This article originally appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of ICON/REFINED. 

Photo by Erik Cooper

Rhonda Bowen visited her physician when she was having trouble sleeping. Little did she know, the visit would change the trajectory of both her personal and professional life. 

“I had a hard time even conveying to her the reasoning behind this simple issue,” says Rhonda, a Colorado Springs-based dentist who runs her own practice. “My mind was foggy, I felt anxious, and I jumped from topic to topic. I eventually began crying uncontrollably. None of this was characteristic of me.”

Immediately, Rhonda’s physician knew something was up. Rhonda was directed to a therapist, which surprised her–she was expecting a sleep aid prescription. “The more we talked, the more I realized I needed to address some psychological issues,” she says. “I felt relieved.”

Through discoveries in her personal life, Rhonda’s situational depression symptoms made sense–and addressing the causes changed her life, and business, for the better. “My dental practice wasn’t doing very well, but I barely even noticed at the time,” says Rhonda. “Due to my circumstances, I wasn’t viewing myself as someone who was even worthy of success. But with the help of therapy, I was able to shift that thinking.”

After time and effort with the help of her therapist, Rhonda’s business is now thriving. “Recently, I told my therapist that I felt the most confident, most loved, and most worthy of success that I’ve ever felt in my life,” says Rhonda. 

Now, Rhonda manages her mental, spiritual, and physical health with a holistic, positive approach. She frequently exercises outdoors, strength trains, and spends time with her dog. She has found support in a loving relationship, and views her career–and success–as deeply meaningful. “I value my work as a dentist to a new degree. It’s given me a true sense of purpose,” she says. “I still see my therapist, whom I adore, but now, I see her much less often.”