Paul F. Austin & Chris Villar - The Business of Transformation: Inside a Successful Psychedelic Coaching Practice

Feb 7, 2025

Chris Villar, an accomplished executive coach and former Goldman Sachs finance leader, shares his fascinating transition into psychedelic coaching. He discusses the burgeoning psychedelics industry and its projected growth, emphasizing the ethical landscape and practical strategies for success. Villar highlights the pivotal role of self-awareness and well-being in coaching, exploring how psychedelics can unlock personal transformation. Insightful tips on scaling a coaching practice and the importance of community engagement further enrich the conversation.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Building a Psychedelic Coaching Practice

02:29 • 7min

Trends and Transformations in Psychedelic Coaching

09:39 • 18min

Enhancing Well-Being Through Psychedelics and Personal Growth

27:41 • 2min

Navigating At-Home Ketamine Programs

29:47 • 6min

Psychedelic Coaching: Transformations and Business Insights

35:36 • 15min

Exploring the Financial Dynamics and Practical Skills in Coaching

50:08 • 5min

In this special bonus episode, we share highlights from a recent January webinar featuring Paul F. Austin in conversation with Chris Villar, a successful executive coach and graduate of the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-289b/?ref=278

Chris shares his transition from Goldman Sachs and founding a $125 million company to becoming an executive coach incorporating psychedelics into his practice. Together, Paul and Chris explore the business aspects of psychedelic coaching, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for building a successful practice.

For more of Chris's personal and professional journey, check out his interview in Episode 268 of The Psychedelic Podcast. Chris Villar studied finance & accounting at Georgetown University and began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he led a $500 million investment portfolio in the home security industry. In 2007, he left Goldman and founded Frontpoint Security, an early disruptor for self-installed alarm systems and smart home technology.

Chris served as CEO from inception to over $125-million in revenue as the company grew to nearly 800 employees and received frequent recognition for both customer and employee satisfaction. After selling the company in 2020, Chris founded VILLAR Coaching, a boutique coaching practice focused on helping founders (and other high achievers) scale their companies while cultivating skills in peak performance and fundamental wellbeing.

Chris has done extensive work to overcome a lifetime of stress, anxiety, and burnout and to detach from the lifelong grip of achievement; and now enjoys helping others do the same. He lives in Washington, DC with his husband and their 10-year old beagle and enjoys the outdoors, hiking, and traveling.

Highlights:

Chris's background: From Goldman Sachs to founding a $125M company
The journey to becoming a psychedelic integration coach
Key skills Chris learned through professional training
Structuring client engagements and coaching containers Incorporating ketamine therapy through legal providers
Revenue generation and pricing strategies in psychedelic coaching
Group retreats and scaling a coaching practice
Essential advice for aspiring coaches

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