Conrad Lipic, a former combat medic in the US Army, transformed his demons and challenges into a passionate career of healing through his business, Mind Aligned, LLC. He specializes in men’s issues, sex addiction, and trauma and also aids clients in navigating their stuck points and gaps. His work goes beyond addressing the symptoms to understanding the whole person using a holistic “jigsaw puzzle” approach that creates lasting change. Having worked with clients across the US, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and Asia, Conrad is not just a coach but a beacon of hope for those seeking to transform and rebuild their lives.
Conrad Lipic, Transformational Coach
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life so we can get to know you better.
Hey Angelika, thanks for inviting me to share my story. It is an honor to be here. Reflecting on where my journey began, I realize how much of my early years feel like a patchwork of memories, partly due to my time as a combat medic in the 101st Airborne Division in the US Army, serving in Iraq. The impact of that period, especially a roadside bomb incident in 2006 that clouded and erased many of my memories, profoundly shaped my understanding of resilience and healing.
After leaving the military, I ventured into the corporate world, only to find it unfulfilling. It was not until I was fired from my job that I felt a sense of liberation, an unexpected turning point that led me towards a more meaningful path. Encouraged by my mentor and close friend, I pursued a career in coaching and therapy, driven by my passion for helping others and my firsthand insights into the complexities of trauma and recovery.
Now, as a transformational life coach and therapist, I combine my diverse life experiences with my professional training. This unique blend allows me to approach each client with empathy and understanding, tailoring my methods to their unique journey. Looking back, I realize that every step of my past has been instrumental in shaping who I am today: a person dedicated to guiding others through their challenges and toward their path of self-discovery and growth.
Yet, on a more personal note, I live a single life with no kids or pets. I have always been a fan of the simple joys in life, like holding hands, sharing laughs, romantic dinners by candlelight, and the tranquility of long walks. And while I might jest about strolling along the beach, my heart truly belongs to the mountains – something about their rugged beauty and serenity resonates with me.
Can you share the story behind the creation of Mind Aligned, LLC? What inspired you to start this business, and what goals did you aim to achieve?
Mind Aligned, LLC emerged from a realization that many helping professionals often focus narrowly on one aspect of their client’s lives, neglecting to consider the whole person – their experiences, passions, physical and mental health, spirituality, continuous learning, and relationships. Witnessing this limited approach in my previous work and recognizing how my training as a combat medic and medical trainer in the Army could uniquely contribute to a more holistic method of coaching, I felt compelled to establish a new business model that addressed these gaps.
The cornerstone of Mind Aligned, LLC is to treat every individual comprehensively, integrating lessons from my diverse experiences and training. The goal is straightforward yet profound: facilitating lasting change in as many lives as possible. It is incredibly fulfilling when clients find personal growth through our sessions and become catalysts for change in their lives. Whether it is sharing insights from a book we discussed or pursuing further education to help others, each story of transformation reaffirms the vision behind Mind Aligned, LLC – to foster a chain of empowerment and self-improvement.
In a competitive market, what sets Mind Aligned, LLC apart from other similar businesses? What unique features or offerings do you believe contribute to the success of your site?
That is a great question. At Mind Aligned, LLC, what sets us apart is our comprehensive training, unique life experiences, and the tailored educational resources we provide to our clients. Our newly launched weekly newsletter, focusing on men’s issues, problematic sexual behaviors, and trauma, is a testament to our commitment to addressing often-overlooked topics. We believe in Benjamin Franklin’s words, ‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.’ This philosophy is integrated into our practice; we do not just educate our clients; we actively engage them with action plans post-sessions, ranging from simple tasks to profound introspection about their future selves and core beliefs.
Our standout offering is the Phoenix Program, which adapts the march method from combat medicine to personal development, offering a unique approach to achieving lasting change. This program delves deep into personal transformation’s heart and has become our services’ cornerstone.
