Life coaching as a concept can traced back to the 1970s, and summarized with the following quote from Timothy Gallwey’s 1974 book, The Inner Game of Tennis:

“The thoughts, feelings, and motivations within us may be invisible, even to ourselves, but have great impact on how we see ourselves, the choices we make, and how we see and treat others, which in turn create much of the external conditions in which we live.”

This quote refers to how coaching reflects a client’s internal processes and mindset and provides a framework to support moving them externally toward desired changes.

Coaching was further cultivated into a profession in the 1970s by Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott, known as “The Mother of Coaching,” who established the first coach training organization called the MMS Institute. Then by Sir John Whitmore in the 1980s, moving the discipline of coaching more broadly from sports performance to business and leadership, and then, due to demonstrated favorable outcomes, began to be applied to other areas of life.

Today, the International Coaching Federation (ICF), founded in 1995 and the foremost governing body in the coaching industry, defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."

Through powerful question-asking, active listening, reframing of perspective, goal-setting, and action planning, coaching helps extract inner wisdom and resourcefulness from within clients and provides them with the structure and support to make tangible progress against their goals.

Benefits of investing in coaching may include a greater sense of agency and direction, increased self- and situational awareness, outside accountability for taking action, and ultimately, the implementation of highly impactful and desired changes in one’s life.

There are a lot of great coaches out there with a wide variety of approaches in working with clients. Yet, I think there are a few key things about me and my approach that offer value to clients that I’ll share below. If you are short on time, jump to the end of this FAQ to see how you can directly find out for yourself with a free connection / discovery call.

So why work with me? First, I bring a lived experience, spanning several life chapters that brings a depth and understanding to coaching conversations, which I believe allows clients to feel validated, not alone, inspired and hopeful. My experiences are wide-ranging and include recovering from divorce and finding myself in the world of modern dating in my 30s, navigating a 17-year career in a multi-national high pressure corporate environment where I was responsible for managing new product launches, surviving burnout in parallel, completing a transition to a more artful, entrepreneurial and personally fulfilling shift in career. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries connecting with people and cultures around the world, participated in competitive athletics, and summited some of earth’s tallest mountains. 

Looking inward, I’ve done a deep dive into my own self-discovery, healing and growth journey to become a more grounded, self-led, emotionally intelligent man by overcoming (or more accurately, developing better, more mature and compassionate relationships with) many of my own pains, wounds and traumas and doing the work to learn better ways of communicating and showing up for myself and others. In addition, I have walked the difficult path of defining my own values, beliefs, and ways of navigating the world, individuated from my origins. I’ve also been a coaching client myself, resulting in a 360 degree understanding of the coaching process as I worked through my own limiting beliefs, fears, and biases.

The point here is not just a list of experiences. The point is that I have gone to my depths, met and expanded the edges of my comfort zone, and learned how to handle pressure and confrontation while approaching challenging emotional states and situations not just in my head, but out in the world where it counts. I find my experiences and associated reflection and wisdom gained often inspire clients and is helpful when relating with those who are working to create meaning, find perspective, and expand in any area of their lives; whether in relationships, career, wellness, or other personal goals and challenges.

Second, I’m a professional coach. I’m International Coaching Federation (ICF) trained, so through classroom training and practiced peer coaching feedback exchanges, I’ve honed in core competencies such as verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, perspective taking, appreciative inquiry, cognitive reappraisal/reframing, goal setting and action planning. I honor the ICF’s code of ethics and confidentiality. We work off a contract. Everything about our coaching engagement is transparent and client-centered. I listed some of my lived experiences above, but when in a coaching container with me, you’ll get no unsolicited advice or prescriptive instructions based on what worked for me (unless you directly ask me and I then take off my coaching hat and put on my mentoring/consulting hat). This is because I recognize each client’s individual situation, agency and autonomy, and therefore provide coaching structure to extract the unique wisdom from within my clients while avoiding projecting my own feelings or assumptions. My philosophy is that each individual is their own best expert as it applies to their unique life. In addition, as a graduate of Lumia, I have access to continuing education, a repository of coaching resources, and a wide network of fellow coaching program graduates should you ever need support from a coach with a specific niche. I’m committed to ongoing professional education and staying informed on industry trends. 

