My Path To Coaching
I spent the first 21 years of my professional life in education (higher education and independent schools in Vermont, California, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Virginia). It was while writing my thesis and working in higher education that, unbeknownst to me, my path to coaching began.
I learned that for transformation to take root, you must meet a person where they are. It became abundantly clear to me that we all need a champion- someone who believes in us until we believe in ourselves. Someone who calls us to the HIGHEST and BEST version of who we are meant to be.
When we are fortunate enough to have someone hold space for exploration and reflection, our lives change.
Our perspectives broaden.
Our purpose becomes known to us.
Our sense of self strengthens.
Our deepest desires become clear.
Our mindset shifts.
We become a force in ALL areas of our lives.
~ ~ The Turning Point ~ ~
It took me until my early 30's to feel comfortable in my skin and confident in my abilities. On the outside, it looked as though I had everything together. On the inside, it was an entirely different story complete with self-doubt and comparisons to others.
My life was out of balance and WILDLY out of alignment. I consistently put the needs and wants of others before my own. Early messages about not being enough were alive and well, so I overcompensated in my professional life. In my mind, if I excelled at work, it would fill the empty well of feeling unworthy, invisible, and "less than."
My solution was to put in long hours, tether my phone to my body so I was "available," show up when I was sick, and hoard vacation time.
These choices created fertile ground for resentment to grow. I didn't like the person I was becoming, yet had NO idea what to do about it. I knew how to neglect myself. What I needed to learn how to do was HONOR myself.
I needed personal coaching to help identify the places where I was stuck, the mindset that kept me playing small, and ways to take meaningful action.
What I couldn't see or recognize was that I needed to take as good of care of myself as I was of others. Once I made that connection and took it in, my entire life changed. How I saw myself changed as well as the actions I took. I had boundless energy, greater empathy, and more compassion to offer to friends, family, students, and colleagues.
~ ~ The Essence of Coaching ~ ~
The privilege to work with and walk alongside those courageous enough to navigate their inner landscape - to dig into those places where we believe we are not enough, broken, incomplete or a failure is what inspired me to do this work.
As a burnout prevention coach I offer my clients what I needed- a place to process, space to reflect, accountability, someone to help me identify patterns that kept me stuck.
What I learned along the way is:
- time invested in ourselves is priceless & selfless- when we nourish ourselves, we are better equipped to care for and serve others
- it takes MASSIVE courage to ask for support & guidance
- through connection, we inspire one another to step beyond what we know and where we're comfortable into the places where we achieve things we never thought possible
- when we are in a community with others, our strength and resilience skyrocket
- we are all works in progress.
Haven’t you had enough advice?
If it's time to take action and leave the stress, resentment, and self-doubt behind, let's talk.
Coaching is about having a truth-telling champion who walks alongside you as you learn to position yourself for success.
If you are ready to do the work (slow down & look inside) to create the life you desire, reach out TODAY!
Testimonials
"If you are looking for run-of-the-mill coaching programs, Root to Rise Coaching is not for you. Nicole's services are far from ordinary and cookie-cutter. She mindfully- and creatively-tailors her services to ensure that each client's needs are attended to and integral to the respective coaching services she develops and provides. Nicole is empathetic and focused; organized and prepared; creative and resourceful; warm and fun. Moreover, her coaching work with me adeptly balanced support with challenge and consistently came from a place of genuine respect. In my work with Root to Rise Coaching in 2019, I found Nicole's professional coaching services to be outstanding and I wholeheartedly recommend them."
- Steve, Hawaii
"As I woman with disabilities, Nicole has given me the tools and strategies to “take what life has dealt me” and guided me into optimizing my potential and seeing new ways of doing things. Often, when looking for ways to better our lives, we want a life coach or even a psychologist to take a magic wand and make our problems, issues, etc., disappear without doing the necessary inner work to make it happen. If that is what you are looking for, Root to Rise Coaching is not for you, and you will be severely disappointed. But on the other end of the spectrum, I truly appreciate Nicole’s guidance in making my life, as is, be seen and experienced more positively through different lenses. So thankful!"
- Angela, Virginia
"In working with Nicole the most significant overall change in my life is more confidence in myself and letting go of the guilt for investing time in ME!! I discovered a new feeling of peace and center within myself that allows me to enjoy every day for the beauty there is and to overcome obstacles that in the past would have thrown me into a tailspin. Nicole is calm, confident, energetic, vibrant, and passionate about this program and this comes through to her clients. In both group and private sessions, she engages her clients, creates a trusting relationship, and makes you feel at ease to share successes and struggles. If you're looking for an inspiring coach to get you started on a healthier lifestyle, I recommend Nicole. "
- Lisa, Minnesota
" Working with a coach helped me to discover things that I wanted to incorporate back into my life. The accountability and encouragement guided me through little decisions that culminated in major life changes. It has addressed both my mind and my body and linked me back to my adventurous spirit. I am working out regularly now, self-driven, inspired by my own experiences that Nicole’s process unleashed in me. Nicole was great at meeting me where I was, understanding the struggle and challenges of change, encouraging me in the processes, and celebrating the final result."
- Dave, Virginia
"When I began my 90-day session with Nicole I was not sure if I needed a health and wellness coach. I ended up with a life-changing experience. We met weekly over the telephone and in that short amount of time, the light was shed in places I didn't even know was dark. I have developed new thought patterns and healthy habits."
- Amy, Virginia
"Nicole worked with me on an elimination cleanse right before Christmas. Before you think how crazy is this chick, let me just say that the timing truly helped me to keep any chance of holiday overindulging at bay! I chose to eliminate gluten and cheese from my diet during Nicole's 14-day program. Both of which have been binge-triggers for such a long time. To my surprise, I found the program wasn't all that hard to follow, and I actually enjoyed looking for great-tasting, better for me alternatives so much it wasn't a chore. Nicole encouraged me to get curious about trying new things, getting creative with meal planning, so as not to revert to old behaviors of grabbing what's convenient but doesn't make me feel so great. She also encouraged me to be sure and set time aside every day to take care of me and my needs. I would highly recommend Nicole to anyone looking for guidance and health coaching. She was wonderful to talk to and her voice was so soothing, I found myself really looking forward to our coaching calls to reflect on the previous week and plan for the next one."
- Yamille, Virginia
Certifications
