Meet Nichole Walker | APC, NCC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nichole Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nichole, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When I think about risk, I have always considered myself very conservative. Always playing it safe! If I’m being totally honest, it was rooted in fear. Fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of what others would think or say, etc. FEAR! As I’ve grown older and wiser and continue to become more confident in myself, I can say I’ve been more open to taking more risks.

When I consider what role taking risks have played in my career, the previous two years come to the forefront of my mind. In May of 2020, the year of the pandemic, I took the biggest risk I had ever taken in my career. I chose to leave my full-time, salaried job with benefits that provided a sense of security for both me and my family and accepted a full-time independent contractor position as a therapist in a group practice with no benefits. I had never not had a salaried job with benefits my entire adult life, and here I was married with two children and loads of responsibilities faced with the option of taking the leap of faith and risking it all or staying in a “secure” and “stable” job that I was beginning to dread and gave me overwhelming stress and anxiety to the point that it was affecting both my physical and mental health. After praying about it and talking it over with my family extensively, I decided to take the risk and step into the next chapter of my career!

When I think back to all of the fears I had and all the reasons I came up with NOT to take the risk, I’m so glad I didn’t give in to them! I have been blessed abundantly by God since taking the risk and we have not lacked in any area. Both myself and my family have benefitted and thrived as a result of the decision overall, and I have no regrets! The wins have far outweighed anything I ever imagined! As a mother of two daughters, it has been very important for me to position myself as the best role model I can be for them. I realized if I wanted them to grow up to be confident, outgoing and courageous young women, I had to set an example! My mother and grandmothers were the strong examples and trailblazers in my life both growing up and now in my adult life. I want to continue that legacy with my daughters. I have tried to instill in them that they can be and do anything they want in life if they BELIEVE in themselves and keep God as the head of their lives. I have seen His goodness manifest in my life as a result of me putting my trust in Him to equip me with everything I need to face all of life’s challenges and risks that may come my way. It has not failed me yet, so I conclude that it has been a risk well taken! Onward and upward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began my career in my early 20’s right out of college exploring who I was and what I wanted to do in life. I started out in the sciences, biology to be exact working in a laboratory and quickly realized that was not the environment I would thrive in long term. Ironically, while in transition I entered the corporate world and went into financial services. I moved up pretty fast and landed in several leadership positions, which provided the financial stability I wanted as a young adult. After almost six years, I was laid off due to a company merger trying to figure out what I would do now being a wife and mother of a 3-month-old. I made the decision to go back to school and get my master’s degree in education concentrating in school counseling as an effort to make a career change. With the love and support of my husband and mother, I was able to complete the hybrid program successfully. I then spent a small amount of time in private practice, but it was not financially practical having a small child. Before long, I was offered my first school counseling job at the school I completed my internship at, which provided the stability I needed, and my career took off from there.  I have now worked on the elementary, middle and high school levels in both public and private schools as well as in private practice currently. My journey has afforded me the opportunity to incorporate all of my work and life experiences inclusive of the challenges to the work I do today. I have been able to work with people of diverse ethnic, social, economic and religious backgrounds and gain an appreciation for them all. I am proud of my resiliency throughout the years to take whatever I have been faced with head on and overcome in spite of the challenges. Most of all, I am proud to show my mother that her hard work and determination are instilled in me, and I now can pass that torch on to my daughters to carry. I want them and the world to see that with belief in God and yourself along with determination, you can be and do whatever you set your mind to do!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my best friend to the Dr. Martin Luther King historical sites, the African American Museum, the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial and/or Piedmont Park, Botanical Gardens, Arts Center, and The History Center. I love Pappadeaux’s, Houston’s, The Capital Grille and Chop’s to eat. We could also squeeze in a show at either the Fox or Alliance Theater or even a concert depending on who’s in town!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I thank God for without Him, none of this would be possible. I would like to thank Christalyn Howard who nominated me for this amazing opportunity and for being such a great friend and collaborator! Your support and encouragement have been the catalyst I needed to bring one of my dreams to life! To Dr. Emily Ferrara, my director/supervisor, but friend for many years prior, thank you for always being such a strong believer and supporter of me and giving me the springboard I needed to go further in my career. Working with you is a joy and you have such a heart of gold. I could never repay you for all you have done in my life! To Dr. Yolanda Fountain Hardy my supervisor/mentor thank you for always challenging me to think from different perspectives and push beyond my fears! I appreciate your belief in me and your constant support and encouragement to do more and be my best self! Your leadership, wisdom and life experiences that you selflessly share with others is invaluable and I can’t thank you enough! To my husband and two beautiful daughters, there are not enough words of gratitude for all the love and support that you have given me and stood by me in full support as I took the huge leap of faith to further my career. It was well worth the risk, and I’m blessed you all have been with me every step of the way. I love you always! To my mother and best friend, words will never be able to encompass the depth of my gratitude for you! Your constant love and support of me my entire life has been the cornerstone and without your love and prayers I don’t know where I would be! You have stepped in and been what both me & my family needed without hesitation, and I love you for it all eternally. I hope I continue to make you proud! Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all of my close friends and family who have prayed for and with me, cheered me on and supported me along this journey in both the darkest and brightest moments! Your love, support and prayers have sustained me, and I will forever be grateful!

Website: https://simplifyatlanta.com/