Hi, I’m Amy.
I never learned how to do cocktail party conversation. You’ll generally find me in the corner, leaning in close or wiping tears from my eyes. What I seek out is open-hearted, soul-level connection. I want to know why: why you feel that way, why you do that thing, why you want what you say you want. Hard truths, gory stories or painful admissions don’t phase me. I’m insatiably curious about what makes you — us — feel fully alive.
Connecting is the penetrating satisfaction of being witnessed in our vulnerability and truth. For me, it’s a basic need. When I’m not feeling connected, I wither a bit. Connecting brings me back to myself. Where I belong. Where I shine.
As a coach I offer you what I prize most; the experience of deep connection. Like they say, we teach what we most want to learn. Or in my case, I extend what I most want to receive.
I’ll be upfront: I’m not a good coach because of my training or work experience. My bio tells you I have fancy degrees (she’s smart, hard-working), and a by-the-book certification (she’s capable). You’ll find that I spent years in project management (she works well with others, she’s organized and responsible), I have solid non-profit experience (she is motivated by social conscience, she’s humanitarian, she’s committed) and a background in grassroots community development (she has an affinity for helping effect change from within).
None of this is a reliable gauge of what you get in working with me.
My unfurling
Like you, I have unfurled again and again. I’m grateful for the life experiences that enabled my unfurling, the joyful as well as the painful. There’s the eating disorder I fought from my teenage years through new mamahood, and finally beat once and for all. There’s the rape by a stranger in another country, far from home. My work advocating for homeless families mired in the brutal reality of inner-city poverty. Life as the sole white woman in an African village. A really, really challenging marriage. The incredible kindness of neighbors, seatmates, and teachers of all kinds. The list goes on.
(As, I’m sure, your own list of life-changers does.)
Without this street cred, I would not be coaching, I would not be available to deep-dive with courageous women like you who want more. And I bring my hard-won insight, clarity and wisdom along to every encounter I have.
Some of my teachers taught really hard lessons. The most challenging for me? Perfectionism. Trust and vulnerability. A poverty mentality. I have struggled to make peace with each of these, and have come out squarely on the side of self-compassion, which guides me in all I do. I’m not surprised that most of my clients struggle with these very same teachings. I offer my own truth as a companion to yours.
Then there are the beloved teachers who routinely kick my ass. My kids are at the top of the list; they let me know right away if I’m squirming away from being present, or if I’m not walking my talk. My yoga practice is a close second, reminding me how easy it is to turn a spiritual pursuit into an ego-fest. I have been sitting meditation for nearly two decades and I’m still very much a beginner.
And my unfurling continues. I take workshops and courses on all things related to self-awareness. I have my own beloved coaches. I collaborate with others, I do speaking gigs, I facilitate groups. My coaching practice is built on client referrals, which tells me I’m doing something right.
When I’m not coaching I’m most likely dancing, hiking, drinking wine with dear friends, getting dirt under my fingernails, playing with my kids or traveling. I live on a magical isle in the Pacific Northwest.
My non-street cred
- Certification from the International Coaches Federation. The ICF is the gold standard for coaches
- CPC (Certified Professional Coach) from Invite Change, the Academy for Coach Training. An ICF-accredited program
- Coach for participants in the renowned global Playing Big leadership program
- Member, Puget Sound Coaches Association
- MA, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, in Social Change and Development
- BA, Dartmouth College
- Board Member, Hestia Retreat for Women
- Board Member, Vashon Youth and Family Services
- Certified Yoga Teacher
photo courtesy of Darrah Parker Photography
I sought coaching because I was in a place where I could feel changes in my life, but didn’t know how to proceed. I was looking for clarity around direction and possible options. I had questions whether life coaching was the right next step, but since I seemed to be going nowhere fast and knew that I needed help, I made a decision to commit to the program.
The coaching exceeded my best expectations and had a surprisingly pervasive effect on my entire life. As a result of the coaching I was able to see options, clarify the next steps to be taken, and feel inspiration for new forms of self expression that had not been visible to me before. I was able to begin the work. – K.S., artist
