A Client Story: From Struggle to Triumph

This is David’s story - a true inspiration in the art of transformation. With his green light, I'm sharing his remarkable journey.

David was living a life he didn't recognize. He avoided social gatherings, depended on others to live (think money for rent & living expenses), and mostly lived in his head.

Away from close friends and family, he felt a bit disconnected. Not having a community of like-minded individuals can feel isolating. Especially as a black man in the LGBTQ+ community, living in a city where neither of those identities sees a lot of positive representation can create an overwhelming feeling of “being bothered”.

Authenticity was his number one value, yet he didn't feel safe to show up as himself.

So he hid.

He misplaced his sense of worth and purpose and described how he felt as "depressed and stuck."

Whenever I work with someone who uses the 'D' word (yep, depressed), I'm all ears and leaning in.

It's not just curiosity - it's a coaching radar thing. Depression's a big ol' yellow or red flag in the coaching world. 🚩

So, what did David mean by depressed?

He recently had a traumatic brain injury, a breakup, was jobless, and was on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, except he wasn't controlling the ride. Negative self-talk was on repeat, drowning out any whispers of self-worth, putting him in a constant state of circling rumination.

He forgot who he was. He lost his courage. And his self-compassion turned to feelings of shame.

Luckily, someone in his circle knew his potential and gifted him 12 sessions to support David back to himself. 

After our discovery call, we decided to journey together, fully understanding our work as a coach and client partnership.

David's vision centered on finding a job that gave him a joyful purpose and financial stability, connecting with a community that felt authentic and inviting, paving a path to finish his Master's degree, and, most importantly, rediscovering himself again.

Enter YouMap®.

Two sessions in, I witnessed his confidence start to rise.

After a month, he began applying for jobs and networking. By the time we finished our coaching agreement, he was not only working one job, but two! One at a community center, spreading joy and building connections, and another as a freelancer, defining his own authentic work vibe.

He was making new friends, even dating 😍, and chipping away at the Master's degree.

Vision accomplished.

David went from languishing to thriving in as little as three months.

He tapped into his natural talents, aligned with his core values, realized his skill set was gold for his dream job, and cranked up the inner champion while telling the inner critic to take a hike.

Smiles, energy, and feeling back in control of life's roller coaster – that's David, post-coaching.

Here is what he said about the process:

"Through Nicholle's supportive guidance and accountability, I managed to pull myself out of a deep depression. For four years, I had been stuck in a cycle of anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and lack of self-worth. Various kinds of therapy with several therapists didn't work. Maybe it was just that she came into my life at the right time to be ready to implement them. Still, with the tools that Nicholle helped me to foster, I managed to escape the cycle of mental paralysis that had been unhappy and chronically unemployed. The YouMap process proved my depression wrong. It, alongside Nicholle’s coaching, was a guiding force and reliable sounding board throughout my journey of refining life skills and navigating the job search. This process not only reignited my sense of purpose but also reaffirmed and deepened the connection to the values we outlined in her program.

Nicholle is a caring and empathetic coach who just gets it. She brings genuine care to her practice, and I think that seeing how she celebrated my challenges and successes allowed me to see the value in them and what I was capable of. She held space for me when I couldn't do so for myself, and by asking the right questions, she helped me reframe the experiences and perspectives that were holding me back from getting what I wanted and allowed me to become my own cheerleader."

That, my friends, is the magic of coaching with YouMap®.

Purchase now until 1/15 for discounted holiday offers:

❤️ $100 off Option 1 Full coaching experience of YouMap using code xmaslove

❤️ 20% off Option 2 of YouMap® using code santawink

Other things:

❤️ If you have been following, you know I love V-day. Whether it's Gal-entines, Pal-entines, or you have a special someone, everyone deserves a little love. Sign up for a lovely Valentine's Day card in the mail! (It's free💌!)

❤️ I am taking on 24 miles for TWLOHA. 

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly in treatment and recovery. 

You can donate to my fundraiser here.

Until next time,