Third, though I may offer programs in the future, I’m not currently mass-promoting a one size fits all program with pre-determined intentions, process, and desired outcomes (not to say there isn’t value in such programs, there definitely is). Each interaction and session with me is totally tailored to your specific agenda, goals, and needs. There is no fixed number of sessions or weeks that must be committed to in advance to work with me (though I would suggest to meet no less frequently than bi-weekly for continuity and action accountability, and studies have shown it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit with a wide variance depending on type of habit, effort/consistency, environmental cues, and incentives).

Fourth, in addition to the coaching certification program, my coaching style draws from an eclectic source of trainings and inspiration - from active listening and collaboration games in improv comedy classes, to deep mindfulness, presence and self-understanding cultivated by my yoga and meditation practices, and from attending workshops covering topics such as non-violent communication, shadow work, and emotional availability. I’ve also attended men’s retreats and initiations hosted by some of the best in this space, developing my skills around relational dynamics, presence, holding space, personal development, and creating safety which inspired me to start my own men’s group and men’s workshop-style gatherings where I was able to support and connect with dozens of men in community.

Supporting people in their growth is my passion. I have a great appreciation for the human condition and the trials that life presents us to learn from. I believe in lifelong development and the potential that everyone has within. Life is an experiment, on our way to cultivating meaning, agency, purpose, contentment, and connection. Let’s navigate it together drawing upon values of direct experience, inner connection, compassion, and action.  

Still not sure I’m the right coach for you? Book a complimentary connection/discovery call to get a sense of what working with me is like directly yourself! Fill out the form on my contact page with your preferred email address and I’ll shoot over the link to my calendar appointment scheduler so you can directly schedule an appointment convenient for your schedule. Also, check out testimonials from past clients on my home page and the “My Story” page to learn more about my journey.

Although coaches may use tools and approaches that derive from studies in the field of psychology (particularly positive psychology), coaching does not take a clinical approach, does not utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and would not be appropriate to deal with acute psychological crises. Coaches are not licensed medical professionals and do not make diagnoses or offer prescriptive/directive advice.

Though coaching facilitates learning from the past, coaching generally places more focus on action planning and is future oriented rather than processing the past as therapy often does. As such, therapy is often more appropriate for supporting people in moving from a suffering state to a baseline state, where coaching best supports people as they move from baseline functioning to a thriving state.

If they have the capacity to do so, someone can be engaged in both therapy and coaching simultaneously. In such cases, there can be a synergistic effect in multiple areas of one’s life.

Yes, anything shared within the coaching relationship is confidential. Even the fact that you have inquired about services or begun working with me as a coach is considered confidential—you are free to share this information yourself, but I would never do so without your permission.

Please note that as in other professional contexts, there are conditions that may require breach of confidentiality—namely, if I’m subpoenaed by court of law, if you confess that you have committed a serious crime while working with me, or if we determine that you are at imminent risk of hurting others or yourself. But even in these cases, there will be no surprises as confidentiality-impacting issues will be discussed with you prior to any breach. This is typically not a concern for anyone who works with me, as I ensure we evaluate alignment of values and needs during our initial connection/discovery call. Communicating this policy simply protects both coach and client.

Before jumping into coaching, we’ll connect to ensure that coaching with me is a good fit for you, and agree on terms and logistics. As this is a professional coaching practice, we will work from a coaching contract. The contract is always amendable, but it serves as a basis of understanding and reference point and must be signed before we start any actual coaching sessions.

Logistics will be discussed during our initial connection call. Video call links are included in meeting invitations for appointments. After enrollment, you will have access to my appointment scheduler, allowing you to select time slots that work for you.

If we happen to be co-located, we can arrange to meet in person. Otherwise, video calls are completely effective for both the verbal and non-verbal communication we attune to. Phone calls can also work well, especially after the rhythm of relationship has been established.

In short, by completing a coaching certification program. I graduated from Lumia’s Signature program, an ICF (International Coaching Federation) Level 2 accredited program.

See the ICF’s core competencies, which coaches are typically well versed in, and the code of ethics that ICF-aligned professional coaches abide by for additional detail.

If you are facing financial hardship, support may be available, assuming we are a good fit otherwise.

I also offer reduced per session pricing for multi-session up-front purchases. Multi-session packages must be used within designated timeframe.

I very much appreciate referrals, introductions, and word-of-mouth promotion. Please feel free to share my website and encourage them to explore!

