Board-Certified Nurse Coach Ericka Rollins Shares Her Coaching Journey

What initially drew you to coaching, and how has your own personal journey shaped your approach as a coach?

My path to coaching grew out of my experience as a registered nurse, where I saw so many people struggling with stress, burnout, and feeling disconnected from themselves despite receiving medical care. I was drawn to coaching because it creates space for deeper conversations around mindset, habits, purpose, and overall well-being.

My own personal journey taught me how easy it is for high-functioning people to operate on autopilot while putting their own needs last. That experience shaped my approach as a coach; one grounded in self-awareness, compassion, and sustainable change rather than perfection.

I combine over 20 years of clinical nursing experience with a holistic, client-centered approach to help people reconnect with themselves and create meaningful, lasting transformation.

Do you have an established coaching practice / business and what is it called? Do you have a coaching niche that you specialize in? What is your website?

Yes, I am building my coaching practice as a Board-Certified Nurse Coach focused on helping individuals improve their overall well-being through sustainable lifestyle, mindset, and behavior changes.

My coaching niche centers around stress management, burnout recovery, personal growth, and helping high-functioning professionals who feel stuck or disconnected reconnect with themselves and create healthier, more aligned lives.

At this time, I am continuing to grow and develop my practice, and my website is currently in progress.

Did you get certified /accredited by any coach training schools / institutions? If so, which one(s) and what attracted you to their program / accreditation?

Yes, I began my coaching journey in 2014 when I completed my health coach certification through Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I was initially drawn to the program because of its holistic approach to wellness and its focus on the connection between nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and overall well-being.

That experience laid the foundation for my passion for helping people create sustainable, meaningful changes in their lives. I later continued my education through nurse coach training with Nurse Coach Collective, where I further developed my skills in holistic, client-centered coaching and learned how to integrate my clinical nursing background with behavior change, mindfulness, and whole-person wellness practices.

How did you set up your coaching practice and what challenges / wins have you encountered in the process? Any tips for new coaches just starting out to get their business registered?

Setting up my coaching practice has been a learning experience filled with both challenges and growth. Like many new coaches, I quickly realized that building a business involves much more than coaching itself; from choosing the right structure and registering the business to learning marketing, branding, systems, and client outreach.

I’ve had plenty of moments of uncertainty along the way and still consider myself very much in the learning process. One of the biggest supports for me was participating in the “Make the Leap” program through Nurse Life Coach Academy, which helped provide guidance around the business side of coaching and gave me the confidence to continue moving forward.

My biggest advice for new coaches is not to wait until everything feels perfect before starting. Focus on taking one step at a time, stay open to learning, and remember that building a coaching business is a process that evolves over time.

What online tools / applications / platforms do you use to help you stay focused and streamlined in managing your practice, especially if you’re a solo / small business owner without a big budget for expenses?

As a solo business owner, I’ve learned to keep things as simple and streamlined as possible while I continue building my practice. I use Canva regularly for graphics, marketing materials, client resources, and social media content because it’s user friendly and budget friendly. I also rely on calendar reminders, task lists, and simple organizational systems to help me stay focused and manage daily responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed.

One of the biggest time savers for me has been CoachVantage. The platform has been incredibly helpful for organizing client information, session notes, resources, scheduling, and keeping everything in one place. As someone still growing and learning in business, having systems that simplify the administrative side of coaching has made a huge difference.

My biggest advice for new coaches is to start with a few affordable tools you’ll actually use consistently instead of trying to invest in every platform right away. Simplicity and consistency go a long way when you’re building a practice.

How do you typically acquire clients / market yourself to grow your business? What has worked best for you and what pitfalls should be avoided?

Client acquisition and marketing has probably been my biggest hurdle as a coach, and something I’m still learning and growing through. What has worked best for me so far has been networking, building genuine relationships, and not being afraid to talk to people about what I do. I’ve learned not to underestimate the power of human connection-people connect with authenticity.

I also try to always keep business cards with me to hand out or leave in places where potential clients may find them. My biggest advice for new coaches is not to wait until everything feels perfect before putting yourself out there.

