I grew up in a loving, but complicated, entrepreneurial family.  My father started a machining company after graduating from a K-12 orphanage, and following in his footsteps, I set off as a first generation college student as a business major. After studying for two years in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, a mandatory theology course opened the floodgates of curiosity about the mind and soul. Perhaps, I thought, I could figure out some of those early family complications.

I soon changed majors and ultimately earned a Doctorate in Psychology from The George Washington University. I completed my internship and post-doc training at a highly sought after training program and later was offered a full time position as the chief psychologist at a prestigious hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit. In addition to patient care, I supervised and taught psychiatry residents and psychology post-docs, served on the consultation and liaison team, and did psychology program development work.

Feeling entrepreneurial, I left inpatient care to start my own private practice. I had the privilege to help people with depression, anxiety, trauma, mood swings, relationship turmoil, and other pain.  I also had the opportunity to do workplace consultations and engage in coaching partnerships while in private practice. My interests began to shift from illness models to positive psychology, applied psychology, and industrial organizational psychology.

Noticing my shifting interests, my father and cousin recruited me into the family machining business that was now enjoying 50 years of success. I engaged in all aspects of the company- from operating a lathe to company finances- but focused on organizational development work. Using my psychology background, I saw the business as living breathing interconnected organism. I introduced a systems and process approach to help maximize efficiency and productivity. I was involved in HR and headed hiring and talent management.  I also had the good fortune to work beside my father as he oversaw successful real estate development projects.

As business and succession planning meetings revealed exciting new opportunities for the machining company, I was blessed with the opportunity to ask myself, “Who am I, really?”,  “What does it mean to be me?”, and “What do I want to do next?”

I could not answer these questions without internalizing a part of my journey that I always worked to keep in the shadows.  As I was accomplishing the goals of my life, I felt proud to be sure, but there were also times when I secretly felt fear, shame, and hurt. On the outside I always played a good game and smiled, but my insides did not always match my outsides. At different  points I found relief and good times in alcohol, but a sweetness always turned into a bitterness. And so, facing my own emotions and habits, asking for help, and growing personally and professional during my journey is a crucial part of who I am today.  

Reflecting on my professional and personal story, I saw wins, challenges, help along the way, and most importantly growth. Current Coaching began to take form in my mind.

Today, thanks to friends, family, fellowship and help of all kinds I have found a peace and happiness that grows as my journey continues. I hope that my coaching services prove useful to you!