My gift
I never learned how to do cocktail party conversation. I’m the one in the corner, leaning in close or maybe even wiping tears from my eyes.  I thrive on connecting, and I dive deep by asking hard questions and welcoming whatever comes up.  I want to know why: why you feel that way, why you do that thing, why you want what you say you want.  I’m not ever going to shy away from hard truths, gory stories or painful admissions.  I’m insatiably curious about what makes you — us — feel fully alive.
Connecting is the soul-level satisfaction of being seen and heard, of being witnessed in our vulnerability and truth.  For me, it is as basic as the need for sleep, food and water.  When I’m not feeling connected, I wither a bit.  Connecting can be disorienting, especially if we are not used to sharing at that depth, but it then brings us back to ourselves.  Where we belong.  Where we can rest.
Coaching is an almost eerily perfect way for me to express who I am. I spend my days connecting with amazing women who courageously look within, and share what they find.  They learn, they question, they unfurl.  I come alive in my sessions, and tap into something I can only call my gift, which often invites magic to the work we’re doing.
I’m good at what I do because of what I bring to each coaching session.  Not my coaching toolkit, though that is truly important and without it we might meander a bit much.  It’s my presence.  My presence is what enables my clients to find the long-sought pause.  The stepping back, the reconsidering.  The what if.  The first step that eventually leads to a doorway to their magnificence.
I am able to listen to you and keep you from drowning in self-pity because I have been there too, and know the limits of pity’s usefulness.  I will meet your story, no matter how brutal or heartbreaking, with equanimity because I have witnessed (and experienced myself) so many brutal, heartbreaking stories – and because I believe in the power we hold to transmute them into something we can work with and learn from.
My gift isn’t something I’ve acquired through 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 unequivocably 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. Today I am firmly rooted, an upright version of the me who yearned to be of service through connecting deeply with others. In my coaching I bear witness as you rediscover and reclaim the truth of who you are, and help you see how to live that truth more fully. I’m grateful for the life experiences that enabled my unfurling, the joyful as well as the painful. Without this street cred, I would not be coaching, I would not be available to deep-dive with courageous women 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. And conventionality. 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.
My unfurling continues. I continue my own training and personal development through workshops and courses. I’ve got a great life coach. I collaborate with other coaches, 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 can be found dancing, hiking, practicing yoga, drinking wine with dear friends, getting dirt under my fingernails, playing with my kids and traveling. I live on a magical isle in the Pacific Northwest and am learning to love the nuances of grey.
Here are my qualifications:
- ACC (Associate Certified Coach) from the International Coaches Federation. The ICF is the gold standard in terms of certification for coaches
- CPC (Certified Professional Coach) from Invite Change, the Academy for Coach Training. An ICF-accredited 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
- Mom to two small but extremely rigorous teachers
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
