We were lucky to catch up with Erin Meyer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Erin , appreciate you 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 the most powerful pieces of advice I ever gave a client was simply: “You are doing better than you think you are.”

It came during a session with an environmental justice organizer who was experiencing intense burnout. They felt like they were constantly dropping the ball, not responding fast enough, not doing enough and always falling short. They were convinced that everyone around them had it more together and that they were secretly failing.

I gently reflected what I was seeing: someone who was deeply committed, actively showing up, learning, growing and still making space to care about their own well-being. Then I shared the truth that so many people forget: most of us are walking around convinced we’re the only ones struggling. The truth is, we’re all a little messy, a little behind and a little unsure. Plus most people are too caught up in their own insecurities to be judging ours.

This moment shifted something in them. They took a deep breath. Over the next few weeks, they began to approach their goals with more self-compassion, made space for rest and even shared this insight with a few peers, helping them break out of the cycle of shame and self-criticism.

The result? Not only did they stop spiraling in imposter syndrome, but they also started leading from a place of grounded confidence. Their work became more sustainable, more joyful and more effective.

That sentence. “You’re doing better than you think you are” became a kind of mantra. Now for many of my clients since, it’s been a reminder to zoom out, breathe and honor their efforts.

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 Erin Meyer (she/her/hers), a board-certified health and wellness coach, sustainability expert and founder of Deep Health Coaching. My work centers on supporting activists, helpers and purpose-driven professionals in building sustainable well-being so they can continue showing up for the causes they care about without burning out in the process.

How I Got Here

Before I became a coach, I spent over eight years working on the front lines of food security and sustainability. I led food rescue programs, ran food pantries, and worked deeply in community resilience, but like many people doing justice-driven work, I pushed too hard for too long. The combination of eco-anxiety, a traumatic event and the weight of the pandemic triggered a serious case of burnout and a health crisis.

With a lot of reflection, self-accountability, and support from loved ones, I slowly rebuilt my health and in doing so, discovered a new calling. That journey became the seed for Deep Health Coaching, where I now help others prevent and recover from burnout, reconnect to their purpose and develop healthy, resilient habits grounded in science, mindfulness and compassion.

What I Offer

My services are centered on whole-person wellness. I support clients through:

*One-on-one coaching: Personalized, confidential sessions focused on nutrition, stress management, sleep, sustainable routines and career transitions.
* Digital tools and education: Including my 8-module self-paced course on climate burnout, packed with actionable strategies for resilience and healing.
* Organizational support: Partnering with nonprofits and impact-driven companies to build burnout prevention into the culture.

I blend my academic background (M.S. in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems + dual B.S. degrees in Nutrition and Integrative Biology) with evidence-based coaching tools, behavior change science and mindfulness practices rooted in my Buddhist values.

What Sets Me Apart

I’ve lived both sides of this: the burnout and the rebuilding. I understand the unique pressures faced by people working for change especially those in marginalized or under-resourced communities. My coaching is trauma-informed, client-centered, and rooted in the belief that “the way out is in” (Thich Nhat Hanh). Lasting change doesn’t come from hustle or willpower alone; it requires deep reflection, compassionate accountability and systems of support.

What makes Deep Health Coaching different is how I blend science and soul. Clients walk away not just with plans and protocols, but with a renewed sense of clarity, calm and capacity.

What I’m Most Proud Of

I’m proud every time a client tells me they’re sleeping better, setting boundaries, reconnecting with joy or feeling like themselves again. I’m proud to create space where people feel seen, not judged and I’m proud that the ripple effect of this work doesn’t stop at the individual. It makes their movements, communities and relationships stronger too.

What I Want You to Know

You don’t have to earn rest. Burnout isn’t a personal failure and you’re not alone.

Whether you’re leading climate actions, organizing mutual aid, teaching, caregiving or just trying to stay afloat. your well-being matters. You deserve support that honors the depth of your work and the complexity of your life.

You’re doing better than you think you are and with the right tools, reflection and care, you can thrive in your purpose without sacrificing your health.

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

There was a point in my sustainability career when I was juggling far too much: managing a food rescue nonprofit, navigating systems that were underfunded and overstretched and holding space for community members in crisis. Then came the pandemic, and with it, a traumatic personal event that completely upended my life.

I remember waking up one day unable to focus, chronically exhausted and feeling like just so burnt out. What made it worse was the guilt. I kept telling myself: “People are relying on you. You can’t stop now.” However, my body had already stopped.

That moment, where I finally admitted, “I can’t keep going like this” was the beginning of a turning point. I stepped away from work, which felt terrifying and disorienting. I had to relearn what it meant to rest, to ask for help, to nourish myself in small ways. Slowly, I did. Through a mix of mindfulness, gentle movement and connection, I came back to life.

However, I came back different. I was no longer willing to sacrifice my well-being for the sake of hustle or urgency. That shift in values didn’t just help me heal. It shaped the foundation of Deep Health Coaching. I realized I didn’t want to just recover and return to “business as usual.” I wanted to help others not get to that breaking point in the first place.

So in a way, that collapse became my clarity. My resilience wasn’t about bouncing back fast or pretending everything was okay. It was about choosing a slower, truer path forward. One where thriving is possible. One where wellness and justice aren’t opposites.

That’s the path I walk with my clients now.

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

Other than training and knowledge, the most helpful trait for succeeding in my field, health and wellness coaching, is presence.

This work is about more than giving advice or offering information. People aren’t just looking for tips. They’re looking to be seen, heard and supported through real transformation. That requires the ability to listen deeply without judgment, to hold space for complexity and to show up with compassion even when someone is struggling to show up for themselves.

It also takes humility. Every client is the expert on their own life. My role isn’t to fix them. It’s to walk alongside them as they uncover their own path to thriving. That mindset shift is critical.

Resilience, self-awareness and a commitment to my own healing practices also matter. In a field where burnout is ironically common, staying grounded in my values and caring for myself allows me to be present for others without losing myself in the process.

In short, presence, compassion, and integrity are what sustain the work and make it meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deephealthcoaching.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deephealthcoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553591954326
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-health-coaching-llc/