We were lucky to catch up with Amber Simpson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?

Story about Ed. I had a professor whose name was Ed. He had a reputation of being a hard ass. I remember showing up late on the first week due to moving to a new area and not knowing where to park (even though I left early). Man, did he drill me in front of everyone. He turned out to be one of the best professors I ever had. His life before retirement, when he started teaching was out there in the field, working as a Social Worker, paving the way; making a difference. I will never forgot a question he asked that was so defining for me in the moment and stuck with me since. He asked “why do you want to be a Social Worker?” Seems like a simple, fair question. If anyone answered “to help people” he told them to select a new career and to get out of his classroom. Puzzling, I know. But his reason ignited me and sent my trajectory of growth to strive for maximum impact. He said everyone wants to help people but I want to know how you are going to. What policy changes are you going to make? How are you going to impact someone’s life for the better? What are YOU going to do to make the difference? He wanted action – to be servants of change. One simple question turned out to be a larger mission in my life than I thought. I ask that same question of my interns to this day. It is a goal setting question that I can in turn help my interns meet their goals. And for me personally, it helps shape my leadership skills to keep growing and creating change to impact and help more people.

Amber, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I founded Eunoia Wellness Counseling and AS Coaching after recognizing a gap in the community that required attention. I’ve worked in the healthcare industry for almost 20 years; including development and implantation of Social Work/Mental Health programs in healthcare settings. I am a Licensed Clinical Therapist – Supervisor by training and practice. Health is important to me and the path to overall wellness is my jam. I was seeing a trend about how many people were struggling with their sleep and wellness, which effects their mental health. We are one body, meaning our physical, emotional, mental states all effects each other. Some examples of concerns may include struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, difficultly shutting off our brains at night, difficulty concentrating during the day or having brain fog. Our health is so important and the smallest tweaks can make the biggest impact. I wanted to empower others take back control of their sleep, mood/behaviors, increase cognitive function and overcome stress/anxiety to achieve optimal health and wellness. I’m also a CMHIMP – Certified Mental Health Integrative Medical Provider, meaning I combine traditional approaches like CBTi (cognitive behavioral therapy) and DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) with alternative/holistic approaches like yoga and nutrition. I’m also a 200RYT and Ayurvedic Nutritionist incorporating these tools into my practices.

That is why I started Eunoia Wellness Counseling and then most recently started AS Coaching. Eunoia Wellness Counseling is geared towards therapy (clinical diagnosis and treatment) for clients who are residents of Illinois and Texas focusing on sleep and stress/anxiety. I provide telehealth sessions statewide in Illinois and Texas and walk-and-talk locally in Houston, Texas.

AS Coaching offers 1:1 coaching and consulting for busy, professional millennials, worldwide, for sleep and wellness. I am one! I get it and know firsthand the struggles of balancing it all. AS Coaching is geared towards nonclinical practice and more quick solution focused. AS Coaching also provides courses for other therapists to up their game when it comes to sleep treatment. We need more therapists treating sleep as it effects so much of our health and wellness.

I love being a part fostering growth and wellness/health among individuals and professionals. Cultivating a healthy space for all. I truly believe one small action today can make a better tomorrow.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Lots of pivots to get to where I am today. Many people don’t know this but I originally went to college for Accounting. I grew up in a rural town in Illinois that we called a cornfield. Yes, it is surrounded by cornfields, I detassled as a kid, and we have a Sweetcorn Festival every summer. I say this because I didn’t know of all the thousands of career opportunities that existed for me. I knew I was excellent at math. So, I thought I only had two choices – math teacher or accounting. I was not going to be a teacher. I got accepted into a great business program at a university in Illinois and I was going to be an accountant. Fast forward a few years later and I dropped out due to pure boredom. That was not the career for me. I had to pivot. My pivot at the time was small because I needed to work. I obtained my Certified Nursing Assistant certificate and starting working in healthcare as an ED Technician. I decided to go back to college to become a nurse. I was loving my classes and doing well until it came to phlebotomy class. I’m left-handed and do everything with my left hand. *jokes Not sure why my right hand is attached to my body*. I was so in-my-head about it all, that I always felt like my right hand was shaking. I get an A in the class but I always psyched myself out with the needle and didn’t want to hurt anyone. Time to pivot again. I love healthcare but how do I connect with what I love. That’s when I moved, again, and went to school to become a Social Worker; while working as an ED tech to put myself through school. I’ve been pivoting in my Social Work career ever since striving for higher opportunities and growth.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Authenticity. It is the cornerstone of my personal and professional life. As a down-to-earth, hardworking individual, I always make sure that I stay true to myself and what I believe in. But what’s really important to me is doing it all with a smile. When you enjoy what you do, it shows. And I truly enjoy learning from those around me, always striving to be better than I was yesterday. In my leadership style, I value transparency, honesty, respect, and kindness above all else. I firmly believe that being true to who I am, and being my authentic self, has played a significant role in my success and reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eunoiawellnesscounseling.com
• Instagram: www.instragram.com/as_sleepandwellness
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/eunoiawc
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/amber-simpson-lcsw-s-cmhimp-b13923198
• Other: www.amberscoaching.com