What's the most transformative shift you've witnessed in a client thanks to your coaching? Can you share the specific approach or tools you used? For eg, do you use any coaching models or specific techniques?

One of the most rewarding parts of coaching for me is witnessing those “lightbulb moments” where a client suddenly sees themselves or their situation differently and realizes things may not be as complicated or impossible as they once believed. I love seeing clients step into a more confident, empowered version of themselves; especially when they begin approaching things they once feared with clarity and self-trust.

My approach is very client-centered and rooted in holistic nurse coaching principles, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, reflective questioning, and helping clients build self-awareness around patterns, beliefs, and behaviors. I focus less on “fixing” people and more on creating a supportive space where they can uncover their own insights and sustainable next steps.

Describe a moment where you encountered a coaching roadblock with a client. How did you navigate it, and what lessons did you learn for future situations?

One coaching roadblock that really taught me a lot happened while I was completing my pro bono hours during my certification process. I had a client who genuinely wanted support but struggled to identify clear goals or follow through with the plans we discussed between sessions. At first, I focused too much on creating action steps, but I eventually realized the deeper need was helping her build awareness, clarity, and confidence before expecting consistent action.

That experience taught me the importance of meeting clients exactly where they are, slowing down the process when needed, and recognizing that resistance or lack of follow-through is often valuable information rather than failure. It also reinforced for me that coaching is not about pushing people forward, but about helping them uncover what may be keeping them stuck in the first place.

What are some common limiting beliefs you encounter in your clients, and how do you help them overcome them?

One of the most common limiting beliefs I see is the feeling that people are “stuck” or somehow incapable of creating meaningful change in their lives. Many clients also struggle with perfectionism, self-doubt, or the belief that they have to have everything figured out before they can take action.

I help clients work through these beliefs by increasing self-awareness, helping them recognize unhelpful patterns, and breaking things down into smaller, more manageable steps. A big part of my approach is helping clients shift from self-criticism to self-compassion so they can begin building trust in themselves and recognize that sustainable growth happens gradually, not all at once.

How do you maintain your own self-care and emotional well-being while supporting others through theirs?

Maintaining my own self-care is incredibly important to me, especially while supporting others through their growth and challenges. I try to stay grounded through meditation, spending time in nature, quality time with my family, and prioritizing my own personal growth and emotional well-being.

I also believe strongly in the value of having support myself, and working with my therapist has been an important part of maintaining balance, self-awareness, and resilience. I’ve learned that in order to truly show up for others, I have to intentionally care for myself as well.

Fun question… If a magic genie suddenly appeared in front of you and granted 3 wishes, what would you wish for to have a fulfilling career as a coach?

First, I’d wish for the ability to reach and genuinely impact the people who truly need support but may not yet realize coaching could help them.

Second, I’d wish for the confidence and clarity to continue growing my business in a way that feels aligned, authentic, and sustainable.

And third, I’d wish for balance; the ability to continue doing meaningful work I love while still having the time and presence to fully enjoy my family, personal growth, and life outside of work.

This is your blank canvas for you to write about anything you want to share that’s helped you in your coaching journey, how to be a more effective coach, etc. Feel free to tell your story to inspire our coaching community!

One of the biggest things I’ve learned on my coaching journey is that you do not have to have everything perfectly figured out to begin.

I spent a lot of time thinking I needed more training, more confidence, or more certainty before truly stepping into this work, but some of the most meaningful growth came from simply being willing to start, learn, and evolve along the way. I’ve also learned that coaching is far less about having the “right answers” and much more about creating a safe, supportive space where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to reconnect with themselves.

Some of the most transformative moments I’ve witnessed with clients were not because I gave advice, but because they experienced their own “lightbulb moment” and realized they were more capable than they believed. For newer coaches especially, I would say: do not underestimate the power of authenticity and human connection.

People are drawn to real people, not perfection.

Continue doing your own inner work, stay curious, trust the process, and remember that growth in both coaching and business happens one step at a time.