About Holly
I’m “seasoned” aka old.
This is a good thing as a Coach.
You would plotz if I told you my life story.
Not to worry.
I came to coaching through a long and winding road. I’ve had three successful careers (Social Work/counseling, Financial Services, and Human Resources recruiting operations) and two small creative businesses.
I also attended graduate school and received a masters of arts in theological studies, concentrating in psychology. I wanted to explore the connection between the role of spirituality and the role of mental health in healing.
I left the corporate world about 11 years ago. At that time, I felt like training to become a Life Coach was the next step.
And then life happened, as it will…
About five years ago, my beloved husband died after being diagnosed, out of the blue with stage 4 cancer 9 months prior. I became his caregiver, which was a sacred journey and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. And it was brutal.
I struggled mightily afterwards and needed and received a great deal of professional and other help from a therapist, a professional Life Coach, and a Sponsor. Slowly, at least part of me returned to the land of the living. Then In 2022, my mama and my brother died.
After my mom died, I felt a deep part of myself say it was now time to become a Life Coach.
I guess there were some things I needed to go through before I was ready to be a Coach.
I chose CTI (Co-active Training Institute) to obtain my training and Certification as a Professional Co-Active Coach.
Only grace could have enabled me to complete the rigorous program during my brother’s terrible illnesses and death. I have learned that when we listen to our inner truth, the way becomes possible, and we are given the strength and even joy to take courageous action.
I have been through the process of not being able to see a new future or have any idea what I might even wanted it to be. I understand recovery from compulsive and addictive behaviors, and what it means to surrender being compulsively self-reliant.
Now I experience joy and gratitude every day (not all day lol).
As a coach, witnessing my clients achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences of my life. Being aligned with my purpose, joy is worth everything. I would love to support you in any part of that process.
In addition to utilizing the co-active coaching model, I also incorporate aspects of my prior expertise - including my therapeutic skills to help deepen awareness and connections with old wounds and trauma, in service of greater emotional freedom and ability to take action. For clients who are curious about this, I utilize my professional training and skills in the Expressive Arts (voice work, movement and visual arts).
What is the difference between coaching, therapy, and consultancy?
This is a question I receive frequently and it is an important one!
Life Coach
Life coaching is a co-creative process that helps people translate insight into action. Coaches primarily work with clients on issues related to their present life and forward, creating a future vision and action plan to achieve the client's goals related to who they want to be and what they want to do.
Therapy
A therapist helps people explore and process the events and influences of their past, and how those experiences may be shaping behavior in the present. Therapists are licensed to treat mental illnesses using psychotherapeutic methods, and help their clients achieve and maintain baseline mental health. Psychotherapy includes treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other diagnosable conditions.
Consultant
Like coaching, there is no mental health treatment plan involved in a consulting relationship. Consultants are most often associated with business activities. They bring expertise in a specific knowledge base, provide guidance, and help shape strategy. Unlike coaching, consulting is not a co-equal partnership. A consultant gives advice and tells the client what should be done. In contrast, coaching is inquiry based, and supports a client to identify their own strengths and solutions.
In my experience, many people have both a coach and a therapist at different times.
Curious? Schedule a complimentary 30 minute sample session.