For many in the field of psychology, the journey toward licensure is viewed as a hurdle to be jumped a singular, stressful event. But for Dr. Jerez M., the EPPP felt less like a hurdle and more like a mountain that kept shifting under her feet. Balancing a career at a VA mental health clinic with the responsibilities of being a wife, a mom to a young son, and an active leader in her community, Jerez found herself in a cycle of over-extension that left no room for the intensive focus the exam demanded.
The Weight of Trying to "Do It All"
Early on, Jerez approached her exam prep the way she approached the rest of her life: with relentless, self-reliant determination. She invested in academic review materials and dove in alone, right out of graduate school. When she didn’t pass the first time, she doubled down. Then, tragedy struck—her father passed away. Caught in the thick of grief, she attempted to push through, convinced she could manage her mourning, her career, and her study prep simultaneously.
She wasn't just struggling with test anxiety; she was struggling with the human cost of "doing it all." She found herself in a whirlwind, trying to study for the EPPP while holding her life together at the seams. "I was out here trying to do this thing on my own," she recalls. Predictably, the results didn't change. She felt stuck, burned out, and exhausted by the cycle of failing, grieving, and repeating.
The Turning Point: Permission to Stop
The shift didn't happen because she worked harder; it happened because she finally let someone help her. Jerez connected with a coaching program led by Dr. Erica L., and for the first time, she received the one thing she hadn't given herself: permission to be human.
Dr. Erica L. didn't just look at her test scores; she looked at her life. She was blunt, upfront, and clear: Jerez was trying to do too much. The turning point came when Jerez realized that to conquer the exam, she had to stop fighting the process. She had to learn to say "no" to the pressures she had placed on herself.
"I had to come to terms with the fact that you have to utilize the program, trust the process, and just don't try to do your own thing," Jerez says.
A Transformation in Mindset
The transformation wasn't overnight. It involved a two-year journey that included taking a necessary "detox" from study materials to prioritize her mental health and heal from her loss. When she returned to the material, she did so with a new, structured approach.
The coaching provided a blueprint, but it also demanded a family-wide reset. Jerez held meetings with her household, ensuring everyone knew their role so she could carve out 30 minutes or an hour of uninterrupted time. She learned to communicate her needs rather than silently shouldering the burden. "Everyone in the family knew Dr. Erica L.," she laughs. "Once I came off our meetings, it was like, okay, Dr. Erica L. said that we have to add an extra hour this week. All right, who’s doing what?"
By integrating the study prep into her life rather than trying to paste it on top of her already full schedule, she found the consistency she had been missing.
The Result: Life in Color
When the results finally arrived, the relief was palpable. But the true success wasn't just the certification it was the restoration of her capacity. Jerez describes life after passing as a return to vibrancy. The "gray" of the exam, which had clouded her weekends and occupied her mental bandwidth, had lifted.
She has since become a Zumba instructor, embraced more time with her son, and reclaimed the joy of being fully present in her life. She describes the post-exam world as "brighter" and "richer."
For those currently staring down the EPPP, feeling the same burnout and doubt that once haunted her, Jerez offers a simple, encouraging reflection:
"If you are considering it, go ahead and take the step forward. Get out of your own way, follow the plan, and get your team prepared."
Jerez M.’s journey is a testament to the fact that you don't have to carry the weight alone. Success isn't about how much you can endure; it’s about having the courage to align your life, your support, and your study approach in a way that finally sets you free.
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