How Oksana Chabot Is Reimagining Mental Health Care Through Nature and Community

Meet Oksana Chabot — trauma-informed therapist, addiction counselor, and founder of Katherine's Healing Nest™: Eco-Therapy Village, a nature-based healing model designed to restore both people and land. Her path to entrepreneurship wasn't born from a business plan, it was born from a vision that arrived during a Soma Breathwork meditation, clear and undeniable: families walking through the woods, sitting by a fire, connecting with animals, and finally feeling safe enough to heal.

Today, Katherine's Healing Nest™ is an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit working at the intersection of mental health, sustainability, and community healing  serving veterans, first responders, trauma survivors, individuals in recovery, and children navigating emotional challenges. Oksana is building more than a program. She's building a blueprint for what the future of mental health care can look like.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

I’m Oksana Chabot, a trauma-informed therapist, addiction counselor, and founder of Katherine’s Healing Nest™: Eco-Therapy Village—a nature-based healing model designed to restore both people and land.

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My work sits at the intersection of mental health, sustainability, and community healing. Through Katherine’s Healing Nest™, I am creating a space where individuals and families—especially those impacted by trauma, addiction, and systemic overwhelm—can finally experience what true healing feels like: safe, unhurried, and deeply connected to nature.

This isn’t just a program. It’s a blueprint for what the future of mental health care can look like.

Do you have a co-founder?

At this stage, I am the founder, but I am very intentional about the partnerships I build.

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The right partnerships are not just strategic—they are aligned in values, vision, and integrity. I look for people who understand the mission at a deeper level and are committed to building something meaningful, not just transactional.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Yes! I believe that building a meaningful life and meaningful work don’t have to compete—they can support each other.

 My biggest advice is to release the idea of doing everything perfectly. Be present where you are, and allow your children to see what it looks like to build something with purpose.

 That, in itself, is powerful modeling. 

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

I focus on storytelling—through social media, community events, and aligned partnerships—allowing people to feel what Katherine’s Healing Nest™ represents rather than just understand it intellectually.

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Because I’m still in the early stages, not everything is fully built yet—but something powerful is already happening: the right people are beginning to find me. Alignment is replacing force, and that is shaping how I continue to grow.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not in the traditional sense. I didn’t grow up thinking, “I want to start a business.”

But I’ve always been drawn to building, creating, and challenging the way things are done—especially when it comes to human wellbeing. Entrepreneurship became the natural path once I realized that the change I wanted to see didn’t exist yet.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

Becoming an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit and laying the foundation for Katherine’s Healing Nest™ is something I’m incredibly proud of.

But beyond that, it’s the impact of the vision itself—how many people have said, “This is exactly what the world needs.” That level of resonance tells me we are building something meaningful.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

You don’t need everything figured out to start—but you do need to trust your vision.

 There’s a tendency to wait until things look “complete” or validated. But the clarity actually comes through movement. The right people, opportunities, and resources begin to align once you step forward.

 Also—building something new will not always be understood right away. And that’s okay.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

“Why does this work matter to you—personally?”

Skills can be developed, but alignment can’t be forced. I look for people who feel connected to the mission, not just the role.

Hiring tip:

Build a team that believes in what you’re building—not just what you’re offering. Especially with mission-driven work, alignment is everything

What did you do before starting your own business?

Before fully stepping into entrepreneurship, I worked within the traditional mental health and addiction treatment systems, including community-based settings and recovery centers.

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While this work was meaningful, it also exposed the gaps—overcrowded environments, burned-out professionals, and systems that often prioritize speed over true healing. That experience didn’t discourage me—it clarified my mission.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

The vision came during a Soma Breathwork meditation called Limitless. It wasn’t gradual—it was immediate and undeniable.

I saw a place where families could walk through the woods, sit by a fire, connect with animals, and actually feel safe enough to heal. And I realized something important: I didn’t have to wait for the perfect conditions or the perfect location.

The moment I understood that healing could start being built now—right where I am—I made the decision to begin.

Do you have any recent wins?

Yes—this past year has been a major momentum shift.

From nonprofit approval to forming key partnerships, gaining media opportunities, and being recognized as an executive contributor to Brainz Magazine, the visibility and alignment have grown significantly.

Each step has brought us closer to turning the vision into a physical, tangible space. 

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Instagram—because it allows me to share the vision in a visual, emotional, and immediate way.

It’s not just a platform—it’s a storytelling tool. It’s how people begin to connect with Katherine’s Healing Nest™ before it even physically exists.

Who are your customers?

We serve individuals and families who have been underserved or overlooked by traditional systems—veterans, first responders, survivors of trauma, individuals in recovery, and children navigating emotional challenges.

At the same time, our work extends to anyone seeking a more grounded, intentional, and holistic path to healing. Our model is inclusive, intergenerational, and community-driven—because healing was never meant to happen in isolation.

What's your top productivity tip?

Clarity over hustle.

When your vision is clear, you stop trying to do everything and start doing the right things. I prioritize the few actions that actually move the mission forward—whether that’s building relationships, sharing the vision, or making strategic decisions.

Also—protect your energy. Productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters with presence.

What's your favorite business tool?

Canva.

It allows me to quickly bring ideas to life—whether it’s a pitch, a flyer, or a visual concept. When you’re building something from the ground up, having a tool that supports both creativity and execution is invaluable.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

I believe in integration over balance.

My work is deeply connected to who I am, but I’m intentional about creating moments where I’m not producing, building, or thinking about the next step. Time in nature, family connection, and stillness are part of the work—not separate from it.

When your mission is meaningful, the goal isn’t to escape it—it’s to sustain yourself within it.

How do you avoid burn-out?

I don’t separate burnout from misalignment.

When I start feeling overwhelmed, I ask: Am I operating from pressure or purpose?

Burnout often comes from forcing timelines, overextending, or disconnecting from the “why.”

My work is rooted in the same practices I offer others—nature, breathwork, slowing down, and creating space to reset my nervous system. I treat regulation as a non-negotiable, not a luxury. 

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Don’t wait until you feel ready—you won’t.

If you feel called to build something, there’s a reason. Start before it’s perfect, speak about it before it’s fully formed, and trust that clarity will meet you in motion.

Also—build something that actually matters to you. Because when challenges come (and they will), purpose is what keeps you going—not motivation.

Oksana's story is a powerful reminder that you don't need everything figured out to start, you just need to trust the vision and take the first step. We're so proud to have her as part of the Entreprenista community and can't wait to watch Katherine's Healing Nest™ grow into the healing space she has always envisioned.

Want to connect with founders like Oksana? Visit Entreprenista League to explore our community and discover more stories of women building businesses that truly matter.