What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

Currently, Thursday has lots of variety. My schedule changes frequently due to different groups, workshops and speaking engagements.

6:30am Check e-mails
7am Take my dog Bennie for a walk
7:30am 20-30 minute morning pages journaling
8am Shower/Breakfast/Preparation for group
9am – 1pm Facilitate Healing Journey Group at Wellspring
1-2pm Lunch/Walk Bennie/Check e-mail/Return calls
2:30-3:30 See client
4-5 See client
5-6 Dinner/Walk Bennie/Check E-mails/Return calls
6:30 – 8 Facilitate “Getting To Know Yourself Inside Out” at Sheena’s Place
8pm on… RELAX (depending on night-hang out with friends, read, write, yoga)
11pm – Walk Bennie

BED

What was your first job out of school?

I worked for an employment agency as a Recruitment Consultant. I learned lots about the job market and met some really cool/interesting people. Loved the interviewing and learning about people aspect.

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

1. Confidence

2. Listening skills. Being very present with each client. Empathy, Compassion, Acceptance.

3. Passion

When I first went back to school, I thought I was going to help others and didn’t need any help myself. I quickly learned that you first must take care of and work on yourself before you can fully be there for others. The more you give, know, love, accept and be yourself, the more you can give and be there for others.

What do you love most about your career?

Being able to witness life changing transformations and watching people grow and evolve. I get to meet so many amazing people. I also love the diverse aspects of my work (facilitating groups, workshops, speaking engagements, seeing one on one clients, writing.)

Do you have any warnings?

You must practice really great self care and fill yourself up, otherwise you will burn out.

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

Talk show host.

What made you decide to make such a drastic career change? How difficult was it to do so?

In the beginning of my career, I worked in corporate positions in sales and training related capacities. I felt like something was missing in my life and I was miserable with what I was doing. I felt there was more to life and I always wanted to help people in some type of capacity. It was scary and uncomfortable in the beginning because I went from having a full on career to going back to school, making no money and not knowing what the future held for me. On the flip side, I was relieved and excited about all the future possibilities. I was finally doing something I wanted to and I felt alive.

How does a life coach differ from a family therapist?

The simplest way to describe the difference between a life coach and a therapist is that a life coach focuses more on the present and future than the past. Typically, a therapist focuses more on the present and past.

A coach will work with you to help you identify where you are now, and where you want to be in the future. Through coaching clients identify what is most important to them and align their thoughts, words and actions, accordingly. A coach will work with you to identify what you want personally and professionally, and support you in achieving a life that you really want. You will gain clarity on your values and beliefs and find meaning, purpose and direction in your life. This will assist you in making more meaningful choices and taking consistent action. Whether you want help with achieving a specific goal, finding a career direction, support through a transition, more clarity and focus, help with a relationship or more self-awareness, a life coach can help you get there faster and help you unleash your own greatness.

Each individual life coach or therapist is unique in their own way. It is important that you find one who you connect and feel comfortable and confident and safe with. The most important thing in a coaching relationship is that your coach is right for you.

What made you to decide to specialize in eating disorders?

I struggled with an eating disorder for many years and was able to overcome it. I wanted to pass on all the tools that I learned along the way and help people overcome theirs. When you have an eating disorder, it feels like there is no way out – I wanted to give people hope, possibility and inspiration.

What makes some women more susceptible to eating disorders over others? What are the triggers?

An eating disorder is a mental illness with emotional and psychological components. People who develop eating disorders often have: low self-esteem, negative body image, perfectionistic thinking, negative thoughts about their abilities, appearance and worth and a feeling of little control over their lives. 30% of people with eating disorders have been sexually abused. Studies have also shown that they may even be genetic.

Some influences of an eating disorder are: media, self-esteem and body image, culture, dieting and weightism.

Eating disorders are very serious and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. 15% of people with anorexia die from problems directly related to their illness

We know terms like bulimia and anorexia – but are there eating disorders that fall outside this terminology?

Yes, there are. There are 2 other categories that are clinically recognized; Binge Eating Disorder and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. There are other types that are not clinically recognized, for example, Anorexia Athletica (Compulsive Exercising), Orthorexia (“Correct” eating disorder), Night-Eating Syndrome and others. If you are interested in learning more, please see the National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC) website http://www.nedic.ca. You can find lots of information about eating disorders here and definitions of the types.