However, a prerequisite for my working with someone is that they have recognized a need or desire for change within themselves, and they are ready to invest (time, effort, attention, and money) into a coaching engagement. The internal motivation needs to be there already for us to do the work. We can’t force people to engage in personal development work, no matter how obvious it may appear that they would benefit from it. Similarly, we can’t impose our goals or values on others. Intrinsic motivation is an important part of coaching and sets up a coach-client relationship for success.

Please head over to the Contact page, fill out the form with your preferred email address, and check the sign-up box for news and updates. Feel free to ask for any specific information.

Contact information is kept confidential, and I’ll never spam you or share your contact information. You may unsubscribe anytime.

Spoken and unspoken challenges (and opportunities!) exist for men and there are many reasons for this. Societal norms have shifted, and relational awareness has grown in terms of how our actions affect others and what others may expect from us. Men’s mental health has become an urgent area of focus, and behaviors that were once tolerated as commonplace are rightfully no longer acceptable. Traditional gender roles are not as relevant as they perhaps were in past generations, as demands on individuals and couples have evolved to meet the challenges and expectations of today and men are being called upon to become more than stoic providers and protectors. The awareness and skill sets of men must grow and adapt with the times while simultaneously carrying forward strengths and wisdom from earlier generations. The importance of this invitation to evolve is compounded by the lack of rites of passage or initiations where boys are guided across a threshold by male elders into manhood, as was perhaps more commonplace in societies of the past. 

There are widely publicized examples of undesirable behavior from men and deserved call outs and cultural movements protesting this behavior (i.e. “Me Too”). For some conscientious, well-intentioned men, this state of affairs, combined with lack of experience and influence of toxic online rhetoric can have a paralyzing effect or generate anxiety when it comes to approaching dating and sex. And, it can be hard to find models of mature, grounded masculinity within dating dynamics, let alone spaces where conversations on how to navigate in responsible ways exist— conversations centered around autonomy, consent, empathy, presence, transparent communication, and the vulnerability and humility that intimacy requires. This situation leads to frustration and no one’s desires getting fulfilled.

Factors that compound challenges faced by men (and others) are that sex education in schools, for many, was sub-par, much of TV, film, and especially, pornography have distorted what sex, intimacy, and relationships look like, and social media and technology are bombarding us with constant attention distractions, sugar-like dopamine hits (might taste good, but provides no real nourishment), shallow connection, and superficial and unhelpful advice. The “man box” – narratives and the conditioning of what a man should be that boys and young men are bombarded with growing up–from it not being ok to show weakness, vulnerability or emotions, to what is praised becoming instilled/inherited values (i.e. over-emphasizing outcome-based romantic pursuits, and prioritizing individual physical feats and achievements at any cost, while under-indexing connection and relational alignment, cooperation, and emotional prowess)—can leave men unprepared, confused, and even crippled in how they express and navigate the world without a ready road map and consideration of one’s own values. Further, with the pressure and focus on earning as much as possible in hyper-capitalistic corners of the world, some workplace cultures, societal values and financial reward systems can keep men in their logical, rational, analytical, numerical minds, and deprioritize the creative, emotional, and more heart-centered ways of thinking, feeling, being, and relating to the point of disconnecting us from our very human parts that holistic well-being and relationship success often depend on—in addition to our ability to lead (not just manage) others. And last but not least, our urban dwellings and modern, overly digital culture, can separate us from nature–leading to illness, stress, a lack of understanding of how the natural world works, of how we fit within it, and of why sustainable stewardship of the environment is essential.

“The longest journey you will make in your life is from your head to your heart” —Gary Zukav

The journey from head to heart (or, more accurately, integrating head and heart), and unlearning deeply engrained conditioning can be a complex and dizzying endeavor, especially when trying to make it solo as so many men attempt. The “lone wolf” that values rugged individualism and views asking for help as weakness is actually somewhat ironic–from an evolutionary lens and modern day network/relationship-driven economy perspective, as we thrive in community in both health and material success. Conversely, isolation leads to higher risk of death and economic failure.

Many of us were not fortunate enough to have fathers or other male role models equipped or available to have such important conversations early in our lives. Conversations, for example, that explore developing trust, creating safety and ensuring alignment in relationships, nervous system awareness and regulation, how to have difficult or emotionally charged conversations, how and when to set boundaries, sexual function, how being a “nice guy” can actually be disingenuous and cause harm, learning from pain and using it as motivational fuel, reframing fear/anxiety/resistance from something to avoid to a signpost towards growth, how to directly ask for what we want/need at work and in relationships, the concept of relationship polarity, connecting with our authenticity and being emotionally available, how our traumas and attachment wounds can stunt emotional growth if left unaddressed, seeing and integrating our shadow so we don’t get in our own way, mitigating negative self-talk, how we can maintain connection and communication with our partners even when our inner worlds are tumultuous, developing a healthy relationship with our anger and how to use it for good, the importance of taking risks in life, how to hold space for our partners, how the quality of a man’s presence is likely our number one skill to build as a foundation to all other endeavors, and appreciating the value men can bring to the table… among other topics.

This is not an attempt to define what it means to be a man or what masculinity should be, rather a shame-free opportunity to explore and perhaps pick up some new skills that can yield better self-discipline and self-leadership, deeper and healthier intimacy in relationships, more confidence, clarity and direction, a healthier mindset and self-image, and expanding what you have to offer as a man. To be clear, this brand of men’s work is supportive of women, equal rights, and all genders and orientations. By addressing common men’s-specific growth areas and challenges, the aim is to promote more harmony and inclusion across the board, contribute positively to relationships, community, workplaces, and the planet, and to serve and protect the more vulnerable–something that feels extra important given the division, violence, inequalities and inequities that remain in the world today. 

Men’s work is a broad topic - if anything above has piqued your interest, I encourage you to reach out to explore further via the Contact page. Men’s work is something near and dear to me and has had a profound impact on my development, well-being and approach to relationships, having participated in men’s initiations and learning from some of the best mentors in this space… after going through a long period of struggling on my own and hitting rock bottom. There is no need to carry the weight of the world all on your shoulders alone. Let’s cut through the noise and confusion together – I’m here to be in your corner as a man, supporting you in purpose, work, your relationship with yourself and your relationships with others, so you can show up as the man you’re capable of being. If you want to keep in touch on future men’s gatherings and other opportunities, sign up for my newsletter or include that interest in your message on the Contact page.

Also, if you are a man who feels called to starting up your own men’s group in your community but not sure how to start—First, thanks for stepping up—and second, I can help with you with that, leveraging my experience starting a men’s group and growing a community… something I wholeheartedly recommend.

Drawing from past work experience, I’m available to support businesses with coaching and consulting services. I’m also available as a travel coach/mentor for those interested in exploring global travel, making the most of a long awaited sabbatical, or experiencing a nomadic lifestyle. 

In terms of business coaching and consulting, I’m available to support solopreneurs, start ups, and established business teams where there is a good fit and values align. My previous work experience and expertise lies in strategy, new product launches, project and portfolio management, and product supply chain management, including information management and development of enterprise tools and reports. 

For the last 10 years of my career I was responsible for end-to-end activities associated with the launch of new affordable medicine products, from market scanning and project funding through commercial product launch, including establishing market launch dates, facilitating go/no-go investment decisions throughout the project lifecycle, and directing cross-functional project teams during manufacturing launch preparation activities. 

I can help entrepreneurs and leadership teams define vision, mission, and values and then execute on these concepts through cross-functional strategy, project management, communications, and trainings/workshops. I can also help start ups scale through development of processes, infrastructure, troubleshoot business process breakdowns, and forecast bottlenecks before they restrict growth. In addition, I can help create a thriving company culture, build team unity and facilitate skill development (e.g. communication, relationship building, coaching, project management, goal setting) in a fun, workshop style environment with experiential learning. Note: coaching is a skill that all leaders need in today’s work environment!

Tying my skillsets and experience together, I love the idea of being an “on-call” coach or advisor as a resource for executives or leadership teams to support leadership members’ professional development and personal goals. More broadly, I can be available as a company resource as a benefit to all employees–offering coaching is a tactic that can provide competitive advantage within the employee recruiting market.

In my career, I’ve been responsible for driving significant revenue and cost reduction, supported execution of mergers and acquisitions through the integrations of people, products and infrastructure, worked through changes in leadership teams and business philosophies, and periods of cost reduction and periods of growth–all in a fast-paced, competitive, global environment. I hold a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University, a MBA in Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology, and I’m an ICF trained coach, certified by Lumia. I’m happy to chat more about proposals and how I can support you or your team. Indicate that you are interested in discussing the needs of your organization and how we can work together on the Contact page and we can set up a discovery call.

