About me, professionally

Being a coach feels like a natural outcome of my life so far. I have not always been in this profession, having also worked in business and high-tech. Even in those professions, I had a certain psychological perspective that added greater context to my work. For example, as a Certified Public Accountant, I was fascinated by the different ways people reacted to financial information. As I became increasingly interested in why people behave the way they do, I found myself on a parallel path of self-discovery.

Early in my life, I studied philosophy, Western psychology, and business at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Later, I delved into Eastern practices, such as yoga, tai chi, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines. These pursuits ultimately led me to Naropa University, where I trained as a contemplative psychotherapist and learned to integrate mindfulness practices with Western and Eastern psychology. More recently I studied Applied Psychophysiology and completed a graduate level coaching program. Now, as a coach, I integrate all these perspectives for the sake of helping others tap into their own wisdom.

About me, personally

People say I am good-natured and easy to connect with. I have a broad knowledge base and an open mind. I have a passion for staying abreast of current events and love discussing different points of view. There’s a lot to investigate and digest in this troubled but beautiful world.

I tend to be independent-minded and enjoy thinking outside the box to discover new and effective ways of looking at things and solving problems. This trait frequently shows up as a friendly curiosity.

My personality will obviously show up in sessions with you, too. I am truly interested in you as a unique human being and the challenges you’re facing. It is my conviction that everything is workable. I tend to be thorough in my approach. My orientation is constantly evolving as I read, study and consult. As you and I work together, our understanding of your issues will likely evolve as well.

It is my sincere wish that you, as my client, can also develop this friendly and curious attitude towards your inner world of thoughts and feelings so that you may explore—without defense—and uncover your personal wisdom. I will likely be modeling this orientation for you. Part of my job is to hold space and create psychological safety while you and I notice and track what arises in our work together. Sessions can feel like a walk in the park; we stroll together while commenting on the trees and animals along the way. We open up to what’s happening around and within us.

Academic credentials

In addition to studies in psychology, applied psychophysiology, and evidence-based coaching, business credentials are included below to represent a range of life experiences that can be a resource in sessions:

  • Doctoral Level Certificate Studies in Evidence-Based Coaching, Fielding Graduate University
  • Doctoral Level Studies in Applied Psychophysiology, Saybrook University
  • Doctoral Level Clinical Psychology Certificate, Fielding Graduate University
  • Master of Arts in Contemplative Psychotherapy, Naropa University
  • Graduate Level Counseling Training, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology
  • Master of Science in Accounting, University of Virginia
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Virginia

Current business

  • Private Practice, Great Eastern Sun, LLC (www.greateasternsuncounseling.com) in Idaho: Nov 2014 to present, specializing in processing and integrating challenging life experiences, first as a psychotherapist and now as a coach.

Past business experience

  • Business Analyst, Micron Technology, Boise: Nov 2005 to July 2010. Supported information systems design, construction, and implementation in a high-performance team environment.
  • Project Accountant, DDC, LLC (a design-build firm), Pocatello: May 2003 to Nov 2005: Provided accounting, administration, and disbursements to support construction contracts.
  • Business Analyst, Intel Corporation, Salt Lake City and Santa Clara: Dec 1996 to Sept 2001: Supported information systems design, construction, and implementation in a high-performance team environment.
  • Other positions held: Certified Public Accountant (Coopers & Lybrand), Corporate Accountant, Assistant Controller

Certificates

  • Certified Mindfulness Instructor, through Naropa University
  • Certified Public Accountant, through the State of Oregon. License is in inactive status.

Let’s get started

Contact me at 208.417-2062 to learn more about what I can offer. I can provide a half-hour phone consultation (no charge) to assist you in exploring your options.