MEET MERRIDITH

I am a Life Coach and an End of Life Coach. I do not serve as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist and therefore do not diagnose mental health conditions or provide medical treatment plans. I am also not your first call for a mental health emergency.

Transparently, I dedicated 20+ years to talk therapy. It helped me understand myself a bit better, but it never helped me arrive at a plan for change. In truth, I made my biggest, most meaningful, and most enduring gains with the help of a skilled and insightful life coach.

So what is the difference? In general, therapists may focus on in-depth exploration of the past, while life and end of life coaches typically prioritize future goals, practical strategies, and present concerns. Many coaches exclusively concentrate on career-related objectives.

My approach is a bit different, however. To create a strong plan for the future, it can be useful to TRULY get to know yourself AND to look at, understand, and sometimes rethink key past experiences to get there. Doing so will help you recognize, examine, and perhaps modify deeply rooted ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that may block you from achieving your goals. In short, my practice incorporates both past and present making it possible for my clients to build more viable, effective, and sustainable plans for life ahead than they would if they only looked to the future.

Should you retain me for end of life coaching, the focus will largely be on the present and future, although many clients find value processing past experiences as they work to find peace in the present.

As a trained trauma-informed internal family systems life and end of life coach, I support clients facing many challenges including, but not limited to, the following:

• Addressing trauma, PTSD, and C-PTSD

• Healing from childhood or adult abuse/neglect

• Repairing primary relationship difficulties and/or healing from relationship loss or betrayal

• Contemplating, preparing for, and/or moving through divorce/uncoupling

• Initiating or coping with parent or child estrangement

• Preparing for and navigating the death and dying process

• Coping with grief and finding meaning after loss

• Addressing relationship attachment styles and establishing healthy polarity

• Developing healthy parenting and coparenting strategies and habits

• Strengthening healthy communication and conflict management

• Pursuing strategic life planning and managing significant change

I hold certificates with the Internal Family Systems Institute and the International End of Life Doula Association (see FAQs for understanding re: doulas). Further, I have training in relationship polarity, attunement, appreciative inquiry, trauma-informed care, crisis communication and management, diversity, equity, inclusion, and more.

I am also an active hospice companionship and vigil volunteer.

Before becoming a coach, I served 20+ years in human service nonprofits, including 3+ years as a COO and 6+ years as a founding CEO. Prior to joining the nonprofit field, I served as an adjunct professor and residence life professional. In short, I have dedicated my life to helping adults and youth in need. I hold a master’s degree in literature, which, if nothing else, exemplifies my commitment to understanding diverse human experiences, exploring new and different ways of thinking, and wide use of metaphor!

My coaching practice is inclusive, interfaith (atheists, agnostics, humanists, etc. welcome too), sex-positive, and consent driven.

Lastly, should your needs ever exceed my expertise, I promise to let you know and provide you with information about additional or alternative supports. In short, your wellbeing will always be our top priority.

I am a human just like YOU. My clients often call me MC or Merr. Some affectionately refer to me as the best kick in the pants they ever paid for, and some even call me the compassionate “big sister” and mentor they’ve always needed. All acknowledge my curiosity, authenticity, vulnerability, and commitment to walking the talk.

Accordingly, I strive to be wide open about my personal journey in all its agony and ecstasy. Here are some key highlights:

• I am a proud cycle of abuse breaking mother to a wonderful ‘tween, canine fur baby, and 50+ houseplants

• Each day, I am grateful to contribute to a long-term romantic partnership in a blended family

• I have done my own hard work to heal from abuse(s), burnout, and loss of self

• I am no stranger to change or what it takes to begin anew

• I am twice divorced and AT LEAST twice as wise

• I was a single mom for close to a decade, and I still coparent

• I know familial estrangement

• I was a military brat, moved cities 12 times, attended 11 schools before high school graduation, and lived in 7 different states and abroad

• I am passionate about lifelong learning and exploring best practices in relationships, psychology, spirituality, health, wellness, end of life care, and more

• I will never ask my clients to do something I would not do or have not done myself

• I have an ever-expanding hobby set including travel, spontaneous dance parties, great film and music, reading, cooking, hiking, scuba diving, and yoga

All this said, our work together will truly be about YOU and YOUR unique journey. Thanks for reading!