In terms of travel coaching and mentoring, I love supporting people getting out of their comfort zones and experiencing different environments and cultures abroad. For those interested in a nomadic lifestyle or long term international travel, there can be a lot of logistics to sort through and helpful mindsets to adopt to set yourself up for success and a memorable adventure. From what to pack and gear selection, to e-visa preparation, budgeting and forms of payment considerations, connectivity, travel medical insurance, and helpful apps to download, I have ideas for you. Of course, there is always the book a flight and figure out the rest upon landing approach, but there are many things you can do in advance of your trip to make travel as smooth as possible and avoid pitfalls that could be costly in terms of time, money, and possibly even jeopardize your whole trip if you have a pre-determined schedule to adhere to. 

Drawing from my extensive travel experience visiting over 40 countries in my lifetime and traveling continuously for 14 months during my pilgrimage through Europe and Asia across 2024 and 2025, I can help streamline your travel planning and budgeting, provide specific tips and recommendations on approaches and tools, help work through any fears/uncertainties you may have when it comes to traveling far from the comforts and familiarity of home, and be a resource for you when you’re on the road. Preparing for a successful and safe trip begins well before booking a flight and can mitigate issues you might encounter later, so you can focus on presence, connection, fun and adventure upon landing. Please fill out the contact form and indicate your interest in travel coaching with any specific questions you may have so we can jump right in and get you on that plane feeling confident asap!

For those seeking an intentional, hosted experience with me that can include aspects of self-discovery, expanding your comfort zones, connection with local communities, and optional opportunities for giving, head on over to the “Pilgrimage” page to learn more and get on the waiting/interest list if one of those country options speaks to you. We can also create a custom itinerary using your party as an anchoring group to get a trip on the calendar and build a trip around your specific desired experiences and locations. I can host your party exclusively or promote the trip further with others who may be interested in joining us to bring the cost per person down.

This is an evolving conversation as AI continues to be developed and used in innovative ways. There are some good applications or uses of ChatGPT/AI as an adjunct tool to help with self discovery, learning about therapeutic approaches, goal attainment, and relationship skills. AI can offer frameworks and activities you can do on your own, such as provide suggestions for journaling prompts. I think AI can be supportive and even accelerate your process when working with a helping professional especially when the results of answered journal prompts are debriefed together. In fact, there are AI tools that allow conversations to be exported and shared directly, perhaps even allowing collaboration on the prompt inputs. Other pros of AI use is that AI tools are always available and accessible, they don’t get fatigued, don’t judge or project feelings, values or beliefs onto users, and AI tools can seemingly have infinite knowledge of facts that may be impossible for any individual to contain. AI can also be used to imagine or create interesting graphical images of what you want your future to look like as inspiration and aid with quick data visualizations. 

Some potential drawbacks are that an AI user is subject to their own level of awareness and ability to craft prompts that lead to new insights. By our nature, humans have blind spots and blind spots can be hard to identify without someone acting as a witnessing mirror, picking up on the subtleties of verbal and non-verbal communication. Some criticism of AI tools used in isolation is that they can be overly validating without providing the constructive confrontation that encourages growth and elevation of awareness. So there is risk of building your own echo chamber without outside perspective or challenge. AI can also sometimes miss the context of timing and how important events relate. Depending on the depth of prompts and user answer history, AI’s responses can be based on what has already been written by others, and not specific to the latest emerging version of you. AI curates well, but doesn’t always synthesize well.

Most importantly, AI can never replace the human element. The element of human contact and human understanding from a place of actual experience in the 3D world. Of actually feeling the vulnerability of sharing tender or emerging parts of yourself with another human, eye to eye, heart to heart, nervous system to nervous system. AI can’t co-regulate with you. You don’t confront feelings of vulnerability with a screen you’re typing into. You don’t work through the intimacy of building a relationship based on trust and consistency. Celebration of wins hit completely differently when celebrated with a person who has been your supporter during a long personal trial and cheerleader while you were hating on yourself. There is a power and liberation in owning your truth while being witnessed and taking a risk to pride and ego. And knowing there is a compassionate human on the other side of accountability check-ins is more meaningful and motivating than a digital reminder. There are emotional needs that can only be met with human connection that an AI engine can’t replace. 

In summary, if you’re satisfied with being a “user” - stick with AI. Want to be held accountable, encouraged and appreciated as a whole human where your real time verbal and non-verbal communication is factored in through deep listening and empathy - consider coaching! Seeking facts and impersonal suggestions, use AI. Seeking a space that a trