Meet Natalia Weekly | Owner & Lead Therapist

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

Hi Natalia, what matters most to you?
Self-Compassion matters the most to me. Self-Compassion reminds me that I am human and was created to make mistakes, grow, fail, and live life with grace and kindness. Self-compassion permits me to live authentically without shame and guilt. We live in a society that sends messages that we always have to be doing and that the things we do must be perfect. It’s not realistic and healthy to live in the space of perfectionism. We tend to lose the beauty of humanity when striving for perfectionism. There was a time in my life that I was my harshest critic. I would shame myself for any mistakes (that were mine or not mine) instead of honoring myself and my own needs. It is a liberating experience when you start to give yourself the same grace and kindness that you give other people. Working with my clients, I love seeing them empowered to be empathetic towards themselves and their growth. People think the healing journey is linear and an easy road when it’s not. Some uncomfortable and complex journey parts take vast courage to sit with those emotions and process unresolved trauma.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started Weekly Healing in April 2021. The vision for Weekly Healing came to me in December 2020 as I was lying in bed, thinking about my legacy and purpose to help others. I was thinking about my healing journey during the pandemic. As the world stopped, we had to shift from a busy lifestyle to a new normal of intentional living. The pandemic showed us we could no longer avoid the unhealthy patterns and trauma we’ve experienced. You may have been scrolling on social media and noticed various posts on mental health. You probably thought, “Hmm, I never thought about this. Is this what anxiety feels like?”, “I am feeling triggered,” or “Wow. My current self-care techniques are no longer working”. Many people realized it was time to start processing their past to become their best selves. It can feel overwhelming to process past experiences and learn new habits in a society that promotes comparison. Everyone’s healing journey is their own. Wherever you are in your journey, Weekly Healing provides a supportive, non-judgmental space for adolescents and young adults to identify unhealthy patterns.

Weekly Healing’s mission is to support clients in their healing journey. We honor this mission through collaboration, accountability, empowerment, and compassion so clients can live authentically. Through a therapeutic relationship, we aim to help you feel confident in advocating and caring for yourself as you process past trauma and heal inner wounds. Our shared purpose will be to help you live fully and purposefully.

I am proud of my business as it supports individuals, particularly Black women, to reclaim their stories as they heal. Society has vast unwarranted opinions about Black women. It’s exciting unlearning those internal messages and shed others’ burdens. I am proud that my clients trust the space to take off perfectionism masks and allow themselves to be vulnerable. I am excited to be a part of the change in the community by normalizing mental health services and increasing access to Black therapists.

As a business owner, I learn the most from my friends who own businesses. It’s fun to be building a legacy and brand with friends. It was easy to begin the company, but it can be hard to maintain a business. Finances were not talked about a lot growing up in my household. Managing the business finances was an area that I was the most nervous about. It was essential to seek counsel and expertise.

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned as a business owner and therapist is honoring my own boundaries. It’s important that I take care of myself to ensure the success of the business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am located in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. You get to experience two cities for the price of one. I am a lover of food, live music, and outdoor spaces. Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge is my number one recommendation for anyone visiting. My friends and I are there every other day. The staff are like family and wine selection is amazing.

Sunday: Brunch at Crown Republic Gastropub; check out the underground railroad museum.
Monday: Breakfast at Pressed on Monmouth. Check out the Cincinnati Art museum and hang out at Eden Park
Tuesday: Catch a movie at the Newport Levee; grab drinks at Beeline
Wednesday: hang out at Washington Park and walk around OTR; Live music at Somerset
Thursday: Trivia Night at Esoteric Brewery
Friday: Dinner at Pepp and Dolores; Drinks and watch Sound the Alarm Band at Nostalgia; grab dessert from Sugar
Saturday: lunch and drinks at Covington Yard

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It takes a village to raise a child and my mother did it with her tribe. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by amazing Black women that encourage and guide me to life life fully. Thank you to my mother, Faith Weekly, who models joy, courage, and positivity. She is my biggest cheerleader. Thank you to my godmother, Sandy Lathon, who models compassion, empathy, and love. Thank you to my godmother Valerie MIller-George, who models strength, honesty, and bravery. Thank you to my godmother Wanda Greene, who models purpose, generosity, and humility.

I also dedicate this shoutout to my best friend, Neema Tambo. She taught me self-compassion and grace as she battled cancer. She passed in September 2020.

Website: weekly-healing.com

Instagram: @weeklyhealing

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-weekly-502

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weeklyhealing

Image Credits
Kiki Smith Photography