We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful DEBRA BARNES-HAMILTON. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with DEBRA below.

Hi DEBRA, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

One of my clients found herself at a major crossroads: she was contemplating leaving her husband. Struggling emotionally, she was unsure about which path to take. She decided to confide in me, thinking I could offer the guidance she so desperately sought.

Understanding her concerns, I invited her to become a part of my exclusive Married Women’s Forum Membership. This is a special group focused on helping married women dig deep to understand themselves better, with the aim of bringing that fuller, healthier self into their marriages.

The core idea we explored was self-awareness. Instead of focusing on their partner’s flaws or the issues in the relationship, we discussed the importance of examining one’s own behavior and mindset. After all, it’s only when you understand yourself that you can effectively contribute to any relationship, including marriage.

Three months into this transformative experience, she came to me with uplifting news. She had decided not to leave her husband. Through introspection and self-work, she realized that her own attitudes were influencing her desire to walk away. Understanding this helped her see that she needed to tackle her own issues rather than flee from her marital challenges.

Her journey towards self-improvement not only benefited her but also brought new vitality to her marriage. The joy I felt at hearing this can’t be easily put into words; knowing that she had made this crucial self-discovery filled me with immense happiness.

Her story serves as a potent reminder that sometimes the changes we need to make are within ourselves, and recognizing this can be the key to transforming our relationships for the better.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Debra B. Hamilton, CEO & Founder of Nurture Your Love, LLC. Debra is an International Speaker, Author, and a Relationship & Intimacy Coach.

For more than four decades, Debra has been navigating the rollercoaster ride that is marriage. As a Relationship & Intimacy Coach, Debra has dedicated her life to helping married women and couples find harmony, understanding, and deep connection in their relationships. I understand the struggles that come with maintaining a healthy, fulfilling marriage, and that’s why Debra created Nurtureyourlove.com/landing-page – your go-to resource for fostering intimacy and building stronger bonds.

With honesty, compassion, and unwavering support, Debra guides her clients through their marital struggles. Debra has learned throughout the years that the most significant relationship we’ll ever have is the one we have with ourselves. This profound understanding lies at the heart of her approach – She focuses on the individual. Debra helps you learn how to love yourself because she believes that self-love is the key to showing up wholly in your marriage and transforming it into the loving and understanding partnership you yearn for.

In Debra’s work, she has developed various products, including “The Intimacy Initiative Group Program”, “The Confident Wife Method” Group Program, a forum membership for married women, Self-Love Makeover Workshop and one-on-one sessions, all designed to provide the support, strategies, and compassionate understanding you need to navigate your marital journey.

But why should you trust me with something so important as your relationship? Here is a testimonial from one of my valued clients:
“Debra is the coach who will do the work to ensure that those who are coming to a masterclass, a marriage group or a workshop will receive what they will need to become a better spouse….a better person. She makes sure that you are looking inward and not outward at someone else”.

“I would like to thank you so much for the counseling that you gave me. When I approached you, I was going through a difficult phase of my life, of marital issues that were weighing me down and frustrating me, and I did not know where to turn to, and you were just the right person that I needed to talk to”.

Debra has created a community for all the brave women and dedicated couples out there seeking to reignite their passion, solve their struggles, and attain a successful marriage”.

Looking into the future,Debra dreams of reaching out to more married women and couples and teaching them the power of self-love in transforming their marriages. Debra envisions a world where couples don’t just stay together because they’ve vowed to do so, but because they’ve learned to understand, appreciate, and truly love each other.

So whether you’ve just started your marital journey or have been on this road for a while, know that you are welcome here. Together, we can build the fulfilling, intimate marriage you’ve always wanted. Let’s begin this journey to love, intimacy, and understanding together.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

While professional training and knowledge have their places, I firmly believe in the transformative power of personal experience. Knowing ourselves, how we react to different situations, and what we have learned from our own struggles can be far more instructive, both for us and for those we seek to help.

I often say that experience outweighs formal training. When you’ve faced your own set of challenges and navigated through life’s complexities, you become a more empathetic and effective guide for others. You’re not just offering textbook solutions; you’re sharing insights gained from actual lived experiences.

Take my case as an example. Having been married for a cumulative total of over 40 years across two marriages, I’ve weathered my fair share of marital highs and lows. This wealth of experience allows me to connect with my clients in a way that training alone could never accomplish. They understand that I’ve walked similar paths and fought similar battles. I’m not just a coach; I’m someone who’s been in the trenches.

My clients find solace in knowing that my advice comes from a place of understanding and personal growth. It’s not the academic training or bookish knowledge that puts them at ease; it’s the assurance that I have lived through the kinds of challenges they’re facing.

This real-world experience is the cornerstone of my approach to helping others. It reminds us that the most compelling guidance often comes not from what we’ve studied, but from what we’ve lived. And it is often these real-life lessons that make all the difference in transforming relationships and, by extension, lives.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Many years ago, I found myself in a really tough spot. I was feeling all kinds of sad emotions. I felt like nobody was listening to me, especially my ex-husband. It seemed like he didn’t notice all the hard work I was putting into our family. Some nights, I would go down to the basement, listen to music, and wonder why he didn’t understand or appreciate me.

For years, this struggle went on. I was unhappy and felt stuck, wondering what kind of example I was setting for my kids. I didn’t want them to grow up thinking that being miserable is what marriage is all about. That’s when I realized something had to change. Not just for me, but also for my children.

So, I started a journey to find out what I really needed and wanted. I realized that if I didn’t learn to love myself, no one else could make me feel truly happy. It wasn’t a quick fix; it took me 7 whole years to figure it out. But during that time, I learned a lot of helpful things that changed how I thought about myself and my relationships.

And you know what? Taking the time to understand myself made me stronger. It wasn’t easy, but the lessons I learned help me help others today. Now, when someone tells me they’re having a hard time in their marriage, I can say, “I’ve been there. And if I can get through it, so can you.”

This journey taught me to never give up, even when things look really bad. And that’s a lesson I share with everyone I meet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nurtureyourlove.com/landing-page
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nurtureyourlove
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.a.barnes.9
• Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/debra-b-hamilton
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebraBHamilton5