Meet

Melissa

Hi, I am a certified professional coach and certified divorce specialist with a background in healthcare and management.  Perhaps most relevant of all, I am a single mom to three daughters and a recovering “glass half-empty thinker.”


The transformation of coaching


It was during my own divorce that I took a step back and examined how I approach life.  I had spent 40 years with a “should have, could have, would have” attitude, that, if left unmanaged, would bleed into the next 40 years particularly in the wake of divorce.  Refusing to be a victim and determined to be an example to my daughters,  I sought out all avenues of expertise and guidance.  This is how I discovered the field of coaching. 

Through work in private and group coaching programs noticeable - and long overdue- shifts started happening in the way I think:

  • I began to critically examine my thoughts, especially ones that set me back, not necessarily taking them at face value  

  • Instead of being a victim to my circumstances, I began to accept responsibility for my choices and considered what the lessons learned could be

  • The concept of radical acceptance finally resonated with me, and I began to obsess less about what I could not control and more about what I could

  • My tendency to ruminate over the past was replaced with ways I could learn, uplevel and improve in the future

  • Mindfulness and meditation became integral to my self-care regime which improved my parenting and communication in general

  • The future as a single mother started to look less bleak and more fulfilling, peaceful and exciting


If someone had told me that I was capable of such growth during a divorce, I would have been incredulous. Simply put, I realized that just like my physical health needs maintenance and coaching, my brain did too.  The truth is divorce is fertile ground for anyone who is ready for a restart and do-over.  The changes I made and my personal growth is available to anyone willing to do the work. I found coaching and neuro-linguistic programming to be the most helpful of all the services I engaged during my divorce and beyond.

Divorce healing after coaching

“I believe everyone deserves the opportunity

to turn their divorce into something meaningful”


An education and background that complement my coaching

My specific education and credentials are listed below but it dawned on me that, given my background in healthcare management and my passion for understanding how neurobiology drives our behavior, I was well-suited for coaching.  Anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves a coach, it is a largely unregulated and inflated industry, but a necessary one nonetheless.  I enrolled in a training program accredited by the International Coaching Federation and spent hundreds of hours studying, perfecting and personalizing my style as a coach.

My approach marries a background in management, a passion for understanding how the brain drives our behavior and my own personal experience surviving and thriving after a divorce.   I don’t believe clients should have to work with me for an extended period of time.  If I do my job well, the tools that I teach you as a client in the midst of divorce, can be applied to life going forward.  If these tools can support a client through what is infamously referred to as the most stressful life circumstances, second only to death of a loved one, then my clients are more than equipped for what the future brings. 

A commitment to learning

I take great pride in my work and consider continuing education very important in keeping my skills relevant and effective.  More importantly, I absolutely love learning about the human experience and how we can better manage our thoughts to drive positive changes, especially when faced with a “rock bottom” situation such as divorce.  There is quite possibly nothing more rewarding than watching a client transform under my watch.  The only thing better is knowing that, if there are children involved, they will reap the benefits of a healthier parent that is ready to thrive after divorce. 

Education and Qualifications

  • Certified Divorce Specialist

  • ICF Associate Certified Coach

  • Evidence-Based Parenting Certified, Mental Health Academy

  • NLP Practitioner

  • Master of Healthcare Administration - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Bachelor of Science, Honors in Biology - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill