow that it just 99 percent of the

time is what the client is needing.

115

:

And I do all of this the same, you know,

with my trainings and my mentorships.

116

:

Natasha Moharter: You

flow with the energy.

117

:

When you feel like you're hitting up

against a wall or you're trying to work

118

:

too hard, it's kind of an indicator

that maybe that's not the path.

119

:

Mary Baca: You know, as

counselors we're over thinkers.

120

:

By and large, and I really worked

on that a lot in therapy and just

121

:

in my professional development that,

really, if you just kind of surrender,

122

:

and yeah, I mean, I'm not saying I

don't do any thinking, right, but

123

:

like, I try really not to overthink

because that's not really productive.

124

:

And I think that, that

as helping professionals.

125

:

We have a really hard time letting

go of that perceived control.

126

:

Right?

127

:

We don't really have control.

128

:

And we think like if we have all

our T's, you know, crossed and our

129

:

I's dotted, you know, this is going

to be the way the training goes.

130

:

And as opposed to just saying,

okay, this is a structure.

131

:

And you know what, the beauty

of this training is going to

132

:

be the life that it takes on.

133

:

And I love that.

134

:

I love that spontaneity.

135

:

I love being there to gently

guide, but also to provide a

136

:

safe environment for people to

bring up what they want to share.

137

:

And intuition is one, when I've done

that training, I can't believe it.

138

:

I've heard from many counselors

that they're not even allowed to

139

:

mention intuition in their workplace.

140

:

And that is so sad to me because,

like, for one thing, that's just who

141

:

we are as human beings, you know?

142

:

So I've had many counselors thank

me for, taking these trainings to

143

:

a professional level and being able

to help them integrate who they are,

144

:

in their core essence, into therapy

or trainings or different things.

145

:

Natasha Moharter: We don't just interpret

the world with our thinking brain,

146

:

there's so much else, I think about

even our fear brain or amygdala, right?

147

:

Even if logically within OCD, we know,

that doesn't logically make sense.

148

:

Your amygdala is still like, I don't care.

149

:

I still want us to do that.

150

:

And if we don't like

something bad could happen.

151

:

Mary Baca: Yeah.

152

:

Natasha Moharter: So it's not

just our thinking brain or our

153

:

logic that can play into our work.

154

:

And I think it's really important

to be able to maybe even tap

155

:

into that, in our trainings.

156

:

Mary Baca: And then as a holistic

practitioner, I incorporate things

157

:

like what the adrenals are doing.

158

:

Because the adrenal glands,

are in the endocrine system.

159

:

So if your adrenals are thrown off,

you run a risk to your thyroid,

160

:

your pancreas, different elements

of your health, in your system.

161

:

And so I talk a lot to people about that,

which I wouldn't even know about if it

162

:

was just, due to my counselor side, right?

163

:

That's one of the other businesses

I have is my holistic practice,

164

:

and so I incorporate some of those

things in the trainings that I do.

165

:

Natasha Moharter: You are passionate

about teaching others and view

166

:

it as an opportunity for everyone

to learn from the experience.

167

:

Mary Baca: Yeah.

168

:

And I learn every time from my clients,

from my students, from my mentees.

169

:

What other field can you

be in where you grow?

170

:

But I know that not everybody looks at

it like that, but I do and I embrace it.

171

:

I probably haven't always looked at it

like that, you know, but but I do now.

172

:

Natasha Moharter: It's so neat to

hear you've been on this journey and

173

:

developed through different experiences.

174

:

Mary Baca: I think that's one thing

that makes me a good mentor or has

175

:

made me a good mentor is the years

of experience, the trials and errors

176

:

that I've made, you know, and just

things I've learned in the 34 years.

177

:

And I really feel like there's a

need to make, make a mark on the

178

:

counseling field, I see people's

supervision in itself is not enough.

179

:

You know, to me, the difference in

mentorship and training is really taking

180

:

somebody under my wings and really

like getting to know them and helping

181

:

them incorporate, who they are into

what they do, because we're taught,

182

:

in our clinical learnings that you're

not supposed to bring yourself really

183

:

into therapy, you know, be really

careful with, over self disclosure.

184

:

Mentorship is like, being able to

get to know somebody better than you

185

:

would in supervision because it's

appropriate in mentorship and there's

186

:

such a fine line in supervision.

187

:

But being able to have people take that

part of themselves out and then helping

188

:

them refine like, okay, what part

of this can you use in your therapy?

189

:

What has to be, you know, a

voice in your head, but not

190

:

something you would say out loud.

191

:

How do you navigate through that?

192

:

Really providing an

environment where it's okay.

193

:

It's okay to be yourself, you know.

194

:

What I like about mentorship that I don't

like about training is the follow up.

195

:

You know, if you mentor somebody,

you're going to have that follow up.

196

:

You're going to see that

person's development in every

197

:

way, personal and professional.

198

:

Personal limitedly, right,

because I'm not their therapist.

199

:

Oftentimes I will recommend they

be in therapy if they never have.

200

:

But really getting to know that person

and really helping them learn how they

201

:

can really combine the professional

and personal side, of things.

202

:

But getting to know them in training,

you don't get to know somebody.

203

:

I mean, you know somebody for, you

know, two and a half days at the most,

204

:

you know, that's the longest training

I do and you don't know somebody.

205

:

Natasha Moharter: Do you ever do

you ever find that people from

206

:

your trainings become mentees?

207

:

Mary Baca: Yes.

208

:

Some people from my trainings

have come and worked for me.

209

:

But still then, right, because of time

constraints, we don't have the time.

210

:

You know, I had a counselor

working at Odyssey.

211

:

She frequently needed

supervision from several of us.

212

:

And so something's missing there, and

that's when my wheels started turning.

213

:

I've done mentoring for, many

years, but not on the scale that

214

:

I'm getting ready to embark on.

215

:

And I'm excited about it because if

somebody like that was in the mentorship

216

:

program, then she could get her needs met.

217

:

She'd have the opportunity

to spend time with me.

218

:

And not just me, I'm going to be

hiring mentors but to be able to

219

:

spend time with the mentor and really

have somebody listen to her and like,

220

:

well, where are you getting stuck?

221

:

You know, where are you getting snagged?

222

:

She was overthinking, but

like, I'd have to be with her

223

:

all the time to supervise her.

224

:

Whereas mentorship, you have that kind

of contact built into the program.

225

:

That's the nature of it.

226

:

Natasha Moharter: What is one example

of everything is a teachable moment

227

:

in this journey of being a training

professional that stands out to you?

228

:

Mary Baca: I think my staff got

tired of that saying for a while.

229

:

Because I was like, it's a

teachable moment, it's a teachable

230

:

moment, but how do we learn by,

except from saturation, right?

231

:

And I kept feeling like, a lot of

times things go over a person's head.

232

:

Right.

233

:

And so when I say, well, that's a

teachable moment, it really kind of

234

:

freeze frames what's going on and it

calls attention to what's happening.

235

:

And actual trainings or mentorships

that I've done for people will be like,

236

:

well yeah, you know, that makes sense.

237

:

And I'm like, yeah, but

everything's a teachable moment.

238

:

So hold a minute, like, think

right now where you're at.

239

:

And like, what has made it hard to not

get that before this moment, you know,

240

:

and really kind of call attention so

that that's going to stick in their

241

:

brain more and longer than if I just

bypassed it, you know, my trainings for

242

:

one thing, no two of them are alike.

243

:

The structure is to a point, but every

time I'm going to do a training, I

244

:

sit with it, I intuitively look at

the training, and I always add to

245

:

it, or take things away, like always.

246

:

So, but that's like a teachable

moment, I mean just really anytime

247

:

you want to highlight like something

that's an opportunity to learn from

248

:

the moment and what's going on.

249

:

Natasha Moharter: It sounds like you've

really been able to tap into success

250

:

by listening to your intuition by

even in your preparation for training.

251

:

Mary Baca: It's changed my life,

like, professionally and personally.

252

:

I would never be without that.

253

:

Like, it just makes my job so much easier.

254

:

And it makes it not seem like work,

honestly, because it's through

255

:

that that I truly feel connected.

256

:

To my clients, to my mentees, to the

people that I train, like truly connected,

257

:

like they're not just, you know, even

if time, cause I, like anybody, you

258

:

know, have a lot of time constraints,

but anytime I interact with somebody,

259

:

it just feels real, you know, and that's

part of the energy piece too, right?

260

:

Is really connecting to people's

energy, which means really seeing them.

261

:

And I think a lot of times we

don't take the time to do that.

262

:

Natasha Moharter: That can be vulnerable.

263

:

Mary Baca: Perfect opportunity

for mentorship, right?

264

:

Perfect opportunity to learn

that and to really freeze frame.

265

:

Some of those teachable moments in

training and mentorship where people

266

:

can really look at that in a safe

environment where that vulnerability

267

:

Can be explored incrementally, right?

268

:

Like when somebody first begins from

the very first time we do a discovery

269

:

consultation on the mentorship,

because that's a first step and

270

:

it's free, is to really tune in

intuitively to the person to identify

271

:

like, okay, where do they want to go?

272

:

Oftentimes people don't know

where they want to be in 1 year,

273

:

2 years and 3 years, you know?

274

:

So I get to know them even just

in that 1 hour and I'm able to

275

:

clarify some things even for them,

which is just a starting point.

276

:

And then they're going to evolve.

277

:

It's like blossoming, right?

278

:

Just watching that flower

blossom and being part of that.

279

:

Especially people new in the field.

280

:

We get out of school, we hit the

ground running, and we're kind of

281

:

like, okay, I don't know what to do.

282

:

You know, I don't know

which direction to go in.

283

:

I need clinical supervision hours,

and that's as far as they think.

284

:

This mentorship gives people an

additional option where they can, you

285

:

know, they'll be able to earn CEs.

286

:

It cuts that expense and just really grow

and come into their own as counselors.

287

:

Natasha Moharter: I think it's

really incredible that you

288

:

offer the CEs with it as well.

289

:

Do you ever find that you

don't click with somebody?

290

:

And what do you do with that?

291

:

Mary Baca: You know what,

I look inward first.

292

:

I use that as a mirror.

293

:

It depends like how emotional

I get about it, right?

294

:

Like if I'm like, ah, this

person aggravates me or I'm

295

:

like, okay, what is it in you?

296

:

You know, just really look inward.

297

:

And that's usually where the answer lies.

298

:

And that doesn't mean that they don't have

their own stuff that's filtering in, but

299

:

it's my job, it's my role to make sure

that I bring the clearest sense of who I

300

:

am into any relationship that I go into,

whether it's with a mentee or a supervisee

301

:

or a client or a coworker or staff.

302

:

Natasha Moharter: And from your

experience, what are the most important

303

:

aspects to consider when creating

a great learning environment for

304

:

mentees, for staff, for trainings?

305

:

Mary Baca: I think one of the

biggest things is to be human.

306

:

I tell people all the time,

I am a work in progress.

307

:

One of the big things is I can admit

that and I can honestly say every day I

308

:

spend time on trying to learn and grow

about myself and then that just gets

309

:

taken forward into whatever, professional

element or relationship that I'm building.

310

:

Yeah, I've been doing this 34 years.

311

:

That does not mean I know everything.

312

:

You know, human beings are ever expansive.

313

:

And so I tell people like, it's okay.

314

:

We're going to learn together.

315

:

You're going to learn from me.

316

:

And then we're going to

also learn from each other.

317

:

It's all about building relationships

of various kinds and really,

318

:

you know, leading people and

also being led at those times.

319

:

Natasha Moharter: Creating a safe

space within boundaries but allowing

320

:

it to develop how it needs to.

321

:

I don't think that we're

opposed to hard work, right?

322

:

But nobody necessarily wants to continue

to work harder than they need to.

323

:

Mary Baca: Well, and

sometimes too hard, right?

324

:

Like, I definitely am a

recovering workaholic, honestly.

325

:

And it's really hard when you enjoy

and love what you do, but the intuitive

326

:

piece and going with the flow, like

literally, with the energetic flow

327

:

of my own, I'm not burnt out, ever.

328

:

I take the time, like, at

five o'clock, I'm like, done.

329

:

Weekend, I don't work.

330

:

So I really am good about boundaries

that I didn't used to be, it's

331

:

evolved, I've evolved over time.

332

:

But, yeah, definitely I'm

a recovering workaholic.

333

:

Natasha Moharter: And how neat

that you could admit that and

334

:

like you said, continue to grow.

335

:

Mary Baca: I used to take

myself so seriously, Natasha.

336

:

Like, I'd be like, oh my gosh,

and I'd shame myself, you know,

337

:

and all this stuff, right?

338

:

And I just kind of laugh like, you're

so silly, you've been down this road

339

:

before, like, what's up with that?

340

:

You know, and I tell myself

those things, pat myself on the

341

:

shoulder, and I'm like, it's okay.

342

:

You learned.

343

:

And that's how I approach people.

344

:

As long as we're learning

and growing, it's not a race.

345

:

So, you know, let's do this together.

346

:

And learning to me is just like therapy.

347

:

It's like five steps forward

and two steps backward.

348

:

That's how learning is.

349

:

Natasha Moharter: I think it also

models for other people that it's

350

:

okay to show yourself self compassion

to move on from shame and guilt.

351

:

We want to do a good job

or do the best that we can.

352

:

I've even talked with other professionals

that, get into, starting the

353

:

trainings and it's like, wait, this

is a little bit more than I thought.

354

:

It's okay to make mistakes.

355

:

It's okay to, like you said,

pat yourself on the back.

356

:

Mary Baca: And you know what, it's okay

to say, I can't do this at this time.

357

:

You know, I almost took on a personal

commitment this week and I'm so

358

:

proud of myself because I was able

to say, No, you are at your limit.

359

:

So I was able to just tell her that

and it was fine, she understood, and I

360

:

felt good that I was able to do that,

because a workaholic would not do that.

361

:

So it's constantly, every day is growth

and development, like just truly accepting

362

:

people where they're at and providing a

safe environment, including most of all

363

:

ourselves, because if I'm not like that

with myself, how am I going to sell that?

364

:

How am I going to pass that forward?

365

:

It's not going to be believable to people.

366

:

If they see me being all hard on myself

and moody and pissed off they're gonna

367

:

be like, I don't know She says this

but she certainly doesn't wear that.

368

:

So, you know and again,

I'm a work in progress.

369

:

Do I have bad days?

370

:

Yes but, you know, I shake it off

as quickly as I can, identify what's

371

:

going on, and then kind of nip it

in the bud like that, you know?

372

:

Natasha Moharter: I saw an image recently,

and it was an image of a yes, and it was

373

:

in a circle, and it was holding up a sign,

and it said, every yes needs to be guarded

374

:

by at least 10 no's, and I was like, yep!

375

:

We can't always say yes and no can

be challenging at times, especially

376

:

when we like the things that we do

or, in my ADHD brain case, I tend

377

:

to say, ooh, that's new and shiny.

378

:

That could be fun.

379

:

So when I have a lot of

energy, I load up my brain.

380

:

And then when I don't always

have that amount of energy.

381

:

You come down from that, you're like,

now I have all kinds of things to do.

382

:

Mary Baca: I know.

383

:

And you know, and I'm working on that.

384

:

I'm a visionary for sure.

385

:

And so usually I'd have five things

on my plate and now I have two things,

386

:

the mentorship and the IOP restart.

387

:

And in the IOP, even at some point,

like when it's not so new, I'll

388

:

turn that baby loose too, and then I

can put something else on my plate.

389

:

I did not used to do that.

390

:

I did not because I was

like, oh, shiny new, right?

391

:

Oh, oh my gosh, that

looks so amazing or gosh.

392

:

And, and it all does, but you know what?

393

:

I can do it in a few months.

394

:

I was going to have an open

house and I'm like, yeah, no,

395

:

you're not going to do that.

396

:

You're going to do that in the

spring and look at the bright side.

397

:

It'll be warm.

398

:

You can do a fundraiser for first

responders because I founded a

399

:

nonprofit called Beyond the Call and I

thought, that'll be a great opportunity

400

:

to turn it into a fundraiser and

also bring people to the facility.

401

:

Natasha Moharter: It doesn't

have to all be done today.

402

:

Mary Baca: It can't be.

403

:

Natasha Moharter: Exactly.

404

:

We only have so much resource,

including, time, energy, money,

405

:

whatever, we need to invest in that.

406

:

We can put things out into the future a

little bit not say that because we're not

407

:

doing it today, it won't get accomplished.

408

:

Mary Baca: I believe in divine timing.

409

:

I think that things fall together

at the time that they're supposed

410

:

to, and sometimes the idea is there,

but it doesn't mean that that idea

411

:

has to come to fruition right now.

412

:

Natasha Moharter: Like you said,

especially if you're a visionary,

413

:

it can be very exciting to look to

the future and see what's to come.

414

:

Mary Baca: It's exciting.

415

:

Yeah.

416

:

Natasha Moharter: What advice would

you give a training professional

417

:

to create a training that is

beneficial, dynamic, and engaging?

418

:

Mary Baca: Something I've

mentioned already is to bring

419

:

yourself into the training so

that it's just not stiff and dry.

420

:

I've gone to trainings recently,

even I went to a dbt training and

421

:

I left the training because I was

like, I cannot even, it was, online.

422

:

I was just like, Oh my gosh,

like I'm not taking anything in.

423

:

Like, this is just not resonating with me.

424

:

I don't want to be here.

425

:

So I allowed myself to leave.

426

:

I felt like the trainer was

very dry, very, monotone.

427

:

In the trainings that I do, I tried

to have people interact with each

428

:

other and engage with each other.

429

:

One of the things is I do small trainings.

430

:

I don't do a hundred person trainings

because that's not conducive to creating

431

:

the kind of environment I'm talking about.

432

:

I might do 12 people max, but it

really encourages people to interact

433

:

with each other, to ask each other

for feedback, to give their feedback.

434

:

And it's amazing.

435

:

And then I think once, too, that I'm being

personal, like I'm laughing and joking

436

:

and, you know, that kind of thing, it

kind of breaks down that wall that people

437

:

sometimes have, and they're like, oh,

okay, this is this kind of environment.

438

:

We can be ourselves in here,

you know, kind of thing.

439

:

That's the biggest thing I would say.

440

:

Be yourself.

441

:

Natasha Moharter: And you get other

people interacting with each other and

442

:

then it takes some of the pressure and

spotlight off of you as a trainer even.

443

:

Mary Baca: Facilitate a group in

the right way, you really won't

444

:

be running the group, right?

445

:

I mean, you're kind of steering

it, so that's, really valuable.

446

:

And then they benefit, like they

establish camaraderie with each other.

447

:

They benefit in so many ways.

448

:

Natasha Moharter: So your experience and

background demonstrates your expertise in

449

:

working with first responders and trauma.

450

:

Your trainings are often focused

on these important topics.

451

:

How do you narrow down your training

topics and what trainings to create?

452

:

Mary Baca: With first responders,

I was married to a police officer

453

:

for 14 years myself, and I've had

friends and family in law enforcement.

454

:

My dad was a military cop.

455

:

That's not why I started training first

responders, it's kind of in hindsight

456

:

where I'm like, that's a no brainer that

she would end up doing these trainings

457

:

and working with this population.

458

:

But it really wasn't like

an intentional thing.

459

:

With that particular population, which

I've been working with for over 30

460

:

years, they let you into the most,

intimate parts of their lives, right?

461

:

I want qualified professionals

who can work with these people,

462

:

because not everybody can,

and they always are in need.

463

:

And they are a population, like veterans,

that if they go to you and they're like,

464

:

yeah, she can't work, they will leave.

465

:

And the statistics say that

they may not reach out for

466

:

another counselor for 10 years.

467

:

So it's that critical.

468

:

Yeah.

469

:

And so that's one of the programs

that I'm going to do mentorship

470

:

on because I did the extensive

two and a half day first responder

471

:

intervention specialist certification.

472

:

It's not enough.

473

:

It's a great training, don't get

me wrong, because I have my first

474

:

responder training team come in and

talk rawly about their experiences.

475

:

It's enough to make an impression.

476

:

Everybody leaves there so moved,

not by what I say, but what

477

:

these first responders say, which

complement each other so well, right?

478

:

Anytime I go and do a talk on first

responder stuff, I always take a first

479

:

responder with me because I can say

whatever and then what they share

480

:

just kind of seals the deal, you know?

481

:

How can I not be passionate about

wanting to create trainings?

482

:

For first responders to create more

helping professionals who can work

483

:

with them sufficiently and who can

really take them, lead them into a

484

:

place of healing because they come

in kicking and screaming like they

485

:

are, you know, treatment resistant.

486

:

They are not your people that are

saying me, I'll go to counseling.

487

:

It's not like that.

488

:

I kind of tend to like to go

into areas that other people

489

:

are not doing trainings in.

490

:

That's probably part of being a visionary,

where I'm like, well, there's plenty of

491

:

people doing trainings on that, whatever

that is, like depression maybe, right?

492

:

And I'm like, if I'm going to do a

training on depression, it's going

493

:

to be integrated with something else.

494

:

Like shame is something I talk a lot

about and do trainings on because it is

495

:

something that everybody struggles with.

496

:

And so I spend a lot of time

training, mentoring, supervising

497

:

people on that issue because I still

do not see it sufficiently covered.

498

:

And so it's kind of like that, like

something just catches my attention

499

:

and I'm like, oh, that's so needed.

500

:

Boundaries is another area, right?

501

:

Like, We think we're great at

boundaries, well we know the typical

502

:

boundaries, right, the really black

and white boundaries, but you don't

503

:

see a lot done on self disclosure,

you know, and counter transference.

504

:

I think I've seen one workshop, and so

that's another area that I really want

505

:

to mentor people and train them and teach

them, like, what does that even mean, you

506

:

know, and when do you know that you're

doing self disclosure, and what might

507

:

that'd be reflecting in the mirror, right?

508

:

Yeah, choosing topics that

kind of other people aren't.

509

:

It's just, I'm just kind of naturally

drawn to do things that nobody else is

510

:

doing or not too many people are doing.

511

:

Natasha Moharter: People walk away from

these trainings and they get a lot from

512

:

the training, but then you can continue

that energy with ongoing mentorship

513

:

and you have the info, now, how do you

implement it with support with guidance?

514

:

And I think that that is so important even

like you talk about with self disclosure,

515

:

if I'm learning, what does that look like?

516

:

It's going to be helpful to be

able to refer back to my mentor.

517

:

Mary Baca: I'm going to do

mentorship that's what's working.

518

:

So say somebody says, well, I want to

come in and I want to do a training on

519

:

your shame, abandonment and control.

520

:

I'll be like, okay, great, but

we have to do a mentorship.

521

:

So, let's sit down and look at why

are you attracted to that training?

522

:

And, you know, they could

do a short mentorship.

523

:

It doesn't have to be this big, long

thing, but mentorship, meaning, like,

524

:

let's spend some time together and

let's really look at these issues

525

:

that are catching your eye and let's

really establish some measurable goals.

526

:

And let me help you achieve them.

527

:

Training is it's just not, I think the

longer I am in the field, I'm realizing

528

:

how inadequate that alone really is.

529

:

Natasha Moharter: You're taking, your

experience and saying, I'm going to do

530

:

this a little bit differently and really

allow somebody that opportunity to learn

531

:

from you to learn this at not just the

surface level, but, you know, like you

532

:

said, What is it that draws them to that?

533

:

What is it that they're

looking for with that?

534

:

And you can provide that support.

535

:

Mary Baca: Really that's what works

when I've mentored people and I get to

536

:

know who they really are and I'm able

to help them take that self of theirs

537

:

out and put it on the table and be

like, okay, let's look through this,

538

:

you know, and look at who you are as a

professional, and how do you want to be.

539

:

A lot of people, overthink and they're

like, yeah, but you know, that's not

540

:

okay for me to say to a client, right.

541

:

And I'm like, who told you that?

542

:

And they're like perfectly

appropriate things.

543

:

You don't get all involved in client

successes or perceived failures, but it's

544

:

fine to tell someone you're proud of them.

545

:

I tell my clients, I'm really proud

of you, I know how hard that was for

546

:

you to do that and accomplish that.

547

:

Even when clients or mentees give

me a compliment and oh my gosh, you

548

:

know, it's been life changing to

work with them like look at what

549

:

you've done to get to this point.

550

:

I'm all about empowerment

in everything that I do.

551

:

I want people to know that they really

can do anything and learn anything

552

:

and become anything that they want to.

553

:

Natasha Moharter: And when you

model that language, that can

554

:

become their new narrative of how

they speak to themselves as well.

555

:

I'm proud of you.

556

:

Great job.

557

:

Look at all the hard work

that you put into this.

558

:

Look at your accomplishments.

559

:

Mary Baca: Yeah.

560

:

And it takes the heat off of me, right?

561

:

Because I don't want all that power.

562

:

I want the person to walk away feeling

powerful, even if it's for the day, right?

563

:

Because tomorrow their issues may

revisit them and they may not feel so

564

:

powerful tomorrow, but for today in this

moment, I want them to feel powerful.

565

:

They can take charge of their

life and of their career and

566

:

be whatever they want to be.

567

:

Who do they want to be.

568

:

And I'll help you become that.

569

:

Natasha Moharter: And you have a passion

for supporting providers to further their

570

:

professional development in many ways.

571

:

Your most recent project is this

mentorship program for counselors

572

:

and social workers, which covers

the lifespan for any professional.

573

:

Can you tell us more

about how that came to be?

574

:

Mary Baca: Well, I think that's

been a slow burn in my mind.

575

:

I've mentored people for many

years, so it's definitely

576

:

rewarding, and so beneficial.

577

:

But I think by seeing aspects

of our profession that I'm

578

:

not really pleased about.

579

:

And what I mean by that is I have

had interviews set up and people

580

:

cancelling, literally not showing up,

people cancelling 10 minutes before

581

:

they're going to sign a contract.

582

:

And I'm like, what is going on?

583

:

I think a lot of people are burnt out,

and going in 20 million directions.

584

:

They're not even taking note of

what's happening in this moment.

585

:

And then just supervising

people, it's not enough time.

586

:

One hour a week, it's not enough.

587

:

But I can't give more

as a supervisor either.

588

:

So I think that awareness, conscious

awareness has been happening,

589

:

I would say this past year.

590

:

I was asking again, going to that

intuitive guidance, I was just

591

:

kind of asking the question like,

okay, what do I do about this?

592

:

Because I'm a doer.

593

:

If there's a problem, if I am

not comfortable with something,

594

:

I'm going to do something about

it, whatever I can, right?

595

:

That's when the idea came up I was like,

well, what does mentorship accomplish?

596

:

And I thought, well, you know,

I meet people where they're at

597

:

and then we figure out where they

want to go and we do that, right?

598

:

So I looked at different wording,

but I came up with the word "be"

599

:

which means what exists and then

"come" is what you're moving toward.

600

:

And then I was like, okay, what

about a symbol for the logo?

601

:

And I think butterfly.

602

:

What is better than transformation, right?

603

:

So I looked and looked and

looked at different images of

604

:

butterflies and thought, I want

to capture the concept that you go

605

:

through different stages, right?

606

:

In your professional and personal growth.

607

:

I just couldn't do that with a

butterfly and then I ran across the

608

:

one image I decided to use, which

is a hand releasing a butterfly.

609

:

And I thought that really is

what mentorship does, is you

610

:

release the most beautiful version

of who that person becomes.

611

:

Natasha Moharter: It's so beautiful.

612

:

The process that you go through,

that you can make it very personal.

613

:

You can reflect what you're

trying to accomplish and what

614

:

the goal is with symbols, words.

615

:

Mary Baca: Another thing I have

mentored people on is, really

616

:

tuning into who are they?

617

:

What do they want?

618

:

What's going to be representative?

619

:

Because a lot of times people choose

a logo and a name but it can be even

620

:

better and more enriched by really

tapping into that inner part of yourself.

621

:

And that's something I

have and can teach people.

622

:

Natasha Moharter: I first learned

about vulnerability and was working

623

:

with clients to teach them about

vulnerability, the hand and the butterfly

624

:

is actually the analogy that I would use.

625

:

And I would say vulnerability is kind

of like the butterfly that's on your

626

:

hand and you can't hold it too tight.

627

:

You kind of have to just let it be.

628

:

You can share that with other people,

you can guard it, you can kind of cup

629

:

your hand, but you can't crush it.

630

:

You have to be careful because they might

try to come in and crush it as well.

631

:

Mary Baca: Can I use that analogy?

632

:

Natasha Moharter: Absolutely.

633

:

Absolutely.

634

:

I would be honored.

635

:

Mary Baca: I love that.

636

:

I love that because that is

what mentorship is, right?

637

:

It's like not hovering or trying to

control somebody, allowing them to

638

:

develop and become who they are, but

being there, and, being protective,

639

:

like in terms of guiding them.

640

:

For the duration that they're

doing the mentorship and beyond.

641

:

I have people who keep in touch with me.

642

:

Natasha Moharter: You really do,

build the relationships with people

643

:

and it sounds like that's why they

come back to you even years later.

644

:

You are a true entrepreneur.

645

:

You've run many successful

businesses over the years.

646

:

Some of our community members hesitate

to start providing trainings because

647

:

they're not sure where to start.

648

:

How did you get started and what helped

you decide to officially open your

649

:

professional training business Shifting

ectives Training Institute in:

650

:

Mary Baca: I got started in training

with the Postal Service, right?

651

:

And then it's just kind

of evolved from there.

652

:

I remember doing, a training on group

therapy in front of like a hundred people.

653

:

There were psychiatrists in

the audience and I was like,

654

:

oh my god, I was so fearful.

655

:

But just taking that leap.

656

:

I am a leap taker, a risk taker, as

long as it's not too far out there.

657

:

And if it doesn't turn out the way I

wanted to, it's not that big of a loss.

658

:

Then I'm definitely a risk taker.

659

:

I am an entrepreneur,

but I am a visionary.

660

:

And the difference is I allow

my vision to open and spread

661

:

and not let fear restrict me.

662

:

That's such an important thing, when

people are hesitant to do trainings or to

663

:

be a therapist because some people will

say, well, that looks really intimidating.

664

:

It's like, it's fine if you're deciding

that because that's what you really

665

:

think and want, but if fear is at the

root of anything, you know, it's, what's

666

:

holding you back, then that's something,

you know, that I do as a mentor is

667

:

really help people look at that, like,

what's holding you back, you know.

668

:

Natasha Moharter: And you mentioned

you have to be able to take some

669

:

risks at times, you have to be

able to put yourself out there.

670

:

It might still be scary

the first 5 to 10 minutes

671

:

of every training.

672

:

And yet then you kind of get into your

groove and it's so different from where

673

:

you started, being that shy person.

674

:

Mary Baca: I was excruciatingly shy.

675

:

It's crazy.

676

:

I look back and I'm

like, wow, who was that?

677

:

And there's all kinds of

reasons for that, right?

678

:

But like, following this track

has just changed my life.

679

:

You know, it's changed how I see my

clients, how I work with my clients.

680

:

I look at therapy as teaching.

681

:

It's a different kind of teaching.

682

:

I think teaching is like in everything,

and 99 percent of the things we do

683

:

that we don't know how to do, that we

want to do better, or, take on, there's

684

:

learning involved, and people, I think

a lot of times don't have the self

685

:

confidence to learn, so a mentorship

is a great opportunity to have somebody

686

:

walk with you through that process.

687

:

You know, I have your back.

688

:

I can see things up ahead because

I've been doing this so long.

689

:

I can be like, yeah, be careful with that.

690

:

Cause that could happen.

691

:

My dad taught me there's

always an answer to everything.

692

:

There's always a way around things.

693

:

So if there's a challenge, I'm great about

helping a person figure out a way around.

694

:

Whereas a lot of people will stop at

the challenge and they'll be like,

695

:

everything's telling me not to do it.

696

:

I can't do it.

697

:

It's just not happening.

698

:

I'm like, okay, well, maybe, but

maybe, you know, there's just another

699

:

way that it's got to be done for you.

700

:

Let's look at your options.

701

:

Natasha Moharter: Even the trainings

that you do and the topics that you

702

:

decide to pursue are not necessarily

being done by other people.

703

:

It's kind of new territory

in a lot of ways.

704

:

So even if there aren't trainings on a

topic that somebody is interested in,

705

:

you can go out and make them right.

706

:

Mary Baca: Oh yeah.

707

:

So I'm glad you said that because the

mentorship really is customizable.

708

:

An initial discovery consultation is to

really then customize and put together

709

:

what that person is looking for.

710

:

What are the goals they

want to accomplish?

711

:

Who are they?

712

:

So no mentorship will be

the same for any two people.

713

:

Just like my trainings are

not the same every training.

714

:

But yeah, really making that switch

from instead of doing trainings.

715

:

They're all going to be mentorships.

716

:

And again, that can be different degrees.

717

:

That does mean somebody has

to sign on for three months.

718

:

But let us get to know each other.

719

:

Let me get to know you.

720

:

Let me see how I can really help

you become what you want to be.

721

:

Natasha Moharter: Tell us what the

name of your mentorship program is.

722

:

When it starts and what is included,

how would somebody go about contacting

723

:

you starting that process with you?

724

:

What would that entail?

725

:

Mary Baca: Probably the most effective

way to contact me is through text

726

:

at 505 315 7397, or email, but

text is probably the best way.

727

:

I am starting to do

discovery consultations now.

728

:

anticipating starting in January.

729

:

And I'm only going to take a

certain amount of people because

730

:

I'm offering free mentorship to

the people that work at Odyssey.

731

:

I want my team to be the most

fulfilled and the best, I have amazing

732

:

people and I want to see them grow.

733

:

So I will just be taking probably

10 mentees on top of my staff.

734

:

I can mentor people nationally.

735

:

I am accredited with the NBCC, I can

award CEs anywhere in the country.

736

:

That's something I'm excited about.

737

:

Just because that means me spreading

my wings, farther and wider.

738

:

And so that's amazing.

739

:

Natasha Moharter: So you can work with,

anybody throughout the United States.

740

:

Mary Baca: And you know, some of

those 10 spots, one person might

741

:

want, a one month mentorship.

742

:

So as soon as that person fulfills their

goals, then, it'll be kind of changing

743

:

over, I will be also hiring other mentors.

744

:

Like I love collaborating

with other people.

745

:

I love putting things together

with other people and being like,

746

:

okay, this is your expertise.

747

:

This is mine.

748

:

Let's create something amazing for

counselors, social workers, life

749

:

coaches, psychiatric technicians.

750

:

These mentorships will be open to anybody,

not just counselors and social workers.

751

:

I mean, there's plenty of people that

provide service to people that need this.

752

:

Natasha Moharter: You are taking

those visions and the ideas that you

753

:

have and putting them into play, and

then getting other people involved.

