In coaching work, I sit with people–one-with-one, couples, and groups–usually for about an hour at a time, to help them relate more as they’d like to with themselves, their loved ones, and Life itself. 

My professional background and training is in social work, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Family/Systemic Constellations, and formative somatics. 

After getting my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I felt the academic approach would keep leaving me wanting. I turned instead to a series of deep mentorships, each lasting for years (one as long as eight, the most recent five and counting). I was taught to participate deeply with my learning, to sit as client and practitioner, and to include what felt unincludable on behalf of real contact with myself, as a foundation for the rest of my living. 

I come to session work not knowing, ready to learn about you, from you. I am part of a community of individuals who, together, know a lot. This includes my clients. 

This work is win-win, in contrast to putting part of you in opposition with another part of you for “progress”. (“Just do it/just stop it.” “Think positive.”) Your offerings of beauty to this world do not leave any of you behind, though you may grow out of some ways you have been. Related, you are more than welcome to disagree with me on anything!

I will support you in meeting the shapes of yourself that feel like your enemy, and participating with yourself (and others you may find difficult) from there–the challenging and hugely rewarding work that is essential for creating bridges between yourself now, and the yous and experiences you’d like to know next. 

We will contextualize your experiences to help your system learn that your life makes sense, and that your next chapter can, too. (Albeit with a good dose of flexibility about what “sense” means.) We can move more easily from there.

This is what I wrote to a new friend when she asked if I was a life coach, and what a session is like:

Yes, I am what people would call a “life coach”, and I call myself one because it gets the gist across, though I don’t love the title. I like to think of myself as a local artist, but I think saying that would confuse people. 

As for what a session looks like, it really depends on the client, but it is usually two people sitting together in-person or over Zoom, talking, with a series of guided interruptions. 🙂

My practice formed from a path of deep mentorships as I step-at-a-time found what worked for me, really. I think we each have our own Medicine to make of our wounds (and that wounds are normal, though there are varying intensities), and longings, and joys. I like “coaching” because I can be dynamic and flexible. We can go “deep” or tactical/practical, and I like to blend in creative practices and play. 

At this point, the bulk of my practice has to do with “formative somatics”, somatic/felt/body-informed work that is also body-forming, as in I don’t think we can really change without working with our physicality, which can be challenging, so we need support. I wish that support came in the form of traditional Elders, but many of us have felt a lack of mentors and elders in our lives. When I work, I get to stand in the place of an elder for those (including myself) who need or want support. 

This work can support you in gently being with what might have been too scary, or big, or wonderful (or all of the above) to have recognized and worked with by yourself. Along the way, we are generally supported by a good dose of laughter, especially about the hard stuff!

On a broader scope, I don’t think we can heal individually without healing collectively. We do not dance alone. This work is deeply personal, and focused on helping people participate with themselves, such that, for example, a demand from the outside doesn’t have to become a demand on the inside. At the same time, this work is rooted within an understanding that personal healing will stagnate if we don’t bring it into the collective.   

Joy is your birthright. And so is Anger, Grief, Play, Rest, Belonging, and the capacity to continue growing–the creative process. I will meet you there. 

In applause of the Life and the Song you have inside you, 

Liz