We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Betina Walton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Betina below.

Betina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2022 when the opportunity presented itself to exit from the corporate industry, I started BeJoyful Comfort Coaching. I realized that the caretakers of those who suffer from clinical depression simply may not know HOW to offer the best support to their loved ones. At first there was a lot of frustration in ones not understanding what depression was like. Then I was told by a friend “Do you expect someone whose been blind at birth to know what the color red looks like?” I understood and it became my mission to educate.

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?

My name is Betina Walton. My middle name is Joy and those who know me would probably say that is very fitting since it is the demeanor you will find me in most often! I have a bubbly personality! Love being around people and more than likely am smiling or laughing about something!

However, there is also another side of me that few know about or for those who do know, find it VERY hard to believe. I have a chronic condition that completely takes over my life. It is a continuous battle that I have to face, and it consumes me daily. I suffered from Major Depressive Disorder.

When I was 12, I received a book for young adults and opened the table of contents. I saw the chapter titled “Are you Depressed?” and immediately circled it. Little did I know how defining that moment would be in my life. Fast forward through my adult years and I realize that the choices in my life were subconsciously based on the very emotions I mostly felt in my youth.

I will say that I am very blessed to have a strong support system of friends and family that give me the ever important “safe space”. They allowed me to express my emotions but also recognize that expressing said emotions DOES NOT mean I have to understand WHY I’m feeling the way I’m feeling.

It caused me to realize that not everyone who suffers with this illness has the same support, OR if they did, that same support system at times did not know HOW to convey support effectively. This is how BeJoyful Comfort Coaching was born.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Empathy is critical in being a successful Comfort Coach. Unfortunately, societal changes are leaning in the opposite direction. We’ve become more selfish and seek paths of ways to comfort ourselves rather than others. We must become Comfort Conscious. So, empathy has to be a muscle that is exercised daily in efforts to strengthen the ability to relate to someone with a completely different background and/or life experience.

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

In 2011, shortly after moving to a different state away from family and friends. I called off work because I wasn’t feeling very well. I crawled in bed and stayed there for the next 11 days. Instead of being terminated my employer offered to send me to therapy for free. What a saving grace that was. Not only was I able to get the official name of the immense mental turmoil that plagued my life for so many years (Major Depressive Disorder), but I realized that the best way to cope with this debilitating illness was that I needed to come up with resources that I can turn to, to help me cope. Especially when things got rough. Which were becoming more and more frequent. Although it may seem small I am super proud of myself that I have been able to maintain a measure of self-sufficiency while coping with this illness.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bejoyfulcomfortcoach/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betina-walton-92083a2bb

Image Credits

Nicole Levell with Elocin Marketing https://www.elocinmarketing.com/