Self Work vs. Practitioner Work: Unlocking True Healing
In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast, host Heather McKean is joined by Kent McKean and McKenzie Brewster to explore a fundamental question: Can self-work alone lead to deep healing, or do we need a practitioner to truly rewire the subconscious? This conversation takes a deep dive into the nature of conscious vs. subconscious healing, breaking down the science behind how we store trauma, develop coping mechanisms, and why certain healing modalities work for some but not for others.
Heather shares her personal journey—how she initially explored various healing methods like EFT, NLP, EMDR, hypnosis, and somatic experiencing, only to realize that many of them provided temporary relief rather than lasting change. She explains why understanding the neuroscience of memory, neuroplasticity, and subconscious patterning is key to creating breakthroughs that actually stick. Through this exploration, she unveils the missing links in many healing modalities and how Mind Change was born out of a need for a deeper, more holistic approach to subconscious rewiring.
Throughout the episode, Kent and McKenzie contribute their insights into why people often ‘cap out’ in their healing journey—hitting plateaus in self-work and feeling like certain issues just won’t shift. They discuss the pitfalls of surface-level subconscious work, why some practitioners aren’t equipped to facilitate deep transformation, and how the coaching industry has turned neuroscience into a buzzword rather than an actual method of healing. They also highlight the growing trend of ‘somatic healing’ and ‘nervous system regulation’—and why these approaches can be helpful but often miss the root of the issue.
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that healing is not a one-size-fits-all journey. While self-work is an essential tool, there are some subconscious programs that are deeply ingrained and nearly impossible to access alone. Heather explains how working with a skilled practitioner can reveal blind spots, unlock hidden subconscious patterns, and accelerate breakthroughs that could take years to achieve through self-guided methods alone. However, she also emphasizes the importance of personal agency—how Mind Change is designed to put the power back in the hands of individuals rather than creating dependency on practitioners.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated with therapy, self-help, or mindset work that doesn’t seem to create lasting transformation, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about healing. Whether you’re looking to improve your relationships, overcome chronic illness, shift limiting beliefs, or simply understand yourself better, Heather and her team provide a powerful roadmap for integrating conscious and subconscious healing into a complete system of transformation.
Tune in to discover what’s really possible when you go beyond just ‘thinking differently’—and learn how to truly rewire your mind at the deepest levels.
What we covered in this episode:
💭 Conscious vs. Subconscious Healing – True transformation happens at the subconscious level, not just through mindset shifts.
🧠 Neuroscience of Healing – The brain stores trauma and patterns, making subconscious rewiring key for lasting change.
🌀 Why Some Modalities Fail – EFT, NLP, and EMDR work for some, but often don’t address the root cause.
🤯 Limits of Self-Work – Some subconscious programs are too deep to access alone—a practitioner helps break through.
🔄 Healing Plateaus – People get stuck because their subconscious believes their issues are “needed” for survival.
🏗️ Symptoms vs. Root Causes – Managing symptoms isn’t enough—true healing rewires the brain’s core programming.
💡 The “Neuroscience Coaching” Trap – Many self-help courses misuse neuroscience—real change requires deeper knowledge.
🌊 Healing as an Ocean – Self-work dips your toes in; practitioner sessions fully immerse you for deeper shifts.
⏳ Why Healing Takes Time – Rewiring the brain isn’t a quick fix—it’s about creating new patterns.
🛠️ Mind Change: A True Healing System – It combines neuroscience, subconscious rewiring, and body-based work for real transformation.
📚 Get Heather’s book - “Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time”
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