Other Women's Jobs // A Day In The Life & Career Of Suzanne Faith

NAME: Suzanne Faith, PhD 

AGE: 52

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @suzannefaithhealth or @binduinsitute 

JOB TITLE: Co-Founder of Bindu Institute of Wellbeing Sciences, Chief Wisdom Officer (CWO), Chief Curriculum Officer (CCO)

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2019

Suzanne Faith, PhD, is a counselling psychologist, somatic therapist, educator, and visionary leader devoted to the integration of science, consciousness, and education. With over 25 years of experience in psychology, health sciences, and education, Suzanne is the Co-Founder of the Bindu Institute of Wellbeing Sciences, where she serves as Chief Wisdom Officer and Chief Curriculum Officer. As a founder of schools in Canada, USA and Europe, Suzanne curates curriculum anchored in ancestral knowledge and grounded in evidence based medicine working with specialists and faculty globally.

After years of academic training in Boston, postdoctoral studies and work in Los Angeles, and clinical and research experience within medical institutions, alongside deep immersions in indigenous and ancestral wisdom traditions across the globe, Suzanne felt a clear calling to create Bindu as an offering of service. Bindu was born as a bridge between rigorous science and ancient knowing, devoted to healing and education.

As a therapist for families, adolescents and individuals, Suzanne integrates a multitude of approaches, including cognitive behavioural, somatic, dialectical, transpersonal psychology, mind-body and energy practices and more. As a leader of faculty and teams, as a curriculum and pedagogical architect and mentor to educators, she is known as the 'teacher's teacher '.

Suzanne has a deep reverence and commitment to the emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing of her children and family. As a wife of 23 years and a mother of three children, she considers herself a caretaker and guardian. She home-birthed her children, nurtured their development through homeschooling, introduced them to meditation at a young age, and helped them connect with the elements of nature. Most importantly, she encouraged them to feel into and listen to their intuition and hearts.

Suzanne weaves motherhood, marriage, leadership, health and healing, devotion and service into her daily life as Co-Founder of Bindu Institute of Health Sciences. As she leads retreats, trainings, community gatherings internationally, she prides in bridging ancient wisdom with modern science like a living prayer.

 

Today Suzanne shares with us a typical day in her life and career:

6:00 AM

I rise to the sounds of birds and barking dogs as I leave the windows are open to let the cool night breeze cool the space and support my REM sleep. With the lights low, I approach my altar to light a candle, burn incense, and give a bow to my murtis, photos of my teachers, parents, and children.

I move into pranayama, meditation, and mantra practices, I call in strength to support me to unfold the day in the most authentic and aligned way. I visualise my day and how I want it to unfold and what I would like to manifest. I stay open to receive insight. Afterward I move into my asana, weightlifting and various fitness and physiological exercises. I end with journaling to capture reflection and intention.

7:00 AM

Deep into cooking…..I make lunches for me and my three children. I focus on macro and micro nutrients, and put the consciousness and love into making our food with care. I make my morning elixir of ginger, turmeric, lemon, pepper and honey. I take my ice mask out of the freezer and wear it for 15 minutes as I cook. I put on my mantra-ceremonial music and enjoy the quiet before the storm. After I pack their lunches, breakfast follows, protein smoothies, a crazy bunch of eggs for the boys and green juice for my daughter. My children are conscious of health and fitness, and our mornings are a ritual of nourishment, love, and music.

8:00 AM

As my children rise, music shifts to Eminem or Olivia Rodrigo. We walk the dog, feed the cats, pack bags for the long days of school, music, sports, acting classes, and singing lessons. I load up the slow cooker with a nourishing stew for our late-night return. Then we head to the train station to go our separate ways.

8:45 AM

My team and I start the day with a 15-minute meeting….. beginning with breath awareness, silence, and centered connection. Daily goals are reviewed, we give updates on vision, press releases, social media, events and tasks. We close with motivational messages to help establish an inspiration culture at Bindu Institute.

9:00 AM

As I land into my day at Bindu, I prepare for the day and finalize details. I review my counseling session notes, I finalize my lesson plans and create my schedule for the day based on 15 minute increments. I respond to emails, revise teaching slides and update course websites if needed. This provides a readiness and organization that allows for efficiency and productivity.

10:00 AM

This is the time I facilitate and teach my courses. Typical courses at Bindu Health Sciences include Neuroscience, Psychology, Somatic Experiencing, Anatomy and Physiology and Health Sciences. Each class feels as if it is an expression of my passion, combining knowledge, practical experience, and heart-centered guidance.

1:00 PM

I seek a quiet space outside in nature, and then I take the time to eat and savour my lunch with gratitude. This is also the time I may take a walk with a colleague or one of my children or husband may join me. These are moments I renew my nervous system for the afternoon and evening agenda.

2:00 PM

The afternoon is devoted to curriculum development, pedagogical design, and collaboration with faculty and team at Bindu. I meet with my co-founders to hold vision and execute operations, with partners and colleagues, and with our tech and social media teams to refine our systems, and I film courses for our online Master’s degree in Health Sciences.

5:00 PM

I transition into counselling and therapy sessions for adolescents, families, and individuals through our support services at Bindu Institute. I utilise a variety of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioural, dialectical, somatic experiencing, transpersonal psychology, mind-body and energetic practices. I guide clients to connect to their own internal capacities to heal and transform.  

7:00 PM

This is the time I slowly move into ‘taxi service’ for my children, picking them up from sports and lessons. We share highlights, silence and singing to songs in the car.

8:00 PM

We eat dinner together as a family….sharing stories, laughter, connection. We have a gratitude and goals journal that we fill out together. We share what we could have done differently in the day and what we dream for tomorrow. We clean up together, of course with music.

9:00 PM

We make music together, my children on guitar, drums, or piano, while I strum and sing. My husband and I take the dog for a walk under the stars, holding hands and reflecting on our day. At home, we light a candle and sit in silence together, grounding and closing the day with intention.

10:00 PM

After a few goodnight cuddles and intimate conversations with each of my children, I prepare for my sleep. I take a bath with oils, read my book, ensure the cats and dog are settled, and then rest in my husband’s arms with the utmost appreciation for my life and setting intentions for the next day.

11:00 PM

Eyes quietly close. The day dissolves.