Have you ever wondered what really drives personal transformation—beyond just skills or mindset? What if the key to unlocking growth and connection lies in something more profound and accessible to all, like emotional intelligence?

Helping Others Achieve Overall Well-being and Healthy Connections: How Emotional Intelligence Guided Pamela Barker’s Career Path Growth

by Maddalena Campitelli

“The best part of the personal understanding and application of the learning I have done in my life with the Six Seconds framework is the remarkable change I have had in my relationships, personal happiness and well-being.” – Pamela Barker

Pamela Barker’s journey began with healing bodies, but it was her discovery of emotional intelligence that unlocked her true purpose: helping others achieve overall well-being and healthy connections. From her days as a physical therapist to becoming a passionate EQ coach, Pamela’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and the power of connection. Her experience shows that real change starts from within.

The Start of a Journey – From Physical Therapy to Emotional Intelligence

Pamela Barker began her career as a physical therapist, helping patients recover from physical injuries. Over time, she noticed a recurring pattern among her patients: they shared similar injuries, surgeries, and treatments, but their outcomes varied significantly. This sparked her curiosity about what made some patients heal and cope better than others. Pamela recalls how reading Daniel Goleman’s book on emotional intelligence in 1995 shifted her perspective. “I realized people have different skill levels for how they deal with problems and challenges. It wasn’t just about attitude or mindset. It was about EQ skills.”.
Her revelation about emotional intelligence (EQ) led her to seek out more knowledge. After some searching, she reconnected with Amy Franklin, a former high school teacher of hers who was now teaching EQ. In 2011 Pamela enrolled in a Six Seconds course Amy was leading, EQ Matters (what is now called Unlocking EQ), and was immediately hooked. This was the beginning of her emotional intelligence journey, transforming the way she approached her work and life.
Pamela noticed that emotional intelligence, particularly self-awareness, optimism, and motivation, played a critical role in her patients’ recovery. “It wasn’t just about being a positive or negative person,” she says, “but about practicing emotional intelligence. Some patients were able to say, ‘Here’s where I am, and here’s where I want to go. How do I get there?’” This insight would eventually lead Pamela down a new career path, moving beyond physical therapy to embrace emotional intelligence and coaching as her primary focus.

The Transition – From Therapy to Coaching

As Pamela’s interest in emotional intelligence deepened, she began to experience burnout in her physical therapy practice. Her lifelong interest in psychology and personal growth naturally pulled her toward becoming an educational psychologist. The turning point came when she took her first course with Six Seconds, an organization dedicated to EQ development. It became clear that emotional intelligence could profoundly impact not only her patients but also her own life. Pamela recalls how the skills of empathy, optimism, and self-awareness deeply resonated with her.
Reflecting on her sensitivity to emotions from a young age, Pamela notes, “I’ve always paid attention to emotions, and EQ seemed like a natural fit for me. I’ve always had a lot of awareness about myself and others, almost too much at times.” This sensitivity made her especially attuned to people’s emotional needs, something that would later influence her work with students and parents.
Her emotional intelligence journey also led her to let go of her physical therapy license and start a new path. Pamela realized that the EQ skills she was learning were core competencies that could change her life and those of others. She continued her education with Six Seconds, obtaining various certifications – Unlocking EQ, EQ Educator, EQ Practitioner and EQ Assessor – which all helped her apply EQ in diverse areas, including education, coaching, and even working with youth at risk through a therapeutic horse-riding program <Look into all the certifications available with Six Seconds>.

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Meet Pamela Barker Website →  

Professional achievements: “I am an educational psychologist, personal growth and relationship coach. My in-depth understanding of human development, emotional intelligence, and the human brain, along with my unique life experiences as a parent, partner, professional, and life long learner provides the foundation for my work. ​There are specific skills essential to a person’s ability to successfully navigate the many emotions and challenges present in daily life. I saw this in my 10 years working as an educator in schools and in my 20 years as a physical therapist. They are social and emotional skills, and I found they were necessary for my patients to recover from illness and injury and provided the basis to their learning and healing. And, no surprise, the same skills create the special sauce for learning, thriving and belonging at school, home and in the community too!”

