Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Couper.
Hi sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m a native Miamian. I went to Pinecrest Elementary and Palmetto Middle and High schools. I graduated from U of M with a BBA, and I worked in sales for five years, but I always wanted to be in the medical field. I went back to school, got my BSN, and began working as an RN and ultimately as a sales representative for Johnson & Johnson. During the COVID shutdown, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, and I started my online schooling. During this time, I also retired from Johnson & Johnson and graduated with a Master’s degree in Family Practice. I realised that what truly interested me was psychiatric nursing, so I continued my schooling and got my post-master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree.
Ironically, when I was in my undergraduate studies, the psychiatric rotation was the one I liked the least. My field of choice changed over the years due to many life experiences. The most impactful one was my son’s struggle with addiction. Unfortunately, he did not survive this and died of an overdose days after his 19th birthday. I never understood nor respected mental illness. We live in an ever-changing world and need to understand that we all respond differently to stress and mental illness in diverse ways, shaped by cultural beliefs, personal experiences, and available resources. Mental illness is often misunderstood and/or stigmatized.
So, I graduated and started my practice, Inner Balance Health Care. I like to think that I create a safe, non-judgmental space for my clients to tell their story. My office space is shared with a master Reiki healer and together, we provide a calming, relaxing space that I like to think one can come to and heal.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In my personal life, there have been challenges, as I mentioned, my son’s struggle with addiction. Starting my business has been a slow and steady climb. Sometimes I am busy, and at other times, not so much. I miss working with peers and having someone to bounce things off of daily, but at the same time, I like being my own boss.
As you know, we’re big fans of Inner balance health Care. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a PMHNP who sees a variety of clients. While I am licensed/certified to see clients from pediatric to adult, most of them are aged 14 and older, some in their 90s. The majority come to see me for treatment of anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and substance use disorder. I like to look at each person as a whole and include their input in creating their treatment plan. My first choice of treatment is holistic, implementing natural vitamins and supplements, a healthy diet, and exercise. It is important to understand that not only does your brain need a healthy diet and exercise, but it also needs vitamins and supplements such as D3, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and a balance of neurotransmitters. This is where psychopharmacology comes into play. It is important to reduce the stigma attached to these drugs and understand that some people have reduced levels of neurotransmitters or require more than their body can make available. I like to compare this to a diabetic needing insulin to regulate their blood sugar or an antihypertensive to regulate their blood pressure.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I used to be terribly shy.
Pricing:
- I accept many different insurance plans
Contact Info:
- Instagram: innerbalancewellnesspmhnp
