Carlisle business focuses on in-depth consulting for mental wellness needs

Crystal Oakman

Business Name: Crystal Oakman, formerly Insienne Consulting

Years in business: 10 years

Location: 17 E. High St., Suite 101, Carlisle

Q: Why did you want to start this kind of business?

A: There was and remains still a significant need for a more holistic approach to mental wellness beyond what is typically offered by our country’s medicalized mental health system. I wanted to provide more for my community than what traditional mental health services could offer.

Q: How did you get your start?

A: I created a website and started meeting with clients wherever I could, including coffee shops and libraries.

Q: What does your business sell or provide?

A: I offer whole person mental wellness consulting, focusing on helping individuals become the best versions of themselves rather than just seeking or addressing a diagnosis. My main service is therapeutic consulting, which is aimed at personal growth and well-being. Additionally, I run small groups open to all community members on a variety of mental wellness topics, and I create herbal teas to support clients in achieving their emotional and functional goals. Recently, I published a book titled “The Imprint,” available at Whistlestop Bookshop, which guides readers in identifying and addressing often unrecognized behavioral influences in their lives.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?

A: The internet provides easy access to information, but much of it is inaccurate or low quality. Articles are often simplified for quick reading, lacking the depth needed for a true understanding of mental wellness. As a result, many people follow poor advice because it’s free and readily available, so when potential clients finally arrive at my practice, they’re in more dire shape mentally.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do or place in Cumberland County?

A: My family lives within the Borough of Carlisle and we spend any free weekend frolicking about downtown and visiting our friends within the community. There is a real sense of belonging here for those who want it, and there is always a shop or restaurant just around the corner to meet almost every need. To grow a community, you have to actively partake in one, and so we spend the majority of time within the sense of home we’ve created in this one.