754

:

And when we get other people

involved, that can just make

755

:

such a bigger impact, right?

756

:

Mary Baca: I mean, that's a win

win, like, honestly, you know,

757

:

our clients are going to benefit.

758

:

Our mentees are going to benefit.

759

:

Each of us is going to benefit.

760

:

I mean, my gosh.

761

:

Natasha Moharter: We don't have

to be the experts in everything.

762

:

We can choose the things

that we're interested in.

763

:

Mary Baca: Cause we're not.

764

:

Like, I'm not drawn to go and take,

extensive training and learning on

765

:

OCD, not for any particular reason,

just like you may not be drawn to do

766

:

that with first responders, but the

beauty is there's still that learning

767

:

opportunity to put things together,

collaboratively, and produce something

768

:

that enriches the benefit for people.

769

:

Natasha Moharter: And that relationship

piece is so natural in our humanity.

770

:

Connecting with good people, connecting

with people that, can build us up

771

:

and that we can build up as well.

772

:

It really can be a beneficial

relationship to have.

773

:

Mary Baca: I have said

no through the years.

774

:

It's got to feel right.

775

:

You know, when I offer that

it's because I really feel that.

776

:

Not because it's like the thing to do.

777

:

You spend a lot of time when you

collaborate with somebody, you

778

:

have to resonate with each other.

779

:

Through the years I've just been like,

yeah, no, that's probably not a good idea.

780

:

Gracefully I say, I don't

think we're a good match.

781

:

And that's okay.

782

:

That doesn't mean it's bad or anything.

783

:

Like that's just how it is.

784

:

Natasha Moharter: You need to be able to

trust your intuition for that as well.

785

:

You very much come across very genuine.

786

:

I really like that.

787

:

The different contributions

that you've made in the group.

788

:

I was so grateful that you've been part

of different conversations and supporting

789

:

other people or answering questions or

welcoming people and things like that.

790

:

Like you said, the community

part is really what that

791

:

Facebook group is even all about.

792

:

Mary Baca: It is so important because I've

seen and I have experienced competition

793

:

and it's something I stay away from

because I feel like you guys, none of

794

:

us are going to run out of clients.

795

:

And if I ran out of clients,

that would be a good thing.

796

:

Like if nobody needed counseling

anymore, hallelujah, I'd give up

797

:

my job, you know, in a second.

798

:

It's not going to happen, you know?

799

:

And so, but I've had people target

me even nothing's become of it, you

800

:

know, and I don't ever worry about it.

801

:

It's just very time

consuming when that happens.

802

:

But, I feel like we have

to support each other.

803

:

Like, come on, support each other.

804

:

Be each other's cheerleader.

805

:

Be happy when somebody

accomplishes something, you know?

806

:

Even if it's something you

would like to accomplish, great,

807

:

then use that as motivation.

808

:

Natasha Moharter: And it's

proof that it's working!

809

:

Mary Baca: I know, yes!

810

:

Yes.

811

:

And so I really, when I welcome

people on your page, if my heart

812

:

isn't feeling it, I don't do it.

813

:

So when I welcome those people,

it's truly like welcome.

814

:

How awesome that you're here.

815

:

Natasha Moharter: How do you deal with

that competition or when you are targeted?

816

:

I've definitely heard from other people

in our community as well is, you know,

817

:

there's competition out there and how

do I stand out from the crowd and I

818

:

think it really is about collaboration

and finding how can we support one

819

:

another because we can all win here.

820

:

But how do you kind of deal

with that when it becomes hard?

821

:

Mary Baca: There is, jealousy and envy.

822

:

Those are real human emotions.

823

:

And I'm talking specifically like in the

first responder world because I'm one of

824

:

a few in New Mexico that do the work and

first responders or have companies, right.

825

:

And to me.

826

:

I'm like, well, man, let's

all support each other.

827

:

But that has not happened across

the board, and that's fine.

828

:

I used to be a really huge people

pleaser many, many, many years ago.

829

:

And now I'm just not that right.

830

:

Like, I don't have to earn anybody's.

831

:

Anything.

832

:

And so I just don't breathe fire into it.

833

:

I'm not gonna lie.

834

:

Like at first, I was so upset.

835

:

But I don't let that last long

either because that's not going

836

:

to make me a happy person.

837

:

That's kind of how I deal with it is deal

with it in the way that I have to but

838

:

don't give any more energy or time to it

than that because that's what people feed

839

:

off on, you know, unfortunately, and,

there is that ugliness in human beings

840

:

and it exists, but what do you do, you

know, I can't be fearful, like, and going

841

:

back to that whole thing about fear.

842

:

You know, they'll come to me to talk

about intuition because they know I

843

:

have that reputation for kind of being

outside of the box, and so those are the

844

:

people I want to keep rooting for and

supporting and teaching and mentoring.

845

:

And if somebody doesn't want to learn

about intuition, then look at all my other

846

:

trainings that you can get mentored on.

847

:

Natasha Moharter: The people that, do

want your information can find you.

848

:

And if one person prevents you from

continuing to put things out there, then

849

:

all those other people get impacted.

850

:

And fear is a thing, it's natural,

we want to protect ourselves.

851

:

We want to survive.

852

:

Slowing down, pausing, kind of dealing

with it, doing what you need to,

853

:

and then not spending extra time or

resource on it than is necessary.

854

:

Mary Baca: It's very important to stand

in your power as a person, you know, and

855

:

don't be swayed by fear and intimidation.

856

:

That's like being bullied

and I'm not doing it.

857

:

Natasha Moharter: We don't

have to breathe fire into it.

858

:

It can hurt.

859

:

It can sting.

860

:

It does not have to be our favorite thing.

861

:

Statistically not

everybody's going to like us.

862

:

Mary Baca: Nobody's forcing

you to look at my flyer.

863

:

Nobody's forcing you

to come to a training.

864

:

Natasha Moharter: I don't like everybody.

865

:

And that's okay too.

866

:

You don't have to like me, you

don't have to like the trainings,

867

:

you don't have to care about OCD.

868

:

Like it's cool.

869

:

What is important to you?

870

:

Go find that.

871

:

Mary Baca: Well, because if

somebody bothers you that

872

:

much, that's your problem.

873

:

And really knowing where to draw

those boundaries for yourself as a

874

:

professional because especially as you

put yourself out on a national forum.

875

:

People are mean and so, just

really standing in your power and

876

:

being like, that's a you problem.

877

:

If somebody comes to me and they're

like, Hey, I'm just really curious

878

:

about these things you're training on.

879

:

Are they evidence based?

880

:

I don't have a problem having a

conversation with somebody, you

881

:

know, but just not being bullied

and I had somebody years ago when I

882

:

was going to go out on the national

forum for first responder stuff.

883

:

She said, Be careful, she said,

because people are really awful but

884

:

I'll never forget that warning, right?

885

:

Because she knew she'd experienced

something that I hadn't, like I

886

:

hadn't done trainings in another

state or anything like that.

887

:

And so, yeah, I remembered even

when this situation came up with

888

:

me, I could hear her words saying.

