Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carrie Ballas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carrie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

From a young age I remember being pushed beyond my comfort zone, which now I believe was an the effort to “build character” and “seek opportunities”. I was always encouraged to learn with curiosity (my mother was an English teacher). I would perform and sing in front of various audiences, such as in talent shows, church choir and in front of friends and family (my dad was a music teacher). I was taught to move my body with physical effort and strength too. At the young age of 5, I was taught to water ski on a “Zip Sled” until I could master two skis. My dad would ask which girl would be willing to be the first to jump into the cold water on those early brisk mornings, and inevitably neither would choose so he would push me (gently) into the water first, probably because I was the smallest, but I always came to believe it was to make me more brave. And the feeling was always exhilarating and I felt so alive! And lastly I was given plenty of freedom and encouragement to play and explore outside. My mom always said “if you are bored you are boring.”

These healthy doses of encouragement from both of my parents have helped me be a more brave, resilient, curious human and now, medical practitioner.

These ideals (and more) have helped me work through difficult challenges throughout my life and has given me confidence to take those difficult steps one by one. I don’t remember a time this mindset has failed me. Even if the outcome wasn’t expected, it has not been with regret that I have forged through to see the other side of the challenge.

Over the years I have found exploration and moving my body to be freeing and key to keeping me healthy as I age as well.

And…….I still can’t resist a good dress up party!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I had become a Registered Nurse because I truly love helping people feel better! After spending 6 years working as a floor nurse and doing travel assignments across the country, I was ready to take my career a step farther and get my graduate degree so that I could become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). I knew that my ability to work with patients to optimize their health had to start earlier than meeting them in a hospital. I quickly started to dive into Functional Medicine, taking my first course in Bio-Identical Hormones in 2007. Once I started to incorporate this approach, in addition to the nursing models of caring and seeing people in their “whole” environment, it started to revolutionize the way I could work to help patient’s regain their health. Every day I am met with new challenges, as clients are meeting their challenges, so together I help them see what is “underneath” and we work to remove the burdens that are keeping them from living their most optimal health and lives.

I am rewarded every day when someone follows up with me in a completely different state of being and happiness as a result of working together on their health.

In order to achieve such success, a person must invest in themselves by finding the cause (typically through testing) and making the changes necessary to produce a change. My clients are motivated to feel healthy and I am honored to walk in this journey with them together.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

Starting a business is scary, at least it was for me. All I knew was that I was ready to be on my own and I had to figure this out. I started with a few patients who were willing to trust me and follow me from another practice I had been at for a few months as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Myself and a trusted office manager ( who believed in me so much she worked for free for a few months) rented a small space on Pine Street in Boulder and I started building from there. I used my personal savings for office supplies and rent and I designed my own website (using WordPress ) and took it day by day. As people would get better they would tell their friends, their family and after a few months I was able to pay my office manager and after about 6 months I was starting to pay myself a bit. I was connected with a few other non competing but complimentary providers in Boulder who started to trust me as well and send referrals my way. Day by day, client by client and referral by referral, I was able to build my practice to a place where I outgrew my little gem on Pine Street.

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

My story of resilience was only about 3 years ago during the “Pandemic” I had an established, successful practice in North Boulder with other clinicians and our building was being sold. Therefore we were primed to move out and I started looking for other Medical Office Spaces in town. As we all know Boulder is not what we would consider “affordable”, especially for a small medical clinic such as myself. As I was looking at the places to rent it was quite abysmal actually. I started to consider the option to buy for the same price as renting per month (minus all of the other things I didn’t consider at that time being a property owner) and I had a deep rooted feeling I could make something happen. I didn’t have much capital but I thought it was enough to get something. I was in the process with a strict timeline to move out of my current space when “COVID HIT”. I was juggling this new infection that I had no idea how to protect or treat against. I was told by the government I had to “shut my doors” to any in person appointments (and I have an IV business that can’t be “virtual”).
I had found an office space that seemed just perfect and in fact I had a vision of a vibrant, beautiful space where there was a grounded healing place where people felt safe and a sense of belonging and healing. I even saw the sign inside the space crisp and clear. I knew it was destined to come to fruition! I just didn’t know how that would happen.

I managed to secure a small business loan through some creative support (after being rejected by my own bank) and once the government said I would “work again” I marched through step by step to make it happen. Once again I had to dig into my savings to make the down payment (I think I only had $1000 in my personal bank when I finished with the closing). Of course business was down when I was starting this process so I really had to trust I could make it happen. And it has! I love the space that has been created and feel the magic of healing happening every day!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.boulderintegrativehealth.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boulderintegrativehealth/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boulderintegrativehealth
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-ballas-bsn-ms-fnp-c-abaahp-99833021/

Image Credits
personal photos only