Lifestyle

Deisy Suarez-Giles on Beauty, Female Empowerment and Philanthropy

Published

5 years ago

November 17, 2020

The beauty and spa industry is inarguably cut-throat. It’s no easy feat for newcomers who are trying to make their name in cosmetics and skincare arena, when you’re competing with beauty giants who have been decades-long key players of the game. But Deisy Suarez-Giles braved the odds and came out on top with her namesake label.

A believer that she is more than just a businesswoman, she built her company for reasons tied closely to her core values — inspiring and empowering individuals through the transformative power of wellness and spa. We caught up with the founder as she has just dipped her toe launching her second DESUAR SPA location in Los Angeles, to discover what success means to the girl boss.

Name: Deisy Suarez-Giles
Profession: Founder and CEO of DESUAR SPA, AUTHOR and PHILANTHROPIST
Start up since: 2010

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

I like to believe that I am able to be part of something bigger in my role as the Founder and CEO of DESUAR SPA, esthetician and philanthropist. The brand was founded with the intention of inspiring and empowering individuals through the transformative power of spa and wellness.

Wellness Spa provides a universal language of happiness, self-love and creativity, and I learned this through my philanthropic work. I had the unique opportunity to volunteer at the Living Water Children’s Centre in Tanzania, Africa where I applied my touch therapy to healing orphan children.

DESUAR Spa has continued to grow, providing clinically proven skincare procedures, ultrasonic, chemical peels & microdermabrasion facials, and Suarez-Giles’ very own “secret” body scrub formula, along with massage treatments, spray tanning, body scrubs, soak rituals, wraps, and waxing services. DESUAR Spa offers healing as well as high-end relaxing treatments fit for royalty, be it massage, waxing, facials, body scrubs, saunas, or even CBD treatments.

DESUAR SPA encourages self-love, inner power and realizes the different definitions and expressions of beauty and wellness: each product and service is designed with unique aspirational affirmations, so that the individual feels uplifted when using our products or services.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work?

As an entrepreneur, no one day is exactly the same, but my favorite kind of days are the ones in which I am able to feel and see that my services are serving as a source of confidence.

My so-called worst days are the ones where I feel I need two of me and more hours in a single day. I am extremely hands on with all areas of the business from concept development to product formulation, management and distribution to ensure every addition to the DESUAR SPA portfolio speaks true to our values: to empower and inspire all those who use our services and products.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason. I always believe that every failure shouldn’t be labeled as a failure, but rather a step towards being a better version of yourself. If I have to do it again, I will do it the same all over again.

What is a normal work day like?

While I wouldn’t categorize this as a ‘normal’ workday, I’d say my days usually consist of: speaking with my staff, liaising with, working on new formulations and products, creating new menu, and engaging with my community via social media.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

Starting something up is one of the most fulfilling, but also one of the most challenging things you will do. It will push you to your utmost limits, but will also be unbelievably gratifying. My advice would be to take a chance on yourself, set your sights on the goals you want to accomplish, believe in yourself no matter what anyone else says and take the first step in the right direction. Never stop learning, continuing education is a must to be able to stay current to new trends and changes in consumer behavior.

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?

It’s full speed ahead at the moment in terms of expansion and growth in order to be accessible to our customer. We are also working on several new products to add to the collection. I aim to launch my Skin Care products, along with my second book as an author called “Holy Skin”, in December 2020. Lastly, I am fully involved in my new outdoor spa concept, in order to adapt to the new normal and be able to continually provide wellness services that people need and want. Especially now during these difficult times.

How hands-on are you?

Extremely! I’m involved in every aspect of the business from hiring, training, management, conceptualization to formulation and distribution. Every service that is in our spa has been inspired by my experiences through my philanthropy, travels around the world, and as an esthetician and massage therapist. With that being said, I am very fortunate to have a team that I can consult with and support in making each product and wellness treatment a reality.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself being successful?

My definition of success is being able to make someone feel empowered and indestructibly confident in themselves, be it through the application of one of our services or through my voice.At this very moment in time, I would say that success is a journey and I still believe that for myself, there is more to come.

With her entrepreneurial spirit and emphasis on education, it is no surprise that Suarez-Giles has been featured in Forbes, LA Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, NBC, ABC News, Zoe Report, Voyage LA, Spa Insider, Well and Away, DTLA Weekly, LA Magazine, Medium, Thrive Global, and MTV. She has also worked with many Hollywood celebrities and sports figures. Success is important to Suarez-Giles but philanthropy also has an important place in her life.

