The Freedom of Letting Go: Dr. Curtesia’s Journey Beyond the Exam
For nine long years, the weight of an unpassed psychology licensing exam sat like a shadow over Dr. Curtesia’s career. As a psychologist practicing in Austin, Texas, she was already doing the work, serving clients and building a professional life, all while operating under a special exemption. Yet, in the back of her mind, a recurring, persistent thought nagged at her: Why can’t I get this done?
Every time she sat for the exam, she felt the crushing pressure of expectation. She had tried every conventional study prep method audio guides, reading, self-directed study—but nothing stuck. After five failed attempts, culminating in a 494 score, she reached a breaking point. Defeated and exhausted, she essentially walked away. She stopped studying entirely, deciding that if she couldn’t clear this hurdle, perhaps she wasn’t meant to.
The Illusion of Isolation
During those years, Dr. Curtesia felt profoundly alone. She watched peers from her doctoral program successfully navigate the licensure process, one by one, while she remained stationary. She began to internalize the delay, wondering if there was something fundamentally wrong with her.
"I really started to think there was something wrong with me," she admits.
This sense of failure fueled a cycle of burnout and self-criticism. The idea that she had to be perfect and singular in her focus only added to the anxiety, making the act of studying feel like an insurmountable mountain.
The Turning Point: A New Perspective
The shift didn't come from a new textbook or a harder drill. It came from a moment of surrender and connection. After seeing a testimonial for the Crush That Exam program, Dr. Curtesia realized that if she wanted a different result, she had to change her approach entirely.
When she joined the program in September, she was also in the middle of a rigorous 300-hour yoga teacher training. Initially, she panicked, fearing she was taking on too much. But her coach, Dr. Erica, offered a piece of advice that changed everything: Don’t stop living.
Dr. Erica encouraged her to continue with her yoga training, explaining that putting her entire identity and all of her happiness on hold for the exam only amplified the pressure. That shift in mindset from "suffering through" to "living while preparing" was the catalyst she needed.
A New Approach to Success
Once she entered the program, her study prep evolved. She realized, for the first time, that her struggles weren't a reflection of her intelligence, but a sign that she needed a different structure.
The program provided her with three game-changing elements:
A Community of Peers: Being around other people of color who were navigating similar life and professional pressures made her feel seen and validated.
Accountability through Parallel Study: As someone who discovered she was on the neurodivergent spectrum, Dr. Curtesia found that sitting in silence alone at home led to distraction. The program’s parallel study sessions using a focused, timed structure provided the "body doubling" she needed to stay on task.
Self-Compassion: She learned to stop beating herself up when life grief, health issues, or just exhaustion interfered with her schedule.
"If you're not able to fully focus, that's okay," she learned to tell herself. "Allow yourself this time to do whatever you need to do in the space, and then you can get back to it on a different day."
Life After the Exam
In May, the cycle finally ended. Dr. Curtesia passed her exam, officially becoming a fully licensed psychologist and a 500-hour yoga teacher in the same season of life.
Today, she describes her life as "freedom." The metaphorical monkey is off her back. She is no longer looking over her shoulder at a test date or feeling the guilt of not studying during the holidays. She is free to be fully present with her clients, to travel, and to notice the small things like the birds in the trees that she was previously too stressed to see.
For those who are currently sitting in the same place of doubt she once occupied, Dr. Curtesia’s message is one of gentle encouragement: You don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to sacrifice your life to pass the exam. Sometimes, the path forward isn't found by studying harder, but by finding the right community and learning how to extend a little grace to yourself along the way.
Take the Next Step with Crush That Exam
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If you see yourself in their journey, you don’t have to do it alone. Crush That Exam offers structured coaching, effective strategies, and confidence-building support to help you pass the EPPP faster. .
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