Inspiring Conversations with Katie Lacenere of Divine Light Sanctuary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Lacenere.

Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thanks for having me! I’ve been a highly sensitive person (HSP) my whole life, so everything affects me on a deeper level. I’m also a survivor of intergenerational trauma, narcissistic abuse, and medical trauma (severe asthma and allergies since I was 2). As a result, I began my healing journey when I experienced my first spiritual awakening and “dark night of the soul” at 17 years old. My undiagnosed anxiety and depression manifested as severe migraine headaches that caused me to miss 40 high school days. The following year, I noticed my psychic/intuitive gifts emerging and would often have premonition dreams and memories of traumatic past lives. I felt awakened but very imbalanced and confused about all of this, so my mom helped me find my first psychotherapist, Michele Granberg, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Past Life Regression Therapist, and Reiki Master. She was integral in my healing journey, and I attended psychotherapy, past life regressions, and Reiki healing sessions with her for about 6 years. Michele was also the first person who showed me how Reiki healing helps clear away heavy emotional energies that emerge during psychotherapy sessions.

After graduating with my teaching degrees from Rowan University in 2013, I began practicing yoga and was inspired to pursue my Reiki Levels I, II, and III Attunements (training) with Michele. Since then, I’ve been practicing Reiki on myself and others. Reiki is one of the healing modalities that has truly transformed my life and healed me on many levels! Before starting my healing business, Divine Light Sanctuary, I practiced Reiki healing on my family members and friends, and they also experienced miraculous healing results! My older sister was later inspired to become a Holy Fire® Reiki Master in 2017, and she trained me to become a Holy Fire® Reiki Master in 2020. Despite my Reiki healing experience, I never considered becoming a professional healer until 2016, when I was working as an English teacher and feeling very unsatisfied. I loved teaching my students, but I was burning out and could not afford to live independently with my low salary.

In the fall of 2015, I experienced 3 significant losses, including my grandfather, who died of skin cancer. I called him my Pop, and he was a loving father figure. My Pop’s death pushed me into the darkest night and most profound depression in January 2016, and I knew I needed more healing support. My mom again helped me find the support I needed when experiencing immense emotional pain and suicidal thoughts. Through therapy and psychiatric care, I began to feel more like myself again. I also became motivated and inspired to learn how to facilitate the healing process for others!

During the summer of 2017, I resigned from my teaching job and moved to Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to become a full-time graduate student at Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. I earned my Master of Social Service (MSS) degree in 2 years and learned about and practiced experiential trauma therapy, such as psychodrama, sociometry, and Gestalt therapy. Post-graduation, I completed the first year of the Pennsylvania Gestalt Center Training Program. I’m now a Certified Experiential Therapist (Level 1) through the International Society for Experiential Professionals (ISEP). I realized that combining experiential therapy techniques with Reiki healing provided an even more powerful healing experience for me, and I was able to begin healing from my medical and intergenerational trauma through Gestalt therapy group workshops. My training inspired me to share this with others through individual therapy sessions and group workshops. This healing work even re-opened my channels of creativity, and I was inspired to write poetry again!

However, I felt stuck because I was working as a school social worker for students with special needs, and I could barely afford my rent and other expenses with my salary. As a result of the pandemic in 2020, my whole job changed and became virtual. I could no longer provide counseling services in the same way for my students, so I decided to resign and finally start my own experiential therapy and Reiki healing business, Divine Light Sanctuary. However, this created new issues because I needed part-time employment while building my business. As a result, I became even more depressed and anxious about my financial situation and felt like a failure. When I felt frustrated and was about to give up on this dream, a childhood friend told me about a self-employment coach, Jen Shultz of The Non-Nine-to-Five™. Jen’s high level, consistent support is exactly what I needed to begin rebuilding my life and become more financially independent. In 2022, I moved to Texas, and it has been one of the best decisions! Through taking intuitively-guided action steps and doing the inner and outer healing work, I truly feel that financial stability through self-employment is possible and already happening for me!

When I’m not helping others heal, I enjoy taking frequent nature walks near Texas rivers/lakes, walking through sunflower fields, listening to music, reading books, writing poetry, creating memes, making crystal jewelry, spending quality time with family/friends, meditating, and practicing yoga.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been full of challenges, twists, and turns, but I feel this keeps it interesting! The intergenerational trauma/abuse I experienced was a major challenge that inspired me to begin my healing journey and help others to heal from various forms of trauma/abuse and grief/loss. The grief I’ve experienced from significant losses in my life has also inspired me to help others recover from grief/loss. As I reflect on my life, I realize that many of the financial and health challenges that I felt were happening TO me were actually happening FOR me, so I could continue evolving and actualizing my potential. There have been many times when I didn’t get what I thought I wanted, but it was a blessing in disguise! Rather than seeing it as rejection, I now view it as a redirection to something much better! I also would not be where I am today without the support of the Universe, God/Goddess, my Higher Self, and my Spirit Guides, who I call my Family of Light. Since Pop’s passing in 2015, I still feel very connected to him, and he continues to guide and support me on my journey. His physical body has died, but the loving connection that we share lives on and has only gotten stronger. I consistently connect with my Family of Light through daily meditation, prayer, Reiki self-treatments, and journaling.

As you know, we’re big fans of Divine Light Sanctuary. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
I’m the founder of Divine Light Sanctuary. I support adults through various life transitions and help them heal from trauma/abuse and grief/loss through experiential therapy and Reiki healing. I’ve uniquely created my Reiki Therapy Programs, which are a combination of weekly Reiki healing and experiential psychotherapy (Gestalt therapy, psychodrama, creative arts therapy, journal therapy, music therapy, etc.) in a 1, 3, or 6 month coaching container. My Reiki Therapy Programs support my clients in healing themselves and releasing painful cycles, which have been holding them back from actualizing their highest potential and emotional fulfillment. As a trauma survivor, I’m passionate about guiding and supporting others on their journey to heal from their traumatic experiences, establish/maintain appropriate boundaries, and create the ideal life they imagine!

I also recognize that you are the one who heals yourself. My purpose is to be a mentor/guide, who facilitates your healing process as you return to your natural state of health/wellness. As your mentor/guide, I use my 10 years of Reiki healing experience, trauma-informed experiential therapy training, advanced intuitive abilities, and over 16 years of inner healing and personal growth to provide high-level healing support.

I’ve also developed Karma Clearing Experiential Therapy (KCET), which is included in my Reiki Therapy Programs. KCET is a unique form of healing that promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness and facilitates healing/recovery from various forms of trauma/abuse and grief/loss. When Reiki healing is included in this two-step process, it is pure alchemy. It ensures a deep clearing/healing of many emotional and Karmic layers that consciously emerged during your session.

I specialize in working with adults, who experience any of the following:

• Identifies as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or is empathic
• Anxiety and depression
• Various forms of trauma and abuse
• Grieving various types of losses, including the loss of a child/children (miscarriage – adult children)
• Grieving the ambiguous loss of relationships (divorce/breakup)
• Difficult life transitions (births, deaths, relocations, etc.)
• Issues with family of origin and other relationship issues
• Artists or anyone who wants to develop their spirituality, intuition, and creativity

At Divine Light Sanctuary, I also teach you 6 Steps for Success on Your Reiki Therapy Journey!

Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Starting my business, Divine Light Sanctuary, has been one of the most stressful but rewarding experiences. It has caused me to confront every fear and limiting belief I have about myself. As a result, I’ve experienced low-level energy on this self-employment journey, so consistent, high-level support has been an absolute must for me! I’m glad I discovered Jen Shultz’s self-employment coaching programs at The Non-Nine-to-Five™. They have helped me manage my low-level fear, frustration, and anxiety to realize my highest potential as a therapist, healer, and business owner.

Jen has also helped me gain more confidence to attend formal and informal networking events, which I would have previously felt too anxious to attend. She also introduced me to a fantastic networking organization, specifically for female entrepreneurs and business owners, called PolkaDot Powerhouse. This year, I decided to join my local Texas Hill Country chapter, where I’ve met many successful and inspiring female entrepreneurs. I’ve also attended some virtual Worldwide Chapter meetings, where I’ve connected with members worldwide! If you’re starting as an entrepreneur and feel like giving up, my advice is to “keep going and don’t give up before the miracle. The great cosmic spiral has so much more to show you!”

Pricing:

• Complimentary 1-Hour Clarity Call: During this unique Clarity Call, I will deeply listen to what’s not working well for you and what you want. Then, we’ll see if my holistic healing work is a match for you and determine a potential next best step! Please apply for your Clarity Call via my website.
• Reiki Healing Session (90 minutes) – $140
• Karma Clearing Experiential Therapy Session (90 minutes) – $185
• Reiki Therapy Programs: 1 Month Breakthrough Program, 3 Month Evolution Program, 6 Month Ascension Program – Pricing Upon Request

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.divinelightsanctuary.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinelightsanctuary8/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divinelightsanctuary8
• Other: My Substack Poetry: https://divinelightsanctuary.substack.com/