889

:

Be careful, just be mindful, you know,

and so, the more you put yourself out

890

:

there, the great news is 98 percent of

people will be so happy you're there.

891

:

And those 2 percent will be jealous,

will think envy, right, like, oh,

892

:

who does she think she is doing that?

893

:

Well, you're somebody who's worked who

knows how hard, to get to where you're at.

894

:

We all work hard to get to where we're

at, geez, nobody hands us anything.

895

:

And so I think that's almost like

another class I could do, definitely

896

:

will make part of my mentorship

is like, how do you step into your

897

:

power and really hold that spot.

898

:

Natasha Moharter: And not be bullied.

899

:

It takes so much courage to

put your stuff out there.

900

:

People are going to have feelings and

that doesn't have to be an us thing.

901

:

And it doesn't have to mean that

we don't put our stuff out there.

902

:

It doesn't have to hold us back.

903

:

If it's a place of fear, like you're

talking about, then that's kind

904

:

of where I'm like, if it's fear,

that's dictating this decision.

905

:

Nope.

906

:

I know we have to run towards that then.

907

:

Mary Baca: Right.

908

:

Things are scary.

909

:

I mean, if I just succumb to

all the fearful moments I've

910

:

had in the 61 years I've been on

this earth I would be nowhere.

911

:

When I was 26 starting my practice, nobody

in my family had even gone to college.

912

:

I didn't know how to do a practice,

913

:

I just, found an office that

was cheap and good size.

914

:

I'm like, I don't know what I'm

doing, but I'm going to do this.

915

:

My parents didn't have a lot of money.

916

:

They could not have helped me start.

917

:

They didn't help me start the business.

918

:

They helped move me.

919

:

That is all they could contribute.

920

:

They didn't have money.

921

:

So I'm proud to say that like 34 years

later, I'm still going strong and

922

:

just getting stronger and stronger.

923

:

And I did it myself with help along

the way by, you know, I call them earth

924

:

angels, you know, people that have

just really wanted to see me succeed.

925

:

That's kind of what offsets

the other kind of people.

926

:

Natasha Moharter: Absolutely.

927

:

Absolutely.

928

:

And like you said, when you follow your

intuition, when you go with the flow

929

:

it can actually be very energizing.

930

:

And as with anything

we need balance, right?

931

:

I do the trainings, but I also.

932

:

Turn off my phone or my

email on the weekends, right?

933

:

Or whatever that looks like.

934

:

Mary Baca: We have to.

935

:

Natasha Moharter: I heard

a saying and I love it.

936

:

Do not confuse my free

time with my availability.

937

:

If you see me post something that

is in my own time and I will get

938

:

back to you when I can, right?

939

:

Yes.

940

:

Mary Baca: So important

to know those boundaries.

941

:

Natasha Moharter: Absolutely.

942

:

Before we get ready to wrap up, I'm

gonna ask if there's any other wisdom

943

:

that you'd like to share with the group

members, who are wanting to embark

944

:

on this journey of becoming a trainer

or adding training to their income

945

:

streams, pursuing facing their fears

and getting their stuff out there.

946

:

Mary Baca: One of the things I would say

is don't let money be your incentive.

947

:

Not because you can't make money doing

trainings, but because if that is

948

:

going to be your measuring stick, then

that's just not likely to work, right?

949

:

Really set your sights on

what you want to train about.

950

:

What are you passionate about?

951

:

Don't just pick like, you know, random.

952

:

This guy approached me a couple of years

ago and he was adamant about wanting me to

953

:

train on the spiritual aspect of ethics.

954

:

And I just was not called to do it.

955

:

So I'm like, no, I don't

want to do it, you know?

956

:

But I thought about it cause I thought,

well, I don't know, am I missing an

957

:

opportunity that maybe I should take?

958

:

And so I sat with it for a bit, but

it just really did not hit my heart.

959

:

Right.

960

:

So I would say really listen to your body.

961

:

We don't talk enough about the body and

body sensations and the physical aspect

962

:

I always tell counselors if you're not

including the body in your treatment

963

:

plan, you're not doing a sufficient job.

964

:

If you're doing breath work if you're

teaching meditation, whatever you're

965

:

doing but if you're not including that

in what you do, then you're missing out.

966

:

Especially trauma.

967

:

Right.

968

:

But anything.

969

:

And so, yeah, just don't let money

be your main motivator, you know, it

970

:

can be on your list, but what you're

passionate about and why you want to

971

:

train on that particular thing should

be what motivates you, honestly.

972

:

And then it's a win win because, you're

just going to blossom from there.

973

:

Natasha Moharter: And like you said, it

sounds like success has often followed you

974

:

when you've pursued the things that you're

interested in and kind of let it flow.

975

:

Mary Baca: Yeah, for sure.

976

:

Don't be afraid to step outside the box.

977

:

Like you don't have to do things

that everybody else is doing.

978

:

There's somebody out there that is

looking for what you have to offer.

979

:

That's the truth.

980

:

What I love about training and mentorship,

it's very much like a choreography and

981

:

just really honoring that it's a process

and looking forward to the process.

982

:

You have to value people.

983

:

If you're just training because

you just want to deliver a freaking

984

:

training, go do something else.

985

:

Like you have to value people and

helping people learn and grow.

986

:

If you don't value that, you

probably shouldn't be a trainer

987

:

until you can get there.

988

:

Natasha Moharter: Yeah.

989

:

And even like you said letting it

develop because you create that

990

:

structure, but then, letting it flow

in those ways that are important and

991

:

meaningful to that specific group, those

specific individuals who showed up.

992

:

The other thing that you said there too

is diversity and representation matters.

993

:

So there are people out there that

are looking to hear from somebody

994

:

that looks like you, that sounds like

you, that has a similar experience

995

:

to you, and it's going to resonate.

996

:

And again, not letting fear

hold us back from that.

997

:

I think there is something to be said

about, doing certain types of market

998

:

research and figuring out what the needs

are in terms of trainings that are needed.

999

:

And it sounds like, you do that by looking

around yourself and seeing and picking

:

00:50:44,246 --> 00:50:48,186

up on what are some deficiencies and what

are the problems that can be solved here?

:

00:50:48,186 --> 00:50:52,276

And how can I provide information,

content, mentorship to be able to meet

:

00:50:52,286 --> 00:50:56,196

that need in a very meaningful way,

not just to provide a training, not

:

00:50:56,216 --> 00:50:57,896

just to make some money off of it.

:

00:50:57,986 --> 00:50:58,726

That's all great.

:

00:50:58,766 --> 00:50:59,636

Those are great things.

:

00:51:00,301 --> 00:51:02,721

But what is kind of the,

what's the deeper meaning?

:

00:51:02,721 --> 00:51:04,031

What's the reason behind this?

:

00:51:04,071 --> 00:51:04,981

Why would you be doing this?

:

00:51:05,101 --> 00:51:08,091

Mary Baca: Well, I think even,

you know, people don't come from a

:

00:51:08,091 --> 00:51:10,191

place of living your life purpose.

:

00:51:10,395 --> 00:51:13,435

It's like people do this work

because they got a master's

:

00:51:13,435 --> 00:51:15,045

degree and they have a license.

:

00:51:15,045 --> 00:51:16,085

That's the wrong reason.

:

00:51:16,460 --> 00:51:18,490

And it's like, that's a big

sign of burnout, you got

:

00:51:18,490 --> 00:51:19,840

to feel the passion of it.

:

00:51:19,840 --> 00:51:23,360

Like why, what got you started

to want to help people anyways?

:

00:51:23,830 --> 00:51:29,409

To me, training and mentorship is just

an extension in a lot of ways of helping

:

00:51:29,410 --> 00:51:32,720

people, because you're getting to know

who they are and what's holding them back.

:

00:51:33,220 --> 00:51:35,060

Natasha Moharter: And training is

kind of neat because it's a different

:

00:51:35,060 --> 00:51:37,150

way of teaching and helping people.

:

00:51:37,180 --> 00:51:41,430

And so sometimes, I know in my work with

clients, it's nice to have the client

:

00:51:41,430 --> 00:51:45,530

work, but then it's also nice to have

consultations or other trainings and being

:

00:51:45,530 --> 00:51:48,590

able to kind of share that information

or have different types of interaction

:

00:51:48,590 --> 00:51:49,830

with different types of people.

:

00:51:49,830 --> 00:51:52,650

Mix things up a little bit,

and maybe even prevent some of

:

00:51:52,670 --> 00:51:54,160

that burnout in the process.

:

00:51:54,820 --> 00:51:57,620

Mary Baca: I love doing

trainings and mentoring people.

:

00:51:57,920 --> 00:51:59,950

Natasha Moharter: And I think

about the impact that you can have.

:

00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:02,960

If you mentor and you train

somebody, how many clients do

:

00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:04,700

they see per week or per year.

:

00:52:04,700 --> 00:52:05,720

Mary Baca: Like that ripple effect.

:

00:52:05,720 --> 00:52:11,240

Whenever I decide to retire I want

to leave behind like people that grew

:

00:52:11,240 --> 00:52:16,160

from some interaction or some training

and mentorship that they did with me.

:

00:52:16,320 --> 00:52:17,900

Like, what's more rewarding than that?

:

00:52:18,090 --> 00:52:18,580

Truly.

:

00:52:18,883 --> 00:52:23,923

Just leaving my footprint on things

I think is really fulfilling.

:

00:52:24,003 --> 00:52:25,093

It's soul filling.

:

00:52:25,763 --> 00:52:28,113

That's a frequent word of

mine is it's soul filling.

:

00:52:28,193 --> 00:52:29,333

It's not soul filling.

:

00:52:30,003 --> 00:52:30,873

I don't really do it.

:

00:52:30,873 --> 00:52:35,633

It's just so amazing to see people grow

and be like, wow, I am so proud of you.

:

00:52:35,633 --> 00:52:37,593

Like, oh my God, you are just on fire.

:

00:52:38,208 --> 00:52:39,928

Like you go girl, you know.

:

00:52:40,678 --> 00:52:43,208

Natasha Moharter: That encouragement,

we rally for one another.

:

00:52:43,778 --> 00:52:44,588

Definitely.

:

00:52:44,648 --> 00:52:45,478

That's so cool.

:

00:52:45,931 --> 00:52:49,871

Mary, it's been such an honor to be able

to have this conversation with you today.

:

00:52:49,871 --> 00:52:51,341

I so appreciate your time.

:

00:52:51,341 --> 00:52:52,491

Where can people find you?

:

00:52:52,491 --> 00:52:57,791

Mary Baca: So the websites are,

odyssey, O D Y S S E Y hyphen.

:

00:52:58,371 --> 00:52:58,641

C.

:

00:52:58,671 --> 00:52:58,811

O.

:

00:52:58,811 --> 00:52:59,091

U.

:

00:52:59,091 --> 00:52:59,481

N.

:

00:52:59,771 --> 00:53:00,021

S.

:

00:53:00,021 --> 00:53:00,161

E.

:

00:53:00,181 --> 00:53:00,531

L.

:

00:53:00,561 --> 00:53:00,741

I.

:

00:53:00,741 --> 00:53:00,991

N.

:

00:53:00,991 --> 00:53:01,481

G.

:

00:53:01,791 --> 00:53:02,311

dot com.

:

00:53:03,111 --> 00:53:07,591

And shifting perspectives, which is where

the mentorship program is running through

:

00:53:08,011 --> 00:53:10,941

is shifting-perspectives.com, plural.

:

00:53:10,941 --> 00:53:14,771

If you look at my website, either

Odyssey Counseling or Shifting,

:

00:53:15,291 --> 00:53:18,761

you'll see a little bit more written

on the Become Mentorship Program.

:

00:53:19,461 --> 00:53:22,341

But yeah, what a way to kick

off:

:

00:53:22,341 --> 00:53:24,951

Natasha Moharter: And you are

doing the initial calls currently,

:

00:53:24,991 --> 00:53:28,991

with the intention to start

the mentorship in January:

:

00:53:28,991 --> 00:53:32,071

So in just a little bit, and like

you said, even though there's maybe

:

00:53:32,071 --> 00:53:34,171

10 spots now, there are going to

be people that are going to be

:

00:53:34,171 --> 00:53:35,331

graduating through that program.

:

00:53:35,331 --> 00:53:38,321

And so you're going to have kind of

ongoing, potential to work with you

:

00:53:38,321 --> 00:53:39,601

as well, which is really, really neat.

:

00:53:39,901 --> 00:53:41,851

Mary Baca: Yeah, so there

will be more than just me and

:

00:53:41,851 --> 00:53:42,871

I look forward to that too.

:

00:53:42,871 --> 00:53:44,431

That's going to be so amazing.

:

00:53:44,431 --> 00:53:45,061

Natasha Moharter: So cool.

:

00:53:45,151 --> 00:53:47,211

Again, that importance of the community.

:

00:53:47,211 --> 00:53:50,171

Mary Baca: When you get people together

who are willing to take risks, right.

:

00:53:50,171 --> 00:53:51,591

And who just are passionate.

:

00:53:51,631 --> 00:53:56,726

It's like you could just feel

like the energy elevate, you know.

:

00:53:56,726 --> 00:53:57,136

Natasha Moharter: Absolutely.

:

00:53:57,136 --> 00:53:58,156

Mary Baca: I'm looking forward to that.

:

00:53:58,356 --> 00:54:00,036

Natasha Moharter: You're

doing some incredible stuff.

:

00:54:00,076 --> 00:54:02,586

We're going to link your websites

below in the descriptions.

:

00:54:02,586 --> 00:54:05,596

If anybody is interested it's

a really great opportunity.

:

00:54:05,596 --> 00:54:08,346

Thank you again so much for your

willingness to be here today.

:

00:54:08,346 --> 00:54:10,766

Mary Baca: It was so good to talk

to you and I look forward to talking

:

00:54:10,766 --> 00:54:12,176

to you again sometime in the future.

:

00:54:12,586 --> 00:54:13,436

Natasha Moharter: Such an honor, Mary.

:

00:54:13,436 --> 00:54:13,826

Take care.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube