Her Story
About Marlena
Marlena Elk serves as a hypnotherapist operating a private practice and as a peer recovery support specialist at the Cherokee Nation Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She has been in her field for three years, following three years in recovery after a long period of addiction. Her expertise stems from training at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in Tarzana, California, certification through the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, and ongoing studies in her second year of MindBody Psychology. Elk attributes her success to her personal drive and belief in herself, supported by her recovery community, family, and colleagues. She is deeply involved in the recovery community, sharing her story at local events and setting up informational booths. Her work is guided by values of respect, accountability, and honesty, and she advises aspiring professionals to maintain balance, recognize that anything is possible, and never give up. Elk was inspired by a spiritual awakening in 2021 and the teachings of Dr. Joe Dispenza, motivating her to help others access the support she once lacked.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marlena
01What do you attribute your success to?
My drive and the belief in myself. I also have a huge support system with everybody that I work with, all of my recovery community, my kids, my husband, my mom. Everybody is so proud of me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To have balance. It's something that I work on every day to have balance. Take that time out for leisure, fun, and play, but also work hard. You have to make it happen.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Anything's possible and you can be anything that you want to be in this life. Don't give up. I didn't know what that meant until now and it makes me strive even harder.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Getting the audience you need to come to your sessions so you can be impactful. Having people keep coming back so you've made that kind of impact that they want to change the direction of their life. Psychedelic medicine is both a challenge and opportunity.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect, accountability, and honesty. These are characteristics the people I'm working with have to have because I'm putting out this kind of effort.
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