For Carli Osbourne, the founder of Inner Brilliance, homeopathy is far more than a profession; it’s a path carved from personal healing, motherhood and a heartfelt commitment to supporting families. Her work has blossomed from her own experiences of overcoming anxiety, navigating single motherhood and witnessing the profound effects of natural remedies on her children, turning her passion into a sanctuary for other parents seeking a gentler way. Here she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, how she balances work and family time, the challenges she has overcome along the way, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Homeopathy has been such an amazing turning point for me in my life and I feel grateful that my journey with it began before I became a mum. Once I had children, I witnessed firsthand how beautifully these medicines supported us – through the early years of parenting and well beyond.
My children and I were once staying with my sister in her home in Queensland. My daughter was climbing a tree and in the process disturbed a wasp nest! My poor little one was stung on her face and on her hand on New Year’s day when everything was closed, and I didn’t have the remedy on me that I needed. We tried the local pharmacy but nothing they gave us seemed to work until the following day when I tracked down a store I could get the homeopathic medicine I needed for her from. Within minutes of giving her the remedy, the swelling started to subside and she was so much more comfortable.
Social anxiety is something I struggled with personally. As a child, I moved from school to school and I was never one to be able to easily fit in and make new friends. In fact I got bullied a lot and going to school for me produced so much dread, anxiety and fear. I think this was the deeper cause around my social anxiety as a teenager and well into adulthood.
For this, I had to see a homeopath to find the remedy that could act deeply – really getting to the underlying cause for why I was having such a difficult time. As the treatment went on, I started to notice it was so much easier to talk to people, to approach people. I didn’t have weeks of fear leading up to a social event, only to cancel at the last minute because I was too afraid to go, or to become so overwhelmed at the thought of it that it would affect other areas of my life. I began to think more clearly and to discover who I truly was and to express that in my social circles.
With experiences like these, and being able to really see the potential of homeopathy in so many different situations, I became really passionate about helping others through homeopathy. I absolutely love working with children and mothers. There is so much value in having a small homeopathic medicine kit at home, and having holistic medicines on hand to support so much of day-to-day living and family life. I want to help mothers learn how to use these amazing remedies, and walk alongside them on their healing journey as they become more of who they are: physically, emotionally and mentally, and to then see that flow onto how they parent and how that effects their children and everyone around them.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
The beginning was rough! I began fresh after lockdown in Melbourne – which had some of the harshest restrictions in the world – and after sustaining some considerable trauma, personally. I became a single mum at that time and knew I had to do something. It had to be something that would make a difference in the world. Something meaningful for like-minded parents and their families. So I began by launching online, and doing consultations only online with only a few remedies! I now practise in person from a wonderful clinic, whilst still offering telehealth consultations for my remote clients too.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough in my business, I have to say, is the continuous work I do on myself. Working with my nervous system and my own growth – personally, professionally and from a business standpoint. As I grow, so too does my business, and so too do the people I am able to help.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
This is the greatest challenge I have. I set very firm boundaries for myself around when I work, when I respond to enquiries, etc., and when I am available to my children. Respectful parenting, positive discipline and a context of love and connection are all very important to me as a mother. My children and family life are at the core of what I do and who I am, so everything else has to extend out from there and support those objectives.
I am lucky my children go to a very lovely and supportive Steiner school, which is very aligned with our values. When they are home from school, whether it be after school or on the weekends I share with them, that becomes sacred time. I also try to weave connection and care in the home into even the most mundane of tasks – preparing lunchboxes in the morning, or making sure everyone’s teeth are brushed before bed.
I do my best to focus on the long-term goals – the long game so-to-speak. Many parenting techniques I use are not for the “quick win”. I don’t tend to use discipline strategies which just get the task done, but ones which maintain connection and respect whilst setting firm boundaries, first and foremost. These tend to take longer overall, but the rewards are absolutely worth it! With many conflicting priorities, it is helpful for me to think about what the long term goals are for my parenting and my children, which in turn create better relationships and therefore better outcomes long term.
