coCreating Learning & Growth Experiences

About Me

I stumbled upon autoethnography while researching healing ancestral trauma. Understanding my own life experiences through researching what had happened to the family members of long ago helped me see how their lives and mine were shaped by events, places, and sensibilities. The impact of social forces beyond our control was laid bare. It was… a lot. A lot of information, feelings, and ideas. I needed a way to process and make sense of the vast and varied information.

Images, sculptures, paintings, songs, movements, and poems came pouring out of me. Critically examining these research artifacts, I learned quite a bit about my own experiences. And how I’ve felt about them. Making note of what feelings came up while creating the artifacts, and examining them afterward, I saw patterns. Patterns in materials, lighting, subjects, and use of words. Patterns that reflected how I’ve interpreted the experience of learning and what had the most impact on me.

I began wondering… what if this creative output, this artwork, had more to teach me? About my self. What could I learn about how I have come to be through taking pictures, working with clay, painting, drawing, suspending things in resin, writing…? Could I bring what is me out into the light? Yes, yes I can.

By engaging my whole body, creatively, in this process I’ve found a way to separate what is uniquely me from what had been internalized and masquerading as me. Feelings, ideas, beliefs, and behaviors that I had adopted to belong became visible. Information about where that came from, why, and how I’ve responded became tangible, real. I could look, touch, move and hold the physicality of the impact of social forces on my family… on me. And free what my body has been holding onto… through creative expression. I was able to make sense of the mess and actively choose my path foward. It was and still is, incredibly clarifying and liberating. And in truth, a journey.

Could I help others to similarly (re) claim themselves? Yes. Being self-directed and choosing the support I needed, when I needed, and how I needed through this process has been as essential. I’ve had amazing people walk with me on this journey of (re)claiming my self. This is what I offer. A guide through your self-discovery process and a mentor along your self-directed journey. Our sessions will be what you need them to be, with my experience and expertise on offer if and how you need.

In addition to earning a Master’s in Fine Arts and a Life Coaching Certification, I have been mentoring and coaching people through learning and growth journeys for 15+ years. Whether at the start, in the middle, or the end of a life transition you can count on me to listen and offer concrete ideas to help you learn, grow, and move forward.

I look forward to meeting you.