Last July, I discovered that my work had been plagiarized by 14 women in my online community—3 of whom were long-term clients. (I shared this reel on Instagram and was met with an overwhelming response, along with painful stories from so many who have experienced it too.)
It was a heartbreaking experience that took several months to process and ultimately taught me a lot about trusting my intuition, client boundaries and my own wounds around self-expression…
Last week, after spending a month offline working closely with my teachers in Peru, I returned to Instagram only to find it had happened again.
Imagine my surprise (and dread- UGH, not again?!) to discover my words and website copy used by a local psychotherapist (who has attended my events) offering Somatic Breathwork sessions...
In both Instagram posts and event listings on Eventbrite, this person had used exact copies of sentences and phrases I wrote and have used on my website and event promotion since launching my Breathwork practice in 2019.
Charleston, SC is a small town. The wellness community is constantly growing but still relatively intimate. This means there can be a lot of overlap between practitioners and clients. Many of us support each other and are familiar with each other’s work.
To assume ignorance or blindness on the part of either practitioner or client is, as one of my besties, Bonnie, says, “lazy and insincere”. In this case, like some of the others last year, a mutual client alerted me to the plagiarism.
Yes, these bouts of plagiarism are exhausting & require emotional labor to address.
Yes, it feels unsafe & is a marker of the unregulated nature of the healing industry.
Yes, this person may be licensed but is a newer facilitator, attempting to find their way.
No, I don’t think it was simply an AI recreation…
No, I don’t take it as a compliment & while I understand this line of thought, it is not my experience.
I am an artist at heart and learned during my days as a professional ballerina, there are no shortcuts to true talent. It takes dedication, devotion, and hard work to acquire skill.
I’m not sharing this to shame or blame anyone, I’m sharing to educate about plagiarism and its impact (AGAIN!)
A few things to note about copyright infringement:
Plagiarism Hurts Both Parties—Creatively and Professionally
When you copy someone else’s work, it may seem harmless—but it has real consequences for both the original creator and the person copying:
1. Erosion of Trust and Reputation – In industries built on personal connection and integrity (like healing work), authenticity is everything. When someone copies your words or ideas, it damages their credibility—and for the original creator, it creates confusion in the marketplace. Clients and customers may struggle to discern who the originator is, which can dilute the trust you’ve built over years.
Particularly in a therapeutic context where social media profiles blur the lines of professional boundaries with “vulnerability”, finding out your therapist or trusted healer of any kind is using someone else’s work can bring up a host of trust issues and wounds around betrayal for the client.
2. Emotional and Energetic Toll – For those of us who work from a place of deep intention, our words aren’t just marketing—they hold prayers, experiences, and embodied wisdom learned from our own healing journey. Having those words taken without permission is not only a legal issue—it’s a sacred boundary violation. The emotional labor of addressing plagiarism drains time and creative energy that could be used elsewhere.
If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, you know that time is precious and legal counsel expensive. No business owner wants to spend their time and money chasing thieves. Ever.
3. Business Confusion and Customer Mistrust – When language is copied, especially within the same niche or local area, potential clients may believe the two businesses are connected or that the copied work is endorsed by the original creator. This can lead to customer confusion, mixed messaging, and lost opportunities.
Additionally, a need to plagiarize indicates a wobbly trust of self and relationship to the tools or modalities offered. If you are a new practitioner, I want to offer a reminder to you:
It’s ok to slow down, take your time, and continue your study until you feel more solid in your sense of self. Confidence is built with practice and devotion. Keep going!
4. Stifling Creative Growth – For those plagiarizing content or offerings, there’s a deeper cost: they miss out on developing their own voice.
Authenticity is magnetic—when you take the time to translate your unique life + healing experience into words, it creates a resonance that copying can never replicate. In the long run, plagiarizing stunts creative evolution and personal integrity.
Connection to self breeds creativity and authenticity. If a practitioner is not moving slowly enough to hear their own voice, we can feel the difference.
Intellectual Property Matters—It’s Not Just Words
The words I share across my website, social platforms, and offerings are crafted with care and intention. These words are shaped by years of training, personal healing, relationship with the tools I share, and embodied experience. When these words are taken without credit, it reduces that labor to something disposable.
Legally speaking, website copy, course descriptions, and social media content are all protected by copyright law—but more importantly, they represent the soul of the work.
I have personally spent years nurturing the language and images I use to express the heart of my offerings. I know & trust that my experience is felt when people step into my world. Yet, I’m human—and it still stings when my work and words are used without permission.
There are no shortcuts to creating embodied wisdom. I know these experiences will eventually shape how I lead, but I'm not quite there yet. I look forward to the day when plagiarism no longer affects me as deeply.
SEO Penalties and Search Engine Confusion
From a technical standpoint, plagiarism causes issues with Search Engine Optimization (SEO)—which affects how businesses are found online:
Duplicate Content Penalties – Search engines like Google prioritize original content. When two sites share the same copy, search engines can penalize both, making it harder for people to find either business.
This article goes deeper into how to protect your business from copyright infringement & why it matters.
Inspiration Is Not Imitation—Honor Your Unique Voice
We are all influenced by those who inspire us, and there is no shortage of wisdom to share. But there is a profound difference between being moved by someone’s work and lifting their words.
If my words/offerings or the work of another creative speak to you, I invite you to engage with us—whether through classes, consultations, or collaborations.
And if you’re ever unsure, the simplest step is to ask for permission or offer credit. Honoring another’s creative work reflects your integrity as much as it protects ours.
I share this not to shame, but to advocate for authenticity—for myself, for my fellow creators, and for anyone offering healing work in the world. We all deserve to have our voices honored, protected, and held with care.
Thank you to those who continue to support my work with respect and encouragement. I’m endlessly grateful for this community and our connections.
With love,
Stephanie
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