What made you decide to become a psychologist?

I’ve always been fascinated by people!  In fact, my mother liked to tell people she used to steer me around with her hand on the top of my head when I was small because I was too busy watching people to follow her!

The funny thing about any of the helping professions is oftentimes people go into them trying to figure themselves out.  I felt a deep, lifelong desire to know what made people, including myself, tick.  When I learned not to buy into outside beliefs about who I was, I accomplished many things that surprised even me! The lesson I learned was to never give in to mediocrity.  In the powerful words of Susan Sarandon, “Never settle for someone else’s definition of who you can be”.  But this was a process of learning that came over time and now I share that learning with others.

What’s your training?

I think this question requires both a traditional answer and a more creative answer.  I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Montana, in Missoula, MT, which is an APA-approved program. It was at UM where I received my first training in a non-traditional approach to psychotherapy, hypnosis. That really laid the groundwork for what was to come. I did my internship at Milwaukee County Mental Health in Milwaukee, WI and then worked in outpatient clinics and hospitals in Green Bay, WI prior to opening my own outpatient mental health clinic, Harbor Community Psychological Associates. Throughout my time in Wisconsin, I was expanding my focus on energy work through trainings all over the U.S. in a variety of modalities, many of which I still utilize today.

What’s different about what you do?

How I coach is very different from other coaches in several ways.  Most coaching and psychotherapy involves a heavy emphasis on talking, creating plans, and executing those plans.  However, there is a crucial piece missing from most of these programs!  Let me share with you how I’ve come to view this issue: Imagine your mind represented by an iceberg floating along in the ocean.  The water level represents your level of awareness:  anything above the waterline is Conscious, that of which you’re aware.  Anything below the waterline is Subconscious, below your level of awareness.  Similar to an iceberg that has the bulk of its mass below the surface of the water, most of our consciousness is below our level of awareness. 

Researchers estimate that 95% of our consciousness is Subconscious, below the level of our awareness! In other words, if you are doing a great job with your Conscious mind (5% of your total consciousness) on affirmations, positive thinking, goal-setting, etc. and your Subconscious mind (95% of your total consciousness) believes “I can’t do this”, you are destined to stall out and crash. The holistic methods I use, including EMDR, PSYCH-K, EFT, and Breathwork are all designed to go below the level of awareness and make the changes in your Subconscious where most of your power lies.  Imagine what you will accomplish when you have 95% more power behind you

Why did you change from doing psychotherapy to holistic coaching?

My main focus, always, is empowering people to be more authentic, complete, and powerful than ever. How I do that has broadened over time.    I am constantly retooling to more fully embrace the work I’m here to do.   Being licensed as a psychologist actually limited what I was able to do for clients, both with regard to the sheer amount of paperwork required and the spurious restrictions put forth by insurance companies and licensure. Several years ago, I sold my private practice, retired from doing psychotherapy, sold my house, and purchased a Mom-n-Pop motel in Rapid River, located in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan to rehab into a retreat destination while growing my holistic coaching business. At that point, I had been doing psychotherapy for almost 30 years and it was time for a fresh beginning. The expansion in what I offer has been nothing short of phenomenal!

What can people anticipate working with you?

The first thing people can expect when working with me is complete honesty.  I will tell you what I think and why I think it so that you always know where you stand with me and our work together.  I believe we can move you through your transformation much more efficiently and effectively when we’re honest with each other.

The second thing people can expect when working with me is accountability.  I will follow up with you on everything we agree to for homework, support you through the difficult steps in your process, assist you in setting achievable goals so you keep moving forward, and gently, but firmly address any stuck points or back-sliding you might do.  I believe I am the most helpful to you when I don’t let you get away with the behaviors that got you stuck in the first place.  That’s how I’ve earned the moniker, America’s Kick Ass Coach! Now, don’t let that scare you into believing I’m a harsh taskmaster…really I’m pretty gentle in my approach. I’m well-aware that pushing someone too far beyond their comfort zone is counter-productive because s/he will double-down on the old behaviors (“argue for your limitations and you get to keep them!”) Rather, we gently approach those deep places of wounding and, using permission-based energy work, begin to dissolve the beliefs that keep those old behaviors in place.

As for results, I truly believe there are no limits to what we can accomplish.  Major improvements in thoughts, feelings, business success, health, finances, spirituality, career, relationships, and much more are just waiting for your commitment, effort, and actions to unlock them for your benefit and the benefit of those around you.  And I’m here to guide and support you every step of the way.