Welcome to Imaginal Coaching.

My name is Lisa White, let me take a few minutes to introduce myself.

For many years I have been fascinated with the idea of imaginal cells. Imaginal cells are the ones that create the incredible process of metamorphosis that occurs when a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. The process of this change is amazing. Within the chrysalis, the structure of the caterpillar dissolves into a soupy organic mush. Hitherto dormant cells – imaginal cells – from the caterpillar start to develop the new structure of a butterfly, even though there is no similarity whatsoever between the two creatures.

These cells hold all the potential for the future. And so do you. In your mind, in your heart and in your spirit. I have been fixated on that metaphor for some decades and have ‘become’ a butterfly on several occasions.

I discovered Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) some years ago while on meditation retreat and have dedicated myself to learning and understanding the processes and philosophies that underpin NLP ever since. I have had a long history of unstable mental illness and had regularly turned my life (and the lives of those around me) upside down for no ‘sensible’ reason. This means I have also started my life from scratch on more occasions than I care to remember: which is great, but it did leave me with a sense that I was way behind the eight ball and security was going to be hard to come by in my older years.

Studying Neuro Linguistic Programming, and being coached by awesome NLP Master Practitioners, allowed me to understand my mind and change the way I respond to the world. There is a sense of freedom that is difficult to describe that comes from knowing that YOU are in control of your life. You are not at the mercy of your upbringing, your experiences, your beliefs, your learnings. YOU do have the ability to choose, with relative ease, a new way of responding to the world.

My life’s experiences have developed several passions in me. I have a passion for understanding the mind and our relationship with our subconscious mind. I have a passion for developing and understanding of the purpose of life. I am deeply passionate about developing equity for marginalized portions of the population. And I love art, in all it’s forms: dance, singing, music, writing, poetry, painting, sculpture and whatever else takes my fancy when I see it. I love art not just for the beauty it brings to the world but for its storytelling. The platform it provides for exploring all the things humans are thinking about, worried about, caring about.

Having spent many years working in the Allied Health Industry I have developed a deep respect for health and movement. Did you know: Australia’s 195,000 allied health professionals represent almost a third of the health workforce and deliver an estimated 200 million health services annually? In our aging population, taking responsibility for our own preventative health care becomes more important every year, not just for us, but the community we live in. Personally I use Qigong daily (shout out to my beautiful instructor Sarah Divine Qigong), dancing (thanks to the wonderful community at Quicksteps Dance Studio and all the lovely dance classes in Adelaide) and walking to honor my commitment to movement. It is much easier to have a healthy mind when you have a healthy body.

The pandemic presented me with an opportunity to put all the things I love into one basket and Imaginal Coaching was born. Here I can take action to help bring equity to marginalized members of my community. I do get to help artists bring their career to life and create financial stability in their lives. I get the opportunity to support all the hard-working Practice Managers who are feeling isolated and resentful. I am fortunate to spend time with Allied Health Clinic Owners who are disconnected from the reason they opened their doors in the first place and watch them bring joy back into their businesses. And I have wonderful conversations with people struggling with their mental health as they improve their quality of life.

We are the purpose of our lives. We are the work. In order to honor all the things we say are important to us: family, love, community, contribution etc, we need to be the best us we are capable of being. When you show up and do the work, the rewards are infinite. Sometimes it is prudent to do the work alone. At other times it is healthier to choose someone to walk with us for a ways.

Thank you for letting me share my story with you, I look forward to hearing your stories soon.

Lisa White

Master NLP Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, Timeline Practitioner and Business Owner.