More Than a Job Title: My Journey to Career Coaching

If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re in the middle of some kind of shift. Maybe you’re stuck, in transition, or just wanting more from your work or your life. If so, you're in the right place. I’ve been there too.

When I first began my career as a counselor, what fascinated me most was how deeply our mental health is intertwined with our work. I found myself especially drawn to those uncertain, in-between spaces like graduation, moves, job changes, and evolving relationships. The times when everything feels a little unsteady… but also full of possibility.

One of those moments came for me right after I earned my doctorate. On paper, everything looked great: I had a degree I’d worked hard for, a role lined up that checked all the boxes, and every reason to feel accomplished. But instead, I felt... disconnected. Like something important was missing, even if I couldn’t name it yet.

I remember being in Red Rocks, Colorado. Not just passing through, but intentionally taking time to hike and reset. The views were breathtaking, the kind that make you stop and just be. And yet, there I was, pulling out my phone to check work emails. Not because anything urgent was happening, but because I didn’t know how to let stillness be enough. That was my moment of clarity.

If I couldn’t be fully present in a place like that, I knew something had to shift.

I’ve always been someone who dives headfirst into challenges, whether that’s a new academic path, creative project, or teaching role. I love work that stretches me. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of who I was outside of my achievements. And that’s when burnout started to show up, not in dramatic ways, but as a quiet sense of depletion that was hard to shake.

For some, burnout feels like constant exhaustion. For others, it’s the fear of slowing down or changing course because it feels risky or unclear. For me, it was realizing I had built a life that didn’t leave enough room for joy, or rest, or simple curiosity. I hear versions of this all the time from clients.

That was when I turned inward and started asking harder questions: What actually fills me up? What’s just noise? What kind of life do I want to build on my terms?

It wasn’t a quick fix. But it changed everything.

I began reconnecting with community. I picked up hobbies that had nothing to do with my resume. I started viewing wellbeing as something integrated and whole, not another checkbox to complete. And slowly, I found my way back to a version of work and life that felt like me again.

These days, I’m still a coach and counselor, but that’s just one part of who I am. I’m also a group fitness instructor, a solo traveler, a dog rescue volunteer, someone who loves dessert, and fiercely protects her quiet time. My life isn’t perfect (whose is?), and there are still areas that need care. But I know who I am beyond my job title. And that changes everything.

So if you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or simply wondering if there's something more out there for you, know this: you don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether you're feeling burnt out, questioning your direction, or ready to reconnect with what makes you feel most alive, I’d be honored to walk with you through it.

You are so much more than your job. Let’s discover what that really means together.