How I Got Here
A while back I got lost. I got lost in being all the things I “should” be. It became my entire focus and existence, and I always felt like I wasn't doing it right and I wasn't enough. I was locked in a struggle with myself, and I couldn't find a way out.
Then I had an experience that led me into myself. This is something I had always avoided, as I thought inside was where only the ``ugly`` parts lived. Instead, it opened a brand new world to me, one where I discovered the pieces of me that were uniquely amazing and strong.
Not only did I meet a me that I truly loved, I was no longer run by the patterns that had determined my future for so long, and a ripple effect of positive change was created throughout my life and relationships.
After discovering myself, I knew I had to help others experience the same evolution and I became a coach. With my background as a physical therapist, I wanted to be well-versed in the science of coaching, so I trained in the neuroscience of behavior change and mind-body psychology at Duke Integrative Medicine to become a Certified Integrative Health Coach. I also became enthralled with the effects of breath work, meditation, and mindfulness and have studied Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at Duke, Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Max Strom's Breathe to Heal program, Wisdom of the Whole’s Integrative Imagery program, and at The Art of Living Center. I continue to gain new experiences to share with my clients and evolve my practices daily and I’m always excited to see where the next step of my journey leads.
How I discovered joy, meaning, and self-confidence
My Background
I used to joke that my perfect job would be to meet girlfriends for coffee and help them with their lives. At the time I was actually a pediatric physical therapist and worked with newborns and their families after they left the NICU, but on the side, I coached high school swimming, which was my favorite job ever. I loved helping my swimmers break through their barriers and realize how amazing they were, in and out of the pool.
After lots of life, I discovered coaching for myself. Coaching helped me put ME back into my life as well as joy, peace, and order.
“I wholeheartedly recommend Jen for coaching if you're looking for a source to help guide your life's journey through more than traditional talk therapy. What I love about Jen's coaching is that she walks alongside you so you begin to trust yourself and empowers you to seek what answers/direction you may be looking for within yourself. Her guided meditation and internal breath work has been something I've been able to use in my everyday life to have a clearer mind and conscience.”
~ Janna
“Jen has been a critical source of guidance and support for me as I move through a major transition in my life and open to new horizons. Her intelligence, dedication, superlative skills, and good humor have all combined into a prodigious force for good in my life. I feel so very grateful to have located her. I recommend her services unconditionally and with the greatest possible enthusiasm to anyone seeking greater clarity and greater fulfillment in their lives.”
~ Roger
“The time I spent with Jen was beyond fruitful for me. Her simplistic, yet deep & purposeful, style of coaching prompted me to reflect, realize, and think in ways that I was in need of doing for myself. Jen is both professional and approachable all in one. I spent a little over a year in coaching sessions with her, and I'm so grateful that I did! I truly know that I would not be in the comfortable space with myself that I am today without her professional coaching.”
~ Beth
Why I Coach
I know far too many people who are secretly struggling inside. They might smile on the outside and look fabulous on social media, but inside they don’t feel like the person the outside world sees. Not only do these struggles eat away at them, but they also infect the rest of their lives.
I’ve “been there, done that” and found a way out. Now it’s my mission to help others, so they can truly experience the amazing person they are meant to be.
My gift is in finding the underlying places that are keeping you stuck. We bring light to these places and help guide you to move beyond them, so you can live beyond the struggle.
Learn more about Coaching.
“How Jen does her work is a mystery to me. I started meeting with her because I was stuck, frustrated, confused, and exhausted. Each week that I met with her, I found myself leaving with a little more clarity, a little more direction, and less confusion and frustration. She quickly earned my trust by providing a safe space full of openness and so much kindness, and even though I had none, she had confidence in my ability to find my way, with her help, through the murky waters of self-discovery.
Where I am now compared to where I was is just astounding. For the first time in a long time I feel hopeful, at peace, energized, and I have a sense of direction. I'm discovering what "intuition" actually feels like and I'm learning to trust that I know what I need! I'm not done yet.... but my journey has been so rewarding so far that I can clearly see the invaluable necessity of continuing. Jen is the most skilled of guides and she is a gift! No matter if you just want to squeeze more out of life or you're seriously at your wit's end - Jen wholeheartedly accepts you where you are, grabs your hand and says, "Come on! You can do this and I'm coming along for the ride!"
~ Anna
What I Love
I am driven by true connection. A lover of sunshine, nature, travel, yoga, family, and dear friends, I am focused on becoming the best version of myself and I love seeing the ripple effect that it has on every aspect of my life.
I am a mom to two awesomely unique, creative kids, an 8-pound Maltipoo who runs the house, and a wife to a big-hearted medical-tech husband. I have now returned “home” to beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina after 26 moves throughout the US and I can’t wait to see what’s next!