my coaching philosophy
The ten years I spent training with my mentor, motivational speaker and author Gabrielle Bernstein changed my life.
In 2008, I was in my early twenties and fresh off a breakup. I spent most of my time feeling sad or hiding in my apartment, cut off from the world. When I started working with Gabby, I discovered that life didn’t have to be this way. I didn’t have to feel bad for myself. I had an opportunity. I could create a new reality.
With Gabby’s help, I learned basic principles that would alter how I chose to live each day.
Happiness is a choice.
A miracle is a shift in perception.
We can choose our thoughts, our language, and our actions.
We can co-create with the universe.
Yes, I had been dumped, it was hard, and I could be sad about it, but I also had choices. I could see opportunity in the obstacle, start planning my day, start meditating, being proactive about doing things that would make me feel better.
Over time, I learned that the key to experiencing joy is to look inward. I needed to focus on me, exploring what made me happy, discovering my priorities, and what I wanted out of life.
I was in awe of how empowering this work was and of what coaching could do. I spent years seeing a therapist, but nothing had made a difference like this. To deepen my training, I completed Gabby’s Spirit Junkie Master Class levels 1 and 2. Then, I pursued my own coaching certification through New York University’s School of Professional Studies. During this whole time, I was also working extensively with kids and parents as a private tutor.
When I graduated from my coaching certification program, I was nine months pregnant with my twins. That was how ready I was to take my training out into the world.
Now, as a coach who specializes in working with parents, I channel my experience, education, empathy, and intuition to lead clients to experience genuine self-acceptance, presence, and happiness when facing the challenges of parenthood.
When I became a parent, this approach was life-altering for me. I know it will be for you, too.
"When I met Joanna, I was floundering. She helped me to realize what I truly wanted for the future, and I was able to exit a relationship feeling as if I had taken a stand for myself. She was fundamental in guiding me through the healing process (which was a lot shorter than I thought it would be, given my newfound clarity!) I literally can't imagine having navigated the toughest months of my life without her."
-Gillian K.
