#WestsideMumboss Series: The Inner
Sophie Parker is a PR, cognitive hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner and coach who lives in Ealing with her Australian-born husband and daughter. She discovered hypnotherapy when she did a HypnoBirthing course to prepare for the birth of her daughter, fast forward a few years she has founded The Inner, a mind health and wellbeing practice in Ealing, to help people banish their self-limiting beliefs and live their best life!
What inspired you to set up your own biz?
I’ve always wanted to work for myself, but it wasn’t until I became a mum that I got the kick I needed to actually do it. I work in PR and had toyed with the idea of freelancing throughout my career, but being a pragmatist the uncertainty of not having a regular income put me off. However, my mindset completely changed after I became a parent. I think the reality of being a role model for my daughter meant I could not give it a go, so I stopped ruminating and just did it. I believe it’s never too late to change or start something new.
However, I also have to give credit to Emma Gannon for bringing my attention to multi-hyphenate careers. I made setting up my practice work for me because I didn’t have the pressure of quitting my day job. So, I’m a PR-Cognitive Hypnotherapist-NLP Practioner-Coach and hyphen mother — a role I’m just as passionate about and invested in!
What were you doing before?
I was working full-time as a PR, five days a week before I became a parent. I now work four days a week which is considered part-time! My cognitive hypnotherapy practice fits around my job working in PR and family life, so I see most clients in the week, in the evening after I’ve finished the day job. On Fridays I like to spend quality time with my daughter, as well as catching up with friends. I do see the occasional client on Fridays and at the weekend, but I try not to fill my ‘time off’ with practice work if I can avoid it. Weekends are family time. It’s important to set boundaries when working for yourself. I take my own personal wellbeing really seriously- I wouldn’t be a good therapist if I didn’t practice what I preached.
Setting up the The Inner has squeezed so many hours out of my day and I’ve had to make sacrifices, but what makes it manageable is I enjoy what I do and have the support of my husband — I couldn’t do it without him. For the next year, I’m focused on growing the practice and offering new services including group hypnobirthing workshops, and a regular practice in Chiswick. I hope that when I’m ready to dedicate more focus to it, it will provide more flexibility with family life especially when my daughter starts school, but at the moment I just love being a multi-hyphenate.
What’s the best bit about being your own boss?
I love working for myself. Although it’s been challenging with balancing family life, I’ve revelled in every aspect. From working on the branding to learning the practical stuff involved in running a business (even the accounting), but overall what I love most is that I have full autonomy over how I work; who I work with and when. Despite all the extra hours I have to work in the evenings and weekends on the practice it doesn’t feel like work. I love developing my business and helping people — the most rewarding aspect is hearing clients tell me their lives have been transformed after seeing me for only a handful of sessions.
Get Westside Mums’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Which are your favourite local spots for a bite or a drink?
I like Soane’s Kitchen for lunch and coffee. They treat children with the same care and attention as their adults. My daughter who is two and a half loves the fact they don’t treat her like a baby by making her eat from a plastic plate and drink from a plastic cup. The restaurant’s outdoor seating in the garden is also a good place to eat with children or if you have a dog. It’s more informal and there’s plenty of room for my daughter to run around while I enjoy a coffee.
For cakes and a light lunch I like to head to WA Cafe for its warm and welcoming Japanese hospitality, delicious and Insta-worthy patisseries and sandwiches.
For coffee, I have to recommend Fifth Taste Coffee located in Ealing Common tube station, as it’a our local coffee shop but if I’m in Northfields I like the homely vibe at Element Coffee and Burnt Norton for brekkie. It baffles me why anyone would go to a chain, when we have so many good speciality coffee shops in Ealing.
Pub-wise I don’t think you can beat the garden at The Grange. It’s a little sun trap and is not too far from where we live. If we’re with lots of children the Duke of Kent or Drayton Court Hotel are also our top choices because of their spacious beer gardens.
We’ve got a distinct lack of bars in Ealing, but Abbotshill in St Mary’s is a gem for its unpretentious atmosphere, good wine and cheeses.
What’s your favourite local small shop / brand?
I wish there were more independents in Ealing, especially in the Broadway as I remember there were a lot more when I was growing up. but local picks are:
For Arts Sake, the framers house a great selection of prints and is good place to go for a culture fix — they always have regular exhibition in the shop from a visiting artist. Not many people will be aware of this but it’s also good for cards and gifts, as they often have a collection of jewellery and small ceramics for sale.
Natural Natural, the Japanese food shop in Ealing Common is also worth a visit for authentic sushi trays, takoyaki and okonomiyaki lollipops — yes, they sell the Japanese pancakes on a skewer- a great treat on the go or a picnic in the park!
For bags I can’t get enough of Tiba + Marl. It’s ridiculous, but one of my biggest fears when becoming a mum was carrying a bag that I wouldn’t have even looked at if I wasn’t a parent. I have two Tiba + Marl bags and still wear my Kasper knapsack daily despite my daughter being nappy-free.
For pampering, The Soma Room. It’s run by another Sophie who was generous with her advice when I started The Inner — it’s tucked away on Spring Bridge Mews, and is a little sanctuary in the Broadway. I occasionally run my Ealing practice from one of her beautiful rooms. Since starting my business, I’ve been amazed by the kindness and generosity of strangers.
Thanks so much to Sophie for sharing her story, and also for her top local picks (many of which are also mine), do check out her website or find her on insta.