Furthermore, we recognize that we might not be the right fit for everyone, and in such cases, we see our peers not as competitors but as valuable resources for referrals. This collaborative approach enhances the care network available to our clients.
Lastly, our ongoing effort to onboard coaches from diverse backgrounds is a step towards offering a more inclusive and varied perspective in our coaching programs, ensuring that our growing client base finds the guidance that resonates best with their unique experiences.
What upcoming features, projects, or innovations can users expect from Mind Aligned, LLC? How do you envision the growth of the platform in the future, and are there any exciting developments in the pipeline?
We are thrilled about the upcoming launch of the Mind Aligned Academy. This innovative platform will offer self-paced programs with lifetime access, designed to ensure clients can thoroughly absorb and apply the material at their own pace. Our inaugural program, ‘Being a Man in the 21st Century,’ aims to address contemporary challenges men face. Following this, we will introduce specialized programs on problematic sexual behaviors and trauma, carefully crafted to address the complexities of these issues.
Moreover, we are expanding our coaching network, mainly focusing on our laser coaching sessions. These 15-minute intensive sessions offer concise, impactful guidance, and with a more diverse range of coaches, we can connect clients with the coach that best suits their needs. In a significant move towards inclusivity, we are negotiating to bring two very experienced female coaches on board, further diversifying the perspectives and expertise available to our clients.
The growth of our newsletter is another exciting frontier. It is a new tool in our mission to reach and educate a broad audience on vital topics, and we are eager to see its influence expand.
As we envision the future of Mind Aligned, LLC, we see these developments as business growth and an expansion of our ability to impact lives positively. We are committed to continuously evolving and innovating in ways that resonate with and empower our clients.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
The pivotal moment that steered me towards where I am today was undoubtedly the day I was fired from my corporate job. Despite the initial shock, I felt an overwhelming sense of liberation, as if I was unshackled from a life that was not mine. This period was not without its challenges, as I found myself reverting to old, unhealthy habits, a struggle that progressed my understanding of personal transformation.
The real turning point came during a lunch with a long-time friend and mentor. This was not the first time he suggested I pursue a career in therapy – he had mentioned it seven years prior, but back then, I was not ready to listen. This time, however, his words resonated with me. Within three months, I had started graduate school, for the second time, mind you, embarking on a journey that would redefine my professional and personal life.
As I delved into my studies, we often discussed the limitations of traditional therapy, the lack of therapy training in clinical social worker programs, the politics that sometimes overshadowed its efficacy, and the rigidity of many therapeutic approaches. It was during these discussions that I was introduced to coaching. This new perspective was eye-opening. I quickly realized the potent synergy between therapy and coaching and how, for many, coaching could offer a more adaptable and immediate form of guidance and support.
These interactions with my mentor were more than just influential; they were transformative. They did not just lead me to a new career path; they reshaped my understanding of how to facilitate growth and healing in myself and others.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing in my industry, it would be a fundamental change in each of the two areas I work.
In therapy, I believe there should be a shift towards a national licensing system in the United States for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Counselors, with Licensed Clinical Social Workers no longer allowed to provide therapy due to the sub-par training and therapy education received in their graduate program, which I should know about as I went through it and had a steep learning curve when I came out of school. The current state-by-state licensing system creates unnecessary barriers for therapists and clients, especially in our increasingly digital world. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic showed the need for a national license. A national license would expand access to therapy, allowing professionals to serve clients more easily anywhere the client is located, which is particularly important for virtual sessions. This would increase availability and improve continuity of care for clients who move states or go on vacation.
As for coaching, the industry urgently needs a standardized system for tracking and rating coaches. While platforms like Trustpilot offer some insight, a dedicated, industry-specific rating and review system is lacking. Such a system would help potential clients validate the efficacy of coaches, their methods, and establish a benchmark for professionalism in coaching leading to higher accountability and continuous improvement within the coaching community, enhancing the quality of client services.
