Meet Elizabeth Brink of Thriving Sister Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Brink.

Hi Elizabeth, We’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, can you briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since early childhood, I was told I was too much by trusted adults, peers, and siblings. My mother tried hard to advocate for me, and I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of nine. The world did not know much about neurodivergence back then, which is largely true. I spent my childhood and early adulthood not understanding much about myself and being ashamed of how I functioned (or didn’t) in comparison to everyone else. As far back as I can remember, I have cared deeply about the well-being of others. I studied people, got a degree in communications, and spent over a decade working in various sectors in roles that leveraged my ability to see people and help leaders better meet their employees and clients where they were. Parenthood jostled my world to a greater degree than it seemed my peers experienced, so I wondered why it all felt so hard for me. I reconnected with a previous employer, who also happened to be one of the creators of ADHD coaching, Nancy A. Ratey. The more I understood how coaching supports people to make change and learn to like themselves, the more sure I was I had finally found my professional home. I started my coaching practice in 2019, and as the pandemic hit in 2020, we saw a huge uptick in neurodivergent folks reaching their limits and needing support. While coaching was my first love, I quickly realized that most of my clients carried trauma in their stories and their bodies. To not harm, I began training in somatic trauma healing modalities to incorporate into coaching. The pair is a beautiful fit for my clients. I’m now halfway through becoming a Somatic Experiencing practitioner. The main thing I can say about how I got here is a lot of privilege, access to influential people, and the financial stability of being in a two-income household. I worked hard, but many people are doing that, and their business is not growing. I deeply value making coaching, continuing education, and mentor support accessible to those who would not otherwise be able to afford it.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! It has been a challenging road. When you struggle with prioritizing tasks, have brain fog, are overwhelmed, and have a nervous system prone to revving when unnecessary, building a business is harder. Initially, the struggles were the logistics and legal ramifications of just setting things up. There are so many systems, questions, and options! As my business grew, the struggles shifted to managing my passion for helping with my need for rest. I also have young children, so the unpredictable nature of my life stage makes things a little more “fun.” I started full force, pushing myself (and my family) to the very edges. Burnout crept in within a couple of years, and I had to make big changes. I continue to evaluate my business goals and well-being, making little tweaks here and there to make things as balanced as possible. There is a lot of privilege in being able to do that.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
I am a somatic coach for neurodivergent adults. My approach integrates somatic trauma healing modalities with neurodivergent-affirming life coaching. This combination is unique, but I’m hoping more practitioners will join me in partnering with their neurodivergent clients and helping them reconnect to their whole selves. I focus on interrupting chronic stress, healing trauma, building body-based/somatic awareness, and living in self-partnership. I work with clients individually, in groups, and as a coach trainer through Coach Approach Training. I am also available for consultation with other professionals or loved ones of a neurodivergent individual. As a coach, I am trained and mentored by some neurodivergent/ADHD coaching greats, Nancy Ratey, Linda Roggli, and Denslow Brown. In my somatic work, I trained with the incredible experts at The Embody Lab and by Somatic Experiencing (SEI) teacher Mahshid Hager. Before coaching, I enjoyed a career in project management, corporate communications, and employee engagement in big tech, non-profits, and for a boutique strategy consulting firm. I understand what it’s like for neurodivergent people navigating the job market and workplace, and I enjoy supporting clients with their professional paths.

What does success mean to you?
I prefer to think of success in a moment-by-moment view. Am I tending to my needs? Are my clients feeling attuned to today? Do my children have their biological needs met? Success in our culture is often a shortcut for saying you make a lot of money or are highly sought after in your field. Those things are excellent and can make life easier in some regards, but they don’t give me butterflies. A client telling me how proud they are of themselves or how they like themselves a little now feels like the purest form of success. If the people interacting with me feel seen, heard, held, and like healing is possible, I’ve done my job and am leaving this world a better place.

Pricing:

• $150 individual session rate
• $35 community membership in The Enclave

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thrivingsistercoaching.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/coachelizabethbrink
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachelizabethbrink