Mark D. Lakowske
CTC® CMHT® CMPNLP CMPHNLP™
Founder & Owner, Healing Artistry Therapies
Hi, I’m Mark.
For more than a decade, I’ve worked with people who are tired of overthinking, second-guessing themselves, living by the expectations of others, or simply feeling disconnected from who they really are.
What they often want isn’t to become someone completely different. They want to feel more like themselves again—to trust their own decisions, feel more at ease in their lives, and make choices based on what they want, need, and value.
That’s the work I care about.
And it’s important to me that I get to know the person I’m working with. Your experiences, concerns, hopes, and goals are your own. I want to understand what’s happening in your life, rather than assume the same answer is right for everyone.
I help people feel more at ease in their own lives, trust themselves, and reconnect with who they are.
~ Mark
Why This Work Is Personal to Me
My interest in helping people reconnect with themselves comes from more than professional training. I know something about what it feels like to lose confidence in your own voice.
Years ago, I left a dangerous, emotionally abusive marriage. Leaving was an important step, but it didn’t mean that the anxiety, self-doubt, and patterns I had developed disappeared overnight.
I had to take an honest look at what I had experienced, how it had affected me, and what I wanted my life to look like moving forward.
That experience became part of what led me to study and practice the approaches I now use in my work.
I don’t assume that your experiences are the same as mine, and I don’t believe you need to have lived through something similar for us to work together. But my own journey gave me a lasting appreciation for how much can be happening beneath the surface of a life that looks perfectly fine from the outside.
It also helped shape a belief that remains central to my practice: you deserve the opportunity to make choices based on who you are and what matters to you—not only on the roles you’ve learned to play or the expectations you’ve carried.
That belief is at the heart of Healing Artistry Therapies:
Stop Performing. Start Living.
My Experience and Professional Background
I’m a Certified Therapeutic Coach, Certified Clinical Master Hypnotherapist, and Master NLP/HNLP Practitioner.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with more than 3,000 individual clients, as well as working with groups and sharing my work through teaching and speaking engagements.
My professional experience has taken me across the United States and internationally. I’ve led a teaching tour in Australia and New Zealand and regularly present at professional conferences throughout the U.S.
I’ve also authored three books—including one co-written across generations with my grandmother—and contributed to Brainz Magazine as an Executive Contributor, sharing ideas about personal growth, healing, and change.
I’m honored that Healing Artistry Therapies has received Best in Business recognition for four consecutive years and been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame. I’m also a recipient of the CREA Global Award.
I share these experiences and recognitions because I understand that choosing someone to work with on personal matters is an important decision. You should be able to learn about my background, ask questions, and decide whether my experience and approach feel right for you.
Education, Training & Certifications
My professional education began with a two-year program at The Meta Institute, where I graduated after completing extensive training in clinical hypnotherapy. Since then, I've continued expanding my knowledge and skills through additional education, specialized training, and certifications with the following schools and organizations:
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The Meta Institute & The International School for Therapeutic Coaching & Clinical Hypnotherapy
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The National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH)
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The International Hypnosis Federation (IHF)
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The Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI)
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The Expert Hypnotherapist System
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Sky Blue Dreams Hypnotherapy Course
My certifications and professional qualifications include:
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Certified Therapeutic Coach®
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Certified Clinical Master Hypnotherapist®
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Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming
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Certified Master Practitioner of Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology™
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Certified Consulting Hypnotist
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Certified Practitioner in Removing Emotional Blocks with Precision
My learning hasn’t stopped with earning certifications. Continuing to study, teach, and exchange ideas with others in my field is an important part of how I develop my work.
A Little More About Me
Outside of my practice, I’m an artist, performer, costume maker, and lifelong theater enthusiast.
I teach art to children at the Boys & Girls Club, where I get to encourage creativity, curiosity, and the joy of making something with your own hands.
I also design and build historical costumes—work that brings together my love of art, history, research, and a good creative challenge.
I’ve worked in theater in a variety of roles, and I previously worked as a costumer at Walt Disney World.
These days, you might also find me at a Renaissance festival performing a rather opinionated comedy character. I love the chance to make people laugh, interact with an audience, and bring a character to life.
When I’m not working on a costume or a creative project, I enjoy live theater, thrifting for unexpected treasures, exploring history, and camping with my family.
Theater has taught me a great deal about the roles we play. Onstage, stepping into a role can be joyful and freeing. In everyday life, though, we sometimes take on roles because we believe we have to—and over time, it can become difficult to distinguish those expectations from what we genuinely want.
That connection between performance and everyday life is one reason “Stop Performing. Start Living.” means so much to me.
What Matters to Me When We Work Together
I’m passionate about working with the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. To me, that means taking the time to understand how your experiences, thoughts, emotions, and everyday circumstances fit together, rather than treating you as a problem to be fixed.
My role isn’t to tell you who you should become. It’s to help you explore the patterns that may be holding you back as we work toward the changes you want to make.
I believe that within each of us are strengths and resources we may not always recognize, especially when life has been difficult or we've spent years doubting ourselves.
Part of my work is helping you recognize those resources, discover new ways of drawing on them, and begin using them to make meaningful changes in your everyday life.
I work with clients through personalized programs, with sessions conducted remotely by phone. That gives us the opportunity to work together from a quiet, private space where you feel comfortable, wherever you’re located and where I’m able to provide services.
If something you've read here resonates with you, or you simply feel that my approach might be a good fit, I'd welcome the opportunity to get to know you.
We can start with a conversation, talk about what you're hoping to change, and see whether working together feels right.