Favorite Six Seconds Learning Philosophy: “1, 2, 3, PASTA!” AND “No Way is the Way”
Learn about Six Seconds Learning Philosophy →

Noble Goal: ‘Nurture curiosity’ “I’ll be forever working on developing this!”
Learn about Six Seconds Noble Goals →  

Her “Don’t Miss This” Six Seconds tools & courses: Tools: “The TFA Cards, my Six Seconds EQ Journal, and the Change Map“. Courses: “I loved all of the coach training courses but my favorite was that very first dive into the model with EQ Matters!” (now UEQ).

Building EQ into Education and Community

Pamela’s application of emotional intelligence found its most direct and fulfilling expression in education. She began working in schools, sharing EQ with teachers, students, and parents. One significant project was helping establish a charter school with EQ at its foundation (Compass Community Collaborative School in Colorado). Pamela became instrumental in embedding emotional intelligence and restorative practices as foundational pillars in both the curriculum and the school’s culture, working closely with students and staff alike.
“I designed the curriculum for advisory sessions and ensured EQ was taught as a core subject,” she explains. Pamela’s approach was holistic, integrating EQ into various subjects and encouraging teachers to incorporate emotional skills into their classrooms. The results were powerful: the school saw fewer disciplinary issues, improved relationships, and a positive culture of emotional awareness.
Pamela also became a restorative practices specialist, using emotional literacy exercises and conflict mediation to resolve issues among students. She loved working with students in grades 6 through 12, saying, “Kids love EQ once they get past the initial reaction. Using games, team-building exercises, and reflection helps them learn in a fun and engaging way.”

Through this experience, Pamela realized how much she enjoyed working one-on-one with individuals, which naturally led her to pursue the Emotional Intelligence Coach Certification (EQCC) with Six Seconds this year, thus understanding how much her emotional intelligence journey had changed her life and purpose. This experience helped Pamela hone her EQ skills and confirmed her desire to pursue coaching full-time, so she decided to step away from her school role to start her coaching business.

A New Purpose – Coaching with Emotional Intelligence

Pamela’s experience as an educator, therapist, and now coach has given her deep insight into the power of emotional intelligence. Coaching young adults, particularly those involved in restorative justice, has been especially rewarding for her. “Many young people crave support right now,” she says. “They’ve followed the path they were told to take—gone to college, studied hard—but now they’re struggling to find emotional connection and mentorship in the real world.”
Her work with this age group allows her to make a meaningful impact, helping them navigate the complexities of adulthood and find their emotional grounding. Pamela finds her coaching practice deeply gratifying, especially when she sees how quickly people can change once they realize they have choices. “It’s so energizing to help someone see themselves in a new light, realize their agency, and open up to new possibilities.”
Pamela is passionate about the universal applicability of the Six Seconds Model of Emotional Intelligence, believing that its practice can improve relationships, well-being, and even physical health. Reflecting on her own growth, she says, “I’m not as reactive as I used to be. I can sit in a place of openness more easily, and I’m much more purposeful.” She has become more balanced, more aware of her own emotions, and better equipped to navigate challenges.
Through her journey, Pamela has embraced her purpose as a connector of people, helping others develop the emotional intelligence skills they need to thrive. As she continues to spread EQ through her coaching practice, she feels optimistic about the future, confident that emotional intelligence has the power to transform lives. “If more people could connect with themselves and others through EQ,” she concludes, “the world would be a much better place.”

Thank you Pamela for sharing your EQ journey with us!

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Want more resources on the transformative power of emotional intelligence?

• Identify Your Most Fulfilling Career
• Emotional Intelligence and Success
• Structuring Transformational Learning
• Feel the Power: Flexing EQ