We were lucky to catch up with Rebekah Proctor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rebekah, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

One of the hardest challenges I faced when starting out as a life coach was the constant comparison to others in the field. It’s easy to feel inadequate when you see others become successful quickly. But I learned that just because someone else found success faster doesn’t mean you’re better or worse than them. Some people have the advantage of starting out with an established network that brings them clients right away, while others, like myself, have to build those relationships from scratch.

In my experience, it took time to stop comparing myself to colleagues who seemed to be getting clients faster. While I did learn from their methods of outreach, I had to remind myself that my business growth would be unique. It’s important to acknowledge your own journey and pace.

Another key lesson I learned was the importance of focusing on one thing after exploring different ways to grow your business. There are so many methods of marketing and networking, and if you spread yourself too thin, you won’t be able to execute any one strategy effectively. I found that once I committed to a particular approach, I was able to gain more traction.

From my own experience of growing a life coaching and counseling practice with Jeffrey Proctor LPC, Healing Harmony Counseling, the number one way to build a client base is through networking. This means developing relationships with key people in your industry and creating a referral network. It takes time, consistency, and putting yourself out there regularly, but establishing these connections has been essential to my practice’s success.

For anyone starting their own practice, my advice is to be patient with yourself, stay focused on your path, and invest in meaningful relationships that will help you grow.

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’m a Third Culture Kids Life Coach. I’m a TCK myself which has influenced my desire to specialize in it. I was born in Cyprus, and then lived in Uzbekistan, Syria, England, and Turkey before coming to the United States for College. When people ask me where I’m from, it’s usually a complicated answer and I work with kids and young adults to help them navigate this similar identity.

At first I had planned to become an LPC, but as I finished my first semester of the master’s program, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to see clients outside the state of Texas if I worked as an LPC. I knew that seeing TCKs meant that I would need to see people all over the United States and all over the world.

This led me to get a Life Coaching certificate, and become a TCK Debriefer and TCK Caregiver.

I am now also trained as a Christian Spiritual Director, where we can process where they are at in their spiritual journey.

I’m proud to have started Healing Harmony Counseling (healingharmonycounseling.com) with Jeffrey Proctor LPC who is also a TCK. We provide both counseling and life coaching to TCKs and also people facing ADHD, Anxiety, and other mental health struggles.

I’m beyond grateful that I get to work with so many people as they navigate this complex identity. A lot of the time it’s hard to notice the underlying factors in people’s mental health because it can be connected to so many different cultures especially if you moved several times growing up.

If you come to see me in life coaching, then we spend time at first getting to know each other and making sure we are a good fit. If there are mental health disorders that are beyond my skill set, we work together to find the right fit. In coaching we then work together towards certain goals they have for their life. Maybe it’s a struggle with fitting in, maybe it’s anxiety about going to a new school, maybe it’s feeling like you just don’t belong anywhere, maybe it’s that their parents don’t understand why they think this way. All these different challenges and more are things we work through.

You can find more information about my services at healingharmonycounseling.com

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One good story is of how long it took for me to get started on my journey to becoming a TCK Life Coach. The process spanned several years, particularly on the educational side. When I first decided I wanted to provide therapy and support for TCKs, I initially thought I should become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). However, after one semester, I realized that the restrictions of the Texas LPC board would make it difficult for me to see clients in different states or internationally, which was a key part of my vision.

This led me to start a certification program focused on caregiving and debriefing for TCKs, where I learned the ins and outs of helping TCKs process their experiences. That alone took a long time because I had to juggle online classes with my full-time, 40-hour job. In fact, one semester I couldn’t even start because of time conflicts, which delayed my progress further.

After completing that certification, I knew I needed to become an official Life Coach. This took additional research to find the right program, and once I did, the process was spread out over two years, requiring me to attend four in-person, week-long retreats. It was a slow and steady process, but through all of this, I held on to my dream of working with TCKs and providing life coaching and support to people navigating difficult seasons.

The lesson I’ve learned through this journey is that resilience and persistence are key. Even if it takes years to reach your goal, don’t give up. Stick with your dream, because once you achieve it, the fulfillment is incredible. I’m grateful for where I am now, and I can confidently say that the journey was worth it.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

100% yes! There have been moments where I wondered if I should have pursued something other than a BBA in International Business during university, especially since I didn’t know for sure that I wanted to work with TCKs until after I graduated. But looking back, that degree, along with the work experience I gained in the business world, has equipped me with invaluable skills. Those skills have been crucial in helping both me and my husband, Jeffrey Proctor LPC, reach our goals as entrepreneurs. It’s all part of the journey that led me to where I am today, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healingharmonycounseling.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-proctor-809449137/

Image Credits

Callie Cherry – Candid Portraits