We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Scharlotte Spencer, APRN, FNP-C, ACHPN, CNEcl and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Scharlotte, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I didn’t start my business because I wanted to be an entrepreneur — I started it because I never received the kind of help I needed myself. I’ve struggled with my weight since childhood and have been obese most of my life, and as a woman with PCOS and insulin resistance, I was constantly told to “just lose weight,” with no real guidance, no root-cause answers, and no true support. The truth is, I wasn’t lazy or uninformed — I had been working out and dieting my entire life. I tried everything and felt like I was starting over again and again. When I became a nurse practitioner in 2013, I made a promise to myself that I would never be the provider who said that to someone else. Instead, I became determined to understand the physiology behind weight, hormones, and metabolism. Through running, powerlifting, and a ketogenic lifestyle, I lost 100 pounds, but like so many people, when life shifted and I stopped doing the extreme things, the weight came back. That experience taught me that willpower isn’t the answer — sustainability and biology matter more. Around the same time, I was working in palliative and end-of-life care, watching people die from complications of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses that were largely preventable, and it changed how I saw healthcare. We’re very good at managing disease at the end, but we don’t do enough to prevent it at the beginning. That’s when I decided to build something different — a place focused on education, prevention, and root-cause care, At the end of the day, I built my business to give people what I never received: real answers, real tools, and a provider who walks alongside them instead of telling them to just try harder.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Balanced Body & Wellness, PLLC, we are practice cash-based, functional and integrative medicine, which means our patients are choosing to invest in themselves and their health, not just reacting to illness when insurance says it’s time. Transitioning from traditional, insurance-based “sick care” into a wellness and prevention model has been a big shift, but it’s exactly where my heart is. My background in palliative and end-of-life care deeply shaped how I practice, because it taught me to focus on the person, not just the numbers. If a patient tells me they feel off, even when a lab says “normal,” I treat the patient — not the paper. I don’t believe normal is the goal; optimal is personal, and it’s defined by how someone actually feels and functions in their life. I also don’t believe healthcare should be one-sided, where the provider makes all the decisions. To me, this is a partnership and a shared investment. My role is to educate, guide, and empower, but patients are active participants in their care. I want them informed, confident, and involved every step of the way. At the end of the day, everything we do comes back to one simple belief: take care of the patient first, listen to their story, and build a plan together — because real healing happens when people feel seen, heard, and supported, not rushed through a system.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being originally from New Orleans, I love that Houston has that same soulful, diverse feel where every neighborhood has its own personality. We’d spend a lot of time downtown and in the Museum District, walking through the museums, hanging out in Hermann Park, and just taking our time exploring. I don’t drink, so for me it’s really about food, culture, and connection. I love taking friends through Third Ward because that’s where you really feel the history and heart of the city, and then heading over to The Heights for more walking, shopping, and great local spots. Houston’s food scene is amazing, so we’d just bounce around and grab whatever looks good — fresh seafood, soul food, little hidden gems — there’s something good on almost every corner. Some days would be exploring and eating, other days would just be slow mornings, coffee, conversation, and catching up. For me, the best time isn’t fancy — it’s showing someone the real Houston, the culture, the people, and the feeling of the city. That’s what makes it special.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my practice is faith-led and GOD-centered. I truly believe this business exists because GOD called me to step out on faith and serve HIS people. Every morning, I pray for guidance on who HE wants me to care for and how I can show up for them, because this work has never been about me — it’s about being a vessel to help others heal. I see my patients as GOD’s people, and caring for them is part of my purpose. From there, my success is rooted in my family. My husband, Larry, has been my steady support from day one — the one who believed in me, pushed me, and held things down when the long hours and big dreams felt overwhelming. My daughter, Journee, is my daily motivation and my “why,” reminding me that I’m building something bigger than myself. My sister Tischia, my momma, and my brother Clarence were all there in the beginning, encouraging me, praying for me, and reminding me not to quit when things felt uncertain. They’ve been my foundation. Professionally, I’m incredibly grateful for my collaborating physician and dear friend, Sandra Gomez, MD, who has supported me not just clinically but personally — someone I trust, learn from, and truly consider part of my journey. It truly has taken a village, and I wouldn’t be here without the faith, love, and encouragement of the people who stood behind me before anyone else ever saw the vision.

Website: https://www.balancedbodyandwellness.com

Instagram: balancedbodywellness_tx

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharlotte-spencer-dnp-aprn-cnp-achpn-cnecl-70370165

Facebook: Balanced Body and Wellness, LLC

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Balancedbodyandwellness

Image Credits
Sean K Photography

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