In becoming a career coach, I was able to use my background and experience as a foundation to successfully navigate the path of career transition. I'm very proud to offer my clients solid professional credentials, strong life and work experience, as well as a real world perspective on the career development process. I maintain active membership in several professional organizations, such as: SHRM, the American Psychological Association, the National Career Development Association, the National Employment Counseling Association, the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, the International Coach Federation, the Association of Career Professionals International, and the Association for Psychological Type International. I am experienced at successfully coaching clients representing a broad spectrum of career development issues, including: career exploration, career change and transition, assessment and testing, outplacement, targeted job search strategies, and interview preparation.

EDUCATION | I completed a Master of Science degree with a concentration in career coaching and guidance. My graduate studies included coursework in psychology, counseling, career development and coaching. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in liberal arts, with depths of study in psychology and communications. In the field of career coaching, my credentials include: GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator-Certified); CPCC (Certified Professional Career Coach); DCF (Distance Credentialed Facilitator); Qualified MBTI® (Myers Briggs Type Indicator), Strong Interest Inventory® and Type 360® Practitioner and Registered Test Administrator with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). As a certified Holistic Stress Management Specialist, I also offer clients coaching on work~life balance.

HOW TO GET STARTED | There are many great publications on the field of coaching - try a search on Amazon. The International Coach Federation is an excellent resource for training programs. And informational interviews are a wonderful way to get a real world perspective - so talk to a coach and ask some targeted questions.

MUST HAVE TRAITS |

how I got started | I have enjoyed a long and successful career in health care management, a career path that I had selected in college and cultivated for many years. A significant portion of my career responsibilities involved human resource management, with an emphasis on employee training and development. I now refer to this period of time as my previous life. About 15 years into my career, I started to experience a shift. The projects and responsibilities that I was once quite passionate about no longer gave me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Was I experiencing job burnout or a mid-life crisis? I began to question my motivation and credibility, as I struggled to come to terms with escalating self doubt and negative internal dialogue. I was preoccupied with a recurring question; Why was I feeling this way? The answer to that question eluded me for quite some time, but the answer was quite simple. Nothing was truly wrong about what I was feeling and experiencing, I was simply undergoing a very natural change in my interests and career values. And it was time to determine what I needed to do - to recreate myself and prepare for a new phase of life.

why this job?|

why I love this job!| Many of my clients seek my services because they are feeling lost, stuck or frustrated with their career path. It is an amazing feeling to be able to help people explore and define their options and then define a new path that they can pursue with passion. As a career coach I believe I empower others to reject self-doubt and irrational fears, seek out opportunities for growth and begin to shape their future.

my typical day|

what they are | Career coaching requires a committment on the part of the client to "do the work" and be actively engaged in the process. Some people want quick answers or they want to complete a majical career test that will give them the missing piece to the puzzle - but it just doesn't work that way. Through assessment, introspection, engagement, creativity, brainstorming, dialogue, active listening and a focus on what is possible and achievable - coaching leads to results!

all about growth | Like me, many people enter coaching as a second career. They use their skills, strengths and career accomplishments and a foundation to pursue new credentials in the field of coaching. Coaching offers the opportunity to build your own business, pursue a specialty area of interest, enjoy a flexible work schedule...and have a truly beneficial impact on peoples' lives.

my website| http://www.exploretworoads.com