In October, I made the decision to revive this blog and set a goal: write 10 blog posts by the end of the month. But life, as it often does, had other plans. I had to pivot, readjust, and extend my timeline, aiming to wrap up by the end of November instead. And now, here we are, mid-December, and I’m completing the 10 blog posts. This journey has been a powerful reminder of what it means to pivot and readjust expectations and goals. Goals don’t always unfold on the timelines we imagine, but progress matters more than perfection: what matters is continuing to move forward, step by step, even when the plan shifts.

Gratitudes for 2024: 
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1. Placencia, Belize
At the end of 2023, from November through early January 2024, my husband and I lived and worked in the beautiful beach town of Placencia, Belize. It was such an incredible adventure—a glimpse into what it might feel like to live as "digital nomads," working and living from a completely different geographical location. The experience was both grounding and liberating, and I’m so grateful for the memories we created there.

2. My husband
I’m endlessly grateful for Matthew and the 27 years we’ve journeyed through life together. It’s been beautiful, rocky, unexpected, painful, and enriching—a full, layered experience of partnership. To have someone to share life with, to grow alongside, and to keep choosing each other through all of it is a gift I never take for granted.
 
3. My eldest daughter
Helena has always been wise beyond her years, and I deeply cherish the relationship we’ve built as she’s grown into adulthood. My husband and I have always aspired to evolve into trusted friends and mentors for our children as they become adults and seeing that aspiration come to life is something I’m profoundly thankful for.

4. My youngest daughter
Esther is our spirited, passionate child. Parenting her has brought its unique set of challenges. And through those challenges, I’ve learned to deepen my practice of staying centered, even when it feels difficult. She’s taught me so much about myself, and I’m grateful for the lessons she continues to bring into my life.
 
5. My work as a coach
I’m so thankful for the opportunity to continue evolving and growing in my work as a coach. Whether coaching, mentoring other coaches, or as a coach supervisor, I find immense purpose in helping others grow, develop, and become better humans—not only to themselves but to those they impact.
 
6. Coaching Supervision
This year, I’ve discovered new ways to support coaches in their development through Coaching Supervision. Coaches are extraordinary people, and I’m honored to create reflective spaces where they can explore who they are and who they want to become, both as humans and in their coaching practice.

7. Sibling time supporting my mother’s recovery from stroke
In July, I was able to take time off to travel to Daegu, South Korea, to be with my mother during her recovery from a stroke. Being there during such a critical moment reminded me of the importance of presence and the gift of siblings supporting one another, even in challenging times.
 
8. Trip to Ireland
In September, Matthew and I traveled to Ireland with Helena for two weeks. It was an unforgettable experience, filled with new adventures, laughter, and meaningful connection. Traveling with family always deepens my appreciation for shared moments like these.
 
9. A new chapter in our roles
Since May, I’ve stepped into the role of being the primary income earner after my husband was laid off. While there have been moments of financial stress, this shift has also opened a new chapter for both of us. It has given me a deeper appreciation for the ways we’ve balanced work, family, and responsibilities in past seasons of our lives—and for how we’re navigating this one together.
 
10. Coaching communities
I’m so grateful for the coaching communities I’ve been part of this year. These spaces—filled with wisdom, encouragement, and reflection—have not only supported my growth but reminded me of the collective power of shared learning and connection.

As a review of 2024, I want to remember, celebrate, and appreciate all the year has brought.  Looking forward to what 2025 has in store…
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Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what the future of coaching might look like, particularly through the lens of my own journey. When I first decided to leave my 15-year career as a therapist in 2016 to step into coaching, I thought I had found my “forever” career—the work I’d do until I no longer wanted to work. Back then, the path forward felt clear: get training, build my practice, and keep doing what I loved indefinitely. However, as I’ve grown and evolved in this field, my perspective has shifted.
In the early years after coach training, I was trying to find my footing. Like many new coaches, I was focused on gaining hours, earning certifications, and figuring out how to make coaching financially viable. I wrestled with questions about my niche and whether I could establish credibility in spaces I hadn’t worked in before, especially corporate America. Having never held a position in a big company like Microsoft or Amazon, I wondered if I had what it took to work with leaders at that level.
But little by little, through an online coaching platform, I began gaining experience—and confidence. I found myself working with leaders across a range of levels (from individual contributors to first-time managers, seasoned directors, and even C-suite executives) and industries (non-profits, tech, pharma, entertainment, and more). This exposure broadened my perspective and helped me see that the core of leadership development wasn’t about knowing the corporate playbook—it was about helping people navigate the human challenges of leadership.
Over time, my work expanded: I became a mentor coach, trained as a coaching supervisor, served on the ICF Washington Board, and volunteered in ways that deepened my practice. These experiences have reshaped how I see coaching—not just as a tool for individual growth, but to catalyze transformation across systems and communities.
This past summer, I joined a small group of coaches in a conversation about the future of our profession. One coach, who’s been in the field for over 20 years, shared his perspective: coaching, as we know it, must evolve—or risk becoming irrelevant. He described how coaching has often been used in corporate settings as a tool to “performance manage” struggling executives—essentially, a last-ditch effort to address problematic behaviors before termination becomes inevitable. More recently, coaching has also been framed as support for new leaders adjusting to high-stakes roles, helping them reflect, strategize, and succeed.
But the language of coaching is changing. Terms like “mental fitness,” “psychological well-being,” “emotional agility,” and “executive presence” have become mainstream, blurring the lines between coaching and fields like organizational psychology or therapy. At its core, though, coaching remains deeply human. It’s about helping individuals mature—emotionally, cognitively, psychologically, and even spiritually—in ways that ripple outward into their relationships, communities, and the larger world.
During this conversation, we explored the idea of maturity and its role in human development. What does it mean to grow into maturity—not just for ourselves but for humanity as a whole? And what role can coaching play in fostering this growth? These questions sparked something in me, a sense of urgency about the transformative potential of coaching—not just as a tool for personal success but as a force for collective healing and connection.
As I reflected on coaching supporting people to grow into maturity, I’ve been synthesizing on an idea of “therapeutically informed coaching”. For 15 years, I sat with clients in the sacred space of therapy—a place where they could unpack the emotional, mental, and behavioral patterns that often stemmed from deep wounds: childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, or violence. These experiences left lasting imprints on their sense of self, shaping who they believed they were and what they thought they deserved. The therapeutic space became a container for exploring those shadows—the dark, fearful parts they were too scared to reveal to anyone else, afraid they’d be judged, rejected, or unlovable.
But in that space, something remarkable would happen. By bringing those hidden parts into the light—by allowing them to be seen, known, and shared with another—they could begin to face those shadows with courage. The shadows, once so powerful in the darkness, started to lose their influence, as they are brought into the light. And as my clients learned to stand in the light, they found they could make intentional choices about who they wanted to be. No longer bound by fear or shadows of their past, they could decide how to move forward with more freedom and self-compassion.
At its core, therapy is also about connection—being deeply seen, heard, and accepted by someone who is fully invested in your well-being. It’s a relationship grounded in trust and care, where the goal is always to move toward emotional and mental health.
Coaching, in many ways, offers a similar kind of space. It’s a place where clients can explore their goals, aspirations, and yes, even their shadows. Those same shadows show up in coaching, though perhaps in different forms—limiting beliefs, inner critics, or fears of failure. And while the focus in coaching is often future-oriented and directed by the client’s goals, the partnership between coach and client still requires safety, trust, and a collaborative spirit. As a coach, I don’t come in as the “expert” or “savior.” Instead, I walk alongside my clients, honoring their agency and holding space for what matters most to them.
When I first entered the coaching world, I noticed a deliberate effort to draw a distinction between therapy and coaching (particularly in the U.S). There seemed to be a need to keep the two separate. But now, I find myself wondering: what could coaching look like if we integrated some of the psychological frameworks and developmental understandings that are foundational in therapy? What if coaching wasn’t afraid to embrace the richness of human complexity, including the deeper emotional and psychological layers of growth?
Both therapy and coaching have so much to offer—each with its unique strengths—and yet, I can’t help but feel that they could benefit from learning from one another. Coaching, with its forward momentum and partnership model, and therapy, with its depth and understanding of the human psyche, both aim to support people in becoming more fully themselves. What might be possible if we allowed the two to dance together, blending their wisdom to create something even more transformative in supporting human maturity?
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Coaching skills—holding non-judgmental space, embracing the paradoxes of life, and connecting deeply with another human—offer us something profoundly needed in today’s fast-paced world. They invite us to pause and reflect, to step out of the chaos and reconnect with what truly matters. These skills have the power to transform lives, but the question is: how can they be taught in ways that are both developmentally appropriate and deeply relevant to the challenges people face daily?

What if these coaching skills were intentionally woven into the fabric of all areas of our lives—parenting, education, counseling, organizations, non-profits, faith communities, and community spaces? What might happen if these skills, designed to humanize and deepen relationships, were embraced not just as professional tools but as foundational ways of being? In a world that often feels like it’s we’re losing touch with our humaneness, this could be the antidote we need to cultivate connection, understanding, and growth.

Imagine if we moved away from hierarchical, "expert-driven" interactions and embraced a model where everyone takes ownership—not just for their role but for the quality of the shared space. Conversations would shift. Instead of interrupting or inserting opinions prematurely, we’d listen generously, fully present to the other person. We’d reflect on what’s been said, offer encouragement, and notice what’s emerging in the moment. Questions would replace directives, inviting curiosity and exploration over judgment or advice.

This isn’t about abandoning structure or goals; it’s about holding space for exploration and discovery, knowing that each person is inherently creative and resourceful. Solutions—whether personal or collective—could emerge naturally, born from this collaborative and equitable environment. And when resources or support are lacking, the conversation can shift to include those needs with openness and respect.

Such an approach could transform not only how we communicate but how we relate—creating an equitable playing field where every voice matters, especially those on the margins. It would invite us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters. These coaching principles could help us generate new possibilities, process challenges, and create space for growth—not just for ourselves but for those we are in relationship with.
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This vision isn’t confined to individual interactions. Imagine these principles embedded into our schools, workplaces, and community spaces—equipping people not only to “do the work” but to grow and mature as humans. These skills have the power to make us better stewards of our relationships and, ultimately, better humans to ourselves, each other, and the world.

​I've been reflecting upon the transformative power of coaching. It's no surprise that many people lives have been impacted and changed through coaching. At it’s core, coaching invites us to show up fully present, to listen and to set aside our agendas, and to hold space for others as they wrestle with what matters most to them. It's about meeting people where they are, not with answers or advice, but with curiosity and an openness to whatever might emerge. It's about creating a non-judgmental space where paradoxes can be held, where complexity is welcomed, and where someone feels truly heard and known.
These coaching skills—presence, generative listening, holding space—are powerful tools for fostering connection and change far beyond the coaching session. They have the potential to ripple out into our relationships, communities, faith circles, political systems, organizations, and the broader world.
These skills also offer us a rare gift in today’s fast-paced world: the invitation to pause, to reflect, and to reconnect with what holds the most value for us. They remind us to slow down and see more clearly, to honor what is present, and to make space for what could be.
When we bring these skills into our daily lives—whether as professionals, partners, parents, or friends—they can help weave a stronger, more compassionate fabric into our communities. And perhaps, in this weaving, we begin to shift the world, one conversation at a time.