Kimberly Adams, CPC
Kimberly Adams, CPC, is a certified professional life coach and founder of Changing Lives Life Coaching, where she helps clients cultivate emotional resilience, build healthier relationships, and navigate life transitions. A retired elementary school teacher with over two decades of experience in the classroom, Kim draws on her deep understanding of human development, communication, and connection to guide clients of all ages. Her coaching approach is trauma-informed and rooted in practical self-regulation and emotional intelligence, empowering individuals to rebuild trust with themselves and thrive in their personal and professional lives. Throughout her own journey, Kim has faced and overcome significant personal challenges, including navigating anxious attachment after a failed marriage and embracing life with a visual disability. These experiences inform her empathetic and transformative coaching style, allowing her to support clients through difficult life circumstances while modeling resilience, self-compassion, and hope. She works closely with clients to create actionable roadmaps that lead to meaningful growth, fostering safe, supportive spaces where transformation is not only possible but sustainable. In addition to her coaching practice, Kim is an active mental health advocate and entrepreneur. She co-founded multiple mental health enterprises, including a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy practice, and help launch the nonprofit Inside Out for Everyone, providing free mental health workshops and resources to underserved communities. Kim holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, an ICF-accredited coaching certificate from Thriving Coach Academy, and is affiliated with the National Christian Counseling Association. Her lifelong commitment to learning, teaching, and service continues to guide her mission: helping others navigate life’s challenges with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
• ICF-accredited coaching certificate
• Arizona State University - M.Ed.
• Foundation for Blind Children
What do you attribute your success to?
I credit my success to a lifelong passion for learning, connection, and human potential. I spent 24 years as an educator in the Gilbert Public School system, where teaching was never just a job—it was a calling. A progressive visual impairment prompted me to ask a new question: How else can I serve?
That question led me into life coaching, mental health advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Today, I work across counseling, coaching, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and through my nonprofit, Inside Out for Everyone, providing free mental health resources to those in need. Launching this nonprofit remains my proudest accomplishment, reflecting my belief that mental health support should never be a luxury.
My classroom experience continues to shape my work. The skills I developed—communication, patience, adaptability, and compassion—inform my coaching and leadership. As an ICF-accredited coach and member of the National Christian Counseling Association, I guide clients through relationships, transitions, and personal growth.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this field that career transitions are not setbacks—they are opportunities. Living with a visual impairment has taught me to problem-solve, advocate for myself, and approach challenges with curiosity rather than fear. It has also reinforced the importance of boundaries: as entrepreneurs and helpers, protecting our energy is essential to serve sustainably.
I encourage women facing late-career changes or unexpected obstacles to hold onto hope, stay open to new opportunities, and set healthy boundaries so that professional life enhances rather than overtakes personal life.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Running a virtual mental health business presents both challenges and opportunities. Marketing, networking, and maintaining visibility—especially while managing a visual impairment—require creativity, resilience, and strong systems. Serving clients across the U.S. and internationally is incredibly rewarding, but the work can also feel isolating, which makes community and connection essential.
Navigating a visual impairment while building a business in a technology-driven environment has been a significant learning curve. I’ve had to adapt to new ways of marketing, networking, and leveraging technology, all while transitioning from a completely different career. Despite the challenges, I’m grateful for the growth, learning, and opportunities this journey continues to provide.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy and compassion guide everything I do, both in my work and personal life. I believe mental health support should be accessible to everyone, regardless of location or financial situation. I see challenges—whether changing careers or managing a visual impairment—as opportunities to grow, adapt, and build resilience.
Connection is also central to my values, whether it’s fostering community among clients or collaborating with other women in leadership and mental health. Integrity and service are at the heart of my work, and I’ve learned that maintaining healthy boundaries is essential for sustaining both personal well-being and professional effectiveness. As a practice owner, I prioritize clear boundaries and dedicated family time so I can serve my clients fully and effectively.