7861 Gilman Street
Redmond, WA 98052
425-869-8115

 

        Margaret Piela, BSN, MA, Registered Counselor
Experience Management Consultant
 

As a teenager, I began to grasp the power of attitude and belief when I read Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search For Meaning.  Frankl, the Father of Logotherapy, provided us with an existential philosophy to help us find meaning in life.  He presented the belief that we always have choice, independent of our upbringing, circumstances, and others.  At that time, I was inspired to find a choice point in all situations and bring myself to a place of self-actualization and fulfillment in life, no matter what I encountered externally.  Frankl wrote about his experiences in a concentration camp, certainly a more devastating circumstance than I had ever experienced.  He found meaning through that experience, and he believed that when he could not control the environment, circumstances or others, he could control his response.  His famous quote is as follows:

During my nursing career, I was around loss, pain, suffering, crisis, and death. I saw many unfulfilled people at the end of their lives, with a deep sadness about how they lived.  I was challenged to help them find a choice point - to help them find meaning, independent of the circumstances they were experiencing.  But, just as Logotherapy is criticized for being too vague in providing techniques, I found I was at a loss in providing others with a "how" - a concrete, practical way to do this.  I just knew it was possible to come to the end of our lives and be proud of the way we lived and experience a sense of fulfillment.  And, I knew the journey along the way could be more fulfilling that what I saw most people experiencing. 

During this part of my life, I was also quite fascinated as I observed the dynamics of habitual patterns of behavior in our society.  People were challenged with addictions, illness, depression, anxiety, and a variety of feelings and behaviors they said they didn't want.  Individuals I encountered desperately claimed they wanted to change, yet continued cycling in the same patterns over and over again, despite the education they received.  I also observed and had first hand experience around how attitude, thoughts and emotions affect the body and play an important part in the healing process.

In graduate school, I began to understand the dynamics of second order change - an actual lasting structural change in a pattern.  I studied different theoretical frameworks and philosophies on topics such as personality, change, health, illness, systems and consciousness.  I experimented with and experienced many different change techniques and approaches to counseling.  I observed what worked and what didn't - for me and for others.  With my masters program being an experiential one, and my basic framework being systems theory, I integrated the useful parts of different counseling styles and techniques and created my own eclectic approach.

I developed what I call Experience Management, a simple and practical set of skills and perspectives that are helpful in creating second order change.  I discovered a  framework of beliefs and techniques that not only help me personally, but are also useful in inspiring and supporting others as they make lasting, effective changes in their lives. 

Education, Certifications and Professional Experience

Began my own business in 1984.   Having gained expertise and experience in health and the behavioral sciences, I blended them together to provide clients with practical, holistic approaches to managing their personal experiences.  Provided trainings in the corporate environment and expanded to include speaking engagements and retreats, conflict resolution and problem employee counseling, private counseling, group counseling, facilitation and classes.

Director of Mastery Health & Learning Center, Inc.   MH&LC consisted of up to 5 volunteers and 12 professionals during various phases of the Center’s growth since 1998.  We were a group of professionals who combined our talents to provide a unique array of classes and individual consultations for personal growth, health, and life enhancement.   MH&LC had a retail health and herbal products store for 3 years, which closed to the public November 2003.   I provided counseling and classes ranging from a Certified Herbalist Course to Experience Management programs on weight management and relationship healing as well as Experience Management for teenagers.

Registered Nurse Career Highlights: had various roles ranging from a nursing instructor, primary care nurse, team leader, supervisor, assistant head nurse, charge nurse and an agency nurse in hospitals, patient’s homes, specialty care centers and nursing homes.  Worked floor nursing on an Adult Psych and Chemical Detox Unit, and units with the following specialties: Orthopedics, Bariatrics, Specialty Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, Medical, and Telemetry Cardiac Step-down Unit. Worked competently in the following areas as an agency nurse:  Post-Surgical Units, Post Partum, Nursery, and Rehabilitation. 

As an RN, I provided Human Relations Training for hospital staff; co-designed and implemented Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and facilitated Primary Nursing hospital wide at the University Hospital; conducted certified education courses and inservices; led interdisciplinary care conferences; designed educational programs and materials; developed and implemented orientation and training programs; initiated and facilitated support groups; facilitated task and problem solving groups; performed quality assurance audits and research; wrote and implemented nursing standards, policies and procedures.  Involved in hiring and firing process; performed written evaluations of staff performance; designed peer and self-evaluation instruments; conducted peer reviews.