Lifestyle

The Missing Piece in Self-Help? Why This Book is Changing the Wellness Game

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2025

Michelle Langton

Self-help shelves are full of advice — some of it helpful, some of it recycled, and most of it focused on “mindset.” But Rebecca Kase, LCSW and founder of the Trauma Therapist Institute, is offering something different: a science-backed, body-first approach that explains why so many people feel struck, overwhelmed, or burned out — and what they can actually do about it.

A seasoned therapist and business leader, Kase has spent nearly two decades teaching others how to navigate life through the lens of the nervous system. Her newest book, “The Polyvagal Solution,” set to release in May 2025, aims to shake up the wellness space by shifting the focus away from willpower and onto biology. If success has felt out of reach — or if healing has always seemed like a vague concept — this book may be the missing link.

A new way to understand stress and healing

At the heart of Kase’s approach is polyvagal theory, a neuroscience-based framework that helps explain how our bodies respond to safety and threat. Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, polyvagal theory has transformed the way many therapists understand trauma, but Kase is bringing this knowledge to a much wider audience.

“The body always tells the truth,” Kase says. “If you’re anxious, exhausted, or always in overdrive, your nervous system is asking for support, not more discipline.”

“The Polyvagal Solution” makes this complex theory digestible and actionable. Instead of promising quick fixes, Kase offers strategies for regulating the nervous system over time, including breathwork, movement, boundaries, and daily practices that better align with how the human body functions. It’s less about pushing through discomfort and more about learning to tune in to what the body needs.

From clinical expertise to business insight

What sets Kase apart isn’t just her deep understanding of trauma but how she blends that knowledge with real-world experience as a business owner and leader. As the founder of the Trauma Therapist Institute, she scaled her work into a thriving company, all while staying rooted in the values she teaches.

Kase has coached therapists, executives, and entrepreneurs who struggle with burnout, anxiety, or feeling disconnected from their work. Regardless of who she works with, though, her message remains consistent: the problem isn’t always mindset — it’s often regulation.

“Success that drains you isn’t success. It’s survival mode in disguise,” Kase explains. Her coaching programs go beyond traditional leadership training by teaching high achievers how to calm their nervous systems, enabling them to lead from a grounded place, not just grit.

Making the science personal

For all her clinical knowledge, Kase keeps things human. Her work doesn’t sound like a lecture but rather like a conversation with someone who gets it. That’s because she’s been through it herself: the long hours as a therapist, the emotional toll of supporting others, the realities of building a business while managing her own well-being.

That lived experience informs everything she does. Whether she’s speaking on stage, running a retreat, or sharing an anecdote on her podcast, Kase has a way of weaving humor and honesty into even the heaviest topics. Her ability to balance evidence-based practice with practical advice is part of what makes her voice so compelling.

Kase’s previous book, “Polyvagal-Informed EMDR,” earned respect from clinicians across the country. But “The Polyvagal Solution” reaches beyond the therapy community to anyone ready to understand how their body is shaping their behavior and how to create real, sustainable change.

Why this message matters

We’re in a moment where burnout is common and overwhelm feels normal. People are looking for answers, but many of the tools out there don’t address the deeper cause of those feelings.

That’s where Kase’s work lands differently. Instead of telling people to “think positive” or “try harder,” she teaches them how to regulate their own biology. And in doing so, she opens the door for deeper connection, better decision-making, and more energy for the things that matter.

As more workplaces begin to embrace trauma-informed leadership, more individuals are seeking solutions that go beyond talk therapy and motivational content. Kase meets that need with clarity, compassion, and a toolkit rooted in both science and humanity.

A grounded approach to lasting change

What makes “The Polyvagal Solution” stand out is its realism. It doesn’t ask readers to overhaul their lives but instead asks them to listen — to pay attention to how their bodies feel, how their stress patterns manifest, and how even small shifts in awareness can lead to significant results over time. Whether you’re a therapist, a team leader, or someone trying to feel more at ease in your own skin, this book offers a way forward that feels both grounded and achievable.

Rebecca Kase isn’t just adding another title to the self-help genre. She’s redefining it by reminding us that we don’t have to muscle our way through life. We just have to learn how to work with, not against, ourselves.

And maybe that’s the real game-changer we’ve been waiting for.