We recently connected with Erica Prime and have shared our conversation below.
Erica, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I am a risk averse individual by nature. I fret over decisions, I am resistant to change, and I enjoy consistency. As such, I spent over 20 years in the same career, working as a school psychologist in dozens of public school academies. In hindsight, I realize that, although the work was rewarding, it was my resistance to the risk associated with a career change that kept me there for so long. However, as time progressed, many elements of my responsibilities became increasingly stressful and I recognized that I was fatigued and desperately in need of change. However, I had absolutely no idea how to initiate the needed restart, so I just kept working.
In 2017 my dissatisfaction intensified and I was beginning to show real signs of burnout. However, the prospect of making a career change at age 50 felt overwhelming. Though I had often considered leaving school psychology and returning to the practice of psychotherapy, it had been 20 years since I worked as a psychotherapist and I didn’t think that was an option for me at the time. After all, who would hire someone who has been out of practice for 20 years? I knew that if I ever got up the nerve to make a career change, I would want to do work that I loved, that felt meaningful, and that would allow me to tap into my talents and gifts. But what else was I qualified to do? What did I want to do? What was my passion? I had no idea.
As the fatigue and burnout began to take a toll on my health, I started sharing my dilemma with others and that’s when a dear friend gave me life changing advice. She said, “think about what it is that you do in your free time – when you don’t have to do anything – that’s your passion – just take a step in that direction”. It seemed so simple, just take a step. I thought of the quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, “you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”. In applying about that great advice I realized that, in my free time, I could be found reading books, articles, and journals; listening to podcasts; and fielding questions from friends about all things related to health behavior change, preventative health and wellness, nutrition ,and exercise. I wondered if this interest in health and wellness could actually be parlayed into a career, but I had no idea how to proceed.
I did exactly what all of my years of education taught me and in March of 2020 I started to conduct research. In doing so, I discovered the field of integrative health and wellness coaching. How I had never heard of this field before is far beyond me, but I was intrigued and excited. I learned that this rapidly growing and widely respected industry is recognized by prestigious health institutions throughout the world, and plays a vital role in the emerging preventative healthcare model. I discovered that, in addition to helping patients implement physician recommendations, health coaches support their clients in making behavior changes such as losing weight, reducing stress, and increasing exercise, as well assisting them with lifestyle issues like making changes to their physical environment, enriching relationships and communication, and enhancing personal and professional development. I was also thrilled to learn that health coaching is rooted in the field of psychology, but instead of focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues, health coaching focuses on helping clients achieve sustainable behavior change and realize their health and wellness goals. In a nutshell, this field combines psychological theory with health and wellness. This was it, I was all in, and I was thrilled to have found a way to turn my passion into a career. I started researching training programs, but was dejected to learn that most of the programs needed to be attended in person.
Then, the pandemic hit. Somehow I was blessed to be able to squeeze some lemonade out of the mountain of lemons that we were all dealing with. The North Carolina based training program that had peeked my interest suddenly offered a virtual option, just as my work as a school psychologist slowed to a crawl. I took a risk and applied to the training program, was accepted, and started the program in April of 2020. Though completion of this program would have been enough to allow me to embark on a career as a health and wellness coach, I knew that, in order to be able to be respected by the medical community, I would need to differentiate myself by obtaining national board certification. So, I spent several months studying and in February of 2021 I took another risk and sat for the four hour exam required to became a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. I passed the exam and began the process of building my health coaching practice, Intrinsic Health and Wellness. Several months later, I took my biggest risk to date and decided to step away from my position as a school psychologist to devote my time and energy to this new endeavor.
In a fairytale version of this story this would be the point where my practice turns into a thriving business. However, in the real world it doesn’t always work out as planned, and I think it is important to share the highs and lows of risk taking. It turns out that the process of establishing a health and wellness coaching practice in an area of the country unfamiliar with this field has proven to be formidable challenge. I decided that, while continuing to work to build a viable practice, I would to return the field of psychotherapy, which was at this point in an all hands on deck effort due to the pandemic, making it easier for me to find work despite my 24 year hiatus. I have found my work as a psychotherapist to be both gratifying and meaningful and I look forward to continuing this work while I grow my health coaching practice.
Erica, 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?
As a licensed educational and clinical psychologist for over 20 years I have gained experience and training in various psychological theories and techniques. However, for as long as I can remember I have also been passionate about health, fitness, and nutrition, thoroughly enjoying the 15 years I spent employed as a certified aerobics instructor/trainer, spending my free time devouring books and articles on health and holistic medicine, and always secretly longing to find a way to do meaningful work in this field.
I was able to find a path forward in the field of integrative health coaching, and I am thrilled to have discovered a way to combine my education and experience in the field of psychology with my training in evidence-based integrative health and wellness coaching to empower, support, and guide my clients as they work to achieve their goals for future well-being.
Through a unique, client-centered partnership, I am able to assist people who have a desire to make health, behavior, or lifestyle changes, but could use some structure, support, and accountability to achieve their goals for the future. Addressing more than just physical well-being, I focus on the whole person: their vision, values, goals, and partner with them to create lifestyle changes that are aligned with what well-being means to them.
While a therapist, personal trainer or dietitian might dictate a specific regimen, health coaches understand that the client is the expert in their own life and partner with them to clarify their vision for wellness, create a plan that fits their lifestyle, and design strategies to maximize their health and vitality.
I am proud to be able to use evidence based interventions to provide a safe, supportive environment in which my clients can work towards meaningful, sustainable behavior change and realize their health and wellness goals.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Like many others, I often feel that I am not enough. Despite having obtained advanced degrees, building a meaningful career in service of others, and raising a wonderful family, I still struggle with feeling that I have not done enough and that I am not good enough. This narrative, if left to its own devices, can cause me to say no to opportunities, become paralyzed at the possibility of change, and doubt my capabilities before I have even tried. This self doubt is something that I have battled for years, and it is something that have to continuously unlearn.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2021 I made the decision to leave my position as a school psychologist after over 20 years, to build a health coaching practice. I quickly learned that, in the Midwest, health coaching is not yet recognized as a valuable service as it is on the east and west coasts. As such, it was very difficult to establish a viable practice and it became necessary for me to make the tough determination to pivot and gain other employment as I continued to build my health coaching practice.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=profile§ion=username
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/erica-prime