The Valley’s Christina “C.J.” Hathaway is a woman of many, many talents, including being a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, a personal trainer, a nutrition coach and more. She is also the owner of Ignite Ambition Publishing, and her first publication, “Don’t Hold their Poop: A small book about cleaning up life’s BIG messes,” is a popular self-help comedy/workbook. Learn about Christina “C.J.” Hathaway…
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
First job: While I started hustling at a young age, my first “paycheck” was at Baskin Robbins.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: Nine months out of the year, you can find my husband and I cruising on our beach cruisers, finding a patio to eat, drink, play games and enjoy our beautiful weather.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: I would say my biggest accomplishment was achieving my master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Being that I am the first person in my immediate family to graduate from a four-year university, that alone was a great accomplishment. I decided to take this even further and solidify my wanting to help those struggling with their own mental health, and I went to graduate school at Arizona State University. Oh, and writing a book. Duh!
The biggest obstacle you overcame: I would say the biggest obstacles I overcame was realizing me, the therapist, needed my own therapy after working with child victims of crimes. I found myself alone, sad and completely numb. I decided to make my mental and physical health a priority and seek my own therapy and coaching services. I was able to heal my own wounds and find my best version of me.
Someone who inspires you and why: My father, who is blind. He has been visually impaired his whole life and recently lost his vision completely. He has never allowed this to get in his way. He has established himself as a leader in the blind entrepreneur community. With that said, I also have to add my mother because she was the glue and the eyes that held our family together.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Having a backbone and ability to mix supportiveness and accountability is a skill that other coaches often shy away from. Practice helping clients find their strengths while also acknowledging the patterns they get stuck in. I also preach looking at the process of patterns rather than the content or words. I see a ton of coaches get stuck on their clients’ words rather than reading between the lines and being able to change the patterns that create their circumstances. Lastly, for someone who is wanting to write their first book, I would say take that pen to paper. If you have an idea that you believe will make a difference to one reader, do it. If you have the gift of words or creativity, that is a gift that you need to share with others. Do not be afraid. Do it!
Favorite quote: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” –Maya Angelou
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I not only hosted karaoke for two years, but I am also a karaoke superstar.
What makes someone fabulous: Someone is fabulous when they are not afraid to speak their reality, show up as their true selves, love themselves first and who are creating or living their best lives.