You're not alone.
I am a licensed, Registered Nurse; trained and certified to practice as a Life and Health and Wellness Coach. I also have an MA in Architecture and Design. I have been in your shoes; struggling, confused, and uncertain about how I arrived at the place I was in my life.
I myself hired a life coach. The work I engaged in during this process was intense, at times difficult to acknowledge, and sometimes painful to accept. Through this process, I recognized I need to “fix” situational things as a healer. Life is full of situational things that present barriers and happen all around us, alongside trying to determine our path and make informed, intentional decisions to determine our responses to events that occur along this journey. Learning not to focus on the things that happen by chance and spend energy on the things outside of my control was a challenge but necessary and liberating. Acting on our own behalf is a health choice whether it is about our physical or mental status.
Before I began my experience with Nurse/Life coaching, I had all kinds of ideas in my head regarding my journey through my nursing career as well just life in general; but I had no idea, nor the courage how to put these ideas into action. I really lacked direction regarding my nursing career or even if I wanted to be a nurse at all. The Nurse/Life coaching experience helped me to really introspect and dive deeper into why I felt so lost, to explore my commitment to being a nurse even. I think what I liked most about the coaching experience was that I was given a safe space to confront, reflect and challenge some things I did not want to face or consider, yet processing “my stuff” was/is so important in order for me to move forward; this experience definitely benefited me to discover how to begin to truly sort out my life. From this experience, I believe I have discovered an ability to drive my life and my nursing career as well just become a more independent woman. I now know I have the courage to move forward with active exploration to guide my journey for discovery. After completing my experience with Shelley, I would definitely recommend working with Shelley to anyone who is feeling lost in their career or life; life is too short and there are so many different options that can help a person love what they do and life. It is important for our own well-being and mental health that we each take the time for ourselves to dive deep and discover what we love to do that can support us financially while allowing us to achieve our dreams; supporting me to be my best AND live my best!
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ABOUT
Sometimes things aren’t always as they seem and together we can explore a new perspective and new insights. You are not alone. Inside our collaborative partnership, I will walk alongside you to guide and support you to live your best life.
My Ongoing Story
During the pandemic, I was furloughed from my job. What? But I’m a nurse and we are in a pandemic! This was a crisis time for me and I felt my life was spinning out of control with no way for course correction. Like so many people experienced during the pandemic, it was obvious to me that I needed to do some serious re-evaluation of my life. I recognized I was completely burned out practicing traditional nursing for decades in an extremely increasingly complex and vulnerable environment. I decided to invest in myself and I hired a life coach. This experience was a turning point for me. The work I did for myself was profound. I listened to my heart and quieted my mind to close out the external influences, noise, distractions, and expectations that negatively impacted my life to discover my path forward.
With the recommendation and encouragement of my life coach, I decided to invest further in myself and pursue obtaining my certification as a Nurse Coach; this umbrella includes continuing to serve others as a Nurse by providing services for Life Coaching and Health and Wellness Coaching. I want to help people be better in their daily lives. I believe I can be more effective in helping people live healthier lives before or after they arrive at a need for acute care health management to make sustainable changes and encourage a whole person-centered approach to self-care.
I believe my purpose is to guide and support people through challenging journeys, educate them on better health and wellness practices, enhance function, maintain accountability, and walk with them to commit to significant changes toward the life they always wanted.
My focus in coaching practice is on career burnout and improvement in daily life. This means not only spotlighting the consideration of a new career path but also examining self-care, recognizing a need to achieve and sustain change, learning a propensity to self-heal and make healthful choices, discover what makes you find joy and peace, and finding a work-life balance.
We are so much more than what we do for a living.
My Background
I am a BSN-trained and licensed Nurse. I’ve practiced for many years, at several healthcare entities in both inpatient and outpatient settings as well as management/ administrative positions, in several states, and in several different areas of nursing practice. I have engaged with thousands of people in my career as patients, families, friends of families/patients, and colleagues, from all diverse cultural groups and countries. I have worked across the age spectrum from newborns to centenarians and participated in too many collaborative care provider teams and volunteer practice committees to count.
In addition to my nursing education, I’ve achieved an MA in Architecture and Design. My focus in design is universal design and ADA practices. My research thesis targeted ways to keep aging individuals living independently and actively functioning in the community for as long as possible. I was honored to present my thesis at an international aging conference at UC Berkley. This focus is how I ended up practicing in Orthopedics for many years; as people transition back to their homes and can manipulate a sustainable safe environment.
My Practice Philosophy
I am a lifelong learner. I seek accurate, evidenced-based, scientific, and factual knowledge that is ever-evolving coupled with creativity to “think outside the box” to problem-solve solutions to improve the lives of others. I believe you are the expert in your own life.
My Values
I greatly value health and wellness, social relationships, personal spirituality, education, lifelong learning, environmental championship, and community activism. I believe that we are each given a gift of one life and need to design the lifestyle we want to live to fulfill our purpose.
My Beliefs
I do not believe a person can recover from burnout and/or actively improve their daily life simply by taking a pill. I believe real improvement toward the life you want to live requires courage and self-investment. Examination must come from within, with deep introspection to seek truth, relief, peace, joy, and connection to others, to problem-solve and construct self-determined, intentional, goal-oriented plans and self-dedication to activate those plans. I believe every person deserves to feel relevant, and that what they offer is essential to the greater good of humanity. I believe that what we focus on grows. I believe in kindness, respect, curiosity, courage, and much more.
I am not a therapist and DO NOT diagnose or treat mental health disorders. I do not offer psychotherapy or prescribe/monitor medications. While examining the past to understand the present is valid, that is not the focus of this relationship; together we focus on moving forward. If during our coaching container, we recognize other professional services are needed, I will make referrals as appropriate as coaching is not mutually exclusive. In some cases, a combination of engaging other providers can be a beneficial and comprehensive approach to overcoming life challenges/burnout to navigate the path to recovery, rebuild resilience, and restore your overall well-being. Life offers each of us many challenges; it is through our responses to these changes that reveals our true self. Life isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.