My story

A long, long time ago…

I worked for a Fortune 100 Best Places to Work software company. The pay and perks were terrific, but I didn't want to be there. I wanted something different: to help people know and believe in themselves and make their dreams come true.

To help me clarify my goals, a friend gave me a copy of Finding Your Own North Star by Dr. Martha Beck. Beck is Harvard-educated and Oprah Winfrey's life coach, and she started the phenomenon of life coaching.

When I learned she was beginning to certify coaches, I put my last $4000 on a credit card to pay for the training. Within two weeks, I was sitting at Dr. Martha Beck's feet, devouring everything she had to say about this "new" profession. Over twenty years ago, I became one of the first coaches to receive a certification from her.

When I returned, I pitched the idea of executive coaching to my VP of HR, and he was enthusiastic about it! But again, it didn't sit right with me. After all, if I was going to help people realize their dreams, I had to learn to listen to my own.

Then, through a series of unexpected and frankly unpleasant personal experiences …

(those pesky "tower" moments when everything crumbles to get your attention correctly), I began working with others who had undergone mental health crises and diagnoses. I felt at home working with people who had undergone enormous challenges and events that knocked off their rough edges and made them magical. All they needed was a little support.

I always combined my love for helping people with fixing broken things and solving problems, so because "telehealth" was not yet invented, I pioneered teaching people skills and supporting them remotely.

Since then, my experience, toolbox, and learning have taken me to many places. I have become a richer, more rounded master coach and trainer in business and with individuals from all walks of life.

Problems are opportunities. But it's not always easy to see how. That's why I wrote an entire book on getting from the problem to an individual's or company's bright future. You can find it here.

My passion right now is…

As always, empowering people :) But I found something new and amazing for us!

Think about it: has your heart ever been broken over the loss of someone dear to suicide or sat with someone with unrelenting, excruciating mental health pain? I have devoted my career to relieving this type of suffering, and I love these people so much.

The renewed, mainstream hope of using psychedelics to improve happiness has renewed my mission to help others. We have many tools, practices, and medicines to help us become happier and more enlightened, but psychedelics are a huge step up. With FDA approval well in motion, we need more education and support around these experiences. I see my role in the movement as an accomplished peer coach, guide, educator, and mentor.

I continue to wholeheartedly seek personal growth to be a better person to others on this planet and to leave my kids and theirs a legacy of change in my generation that they can be proud to witness.