Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Schmidt.
Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have a day job in healthcare management, but before that I was a sleep technologist. In fact, I rose to becoming the President of the BRPT, the international sleep tech credentialing board. While I like my day job, I was both missing using my clinical brain and connecting with patients more directly. I was also regularly having coworkers and friends/family ask for advice around sleeping. I hung a virtual shingle opening a telehealth only practice (originally a partnership with my friend who is an acupuncturist). We dissolved the partnership when it didn’t make sense (she needed full time work and I wanted to stay part time for now). I have kept this practice as a side hustle since 2019. Early on, I realized that my sleep training (which involved learning to read brain waves and titrate CPAP and other therapies) wasn’t going to cut it to help patients with complex insomnia. So I went back to school and got a Master’s in Health and Wellness coaching. This was invaluable in learning about how to help with the behavioral components.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes, for the most part. Changing from a partnership to a solo practice took some extra legwork, but was manageable. My day job (and life in general) keep me super busy, so I haven’t gone out of my way to market or chase business. I’ve made a decision not to take insurance which limits my client base. This is ok for now- working with insurance takes way too much time and would make it not worth it. I don’t love that this limits my services to a wealthier base, but I also have only so much time for this while I have another day job.
We’ve been impressed with Integrative Alchemists, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Integrative Alchemists is a boutique health and wellness coaching practice with particular expertise in sleep health. All appointments are over a secured telehealth platform. Sleep coaching is a very niche field with few practitioners. I have two allied health sleep credentials (RPGST and CCHS) as well as Masters-level training in coaching. This is a rare combination which helps round out medical knowledge with behavioral intervention training. I particularly love working with those struggling with insomnia. In some of my proudest moments, I’ve helped people wean off multiple sleep meds (in partnership with their physicians when meds are involved). Or just helped people with what they felt was hopeless insomnia learn to sleep again. A lot of this work involves dealing with the whole person- looking at everything else going on in their life. And helping them unlearn some ultimately unhelpful narratives about how their bodies are broken.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have sleep apnea and am a faithful CPAP wearer. Even though most of my clients have insomnia, there’s a surprising amount of overlap with apnea and insomnia. Some 80% of patients with apnea have never been diagnosed. Being a patient myself, it helps me support those struggling with CPAP adherence from more of a personal place.
Pricing:
- $150/hour
- $480 for a 3 session package with daily guided sleep journaling
Contact Info:
- Website: https://integrativealchemists.com/sleep-health-coaching/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-schmidt-fache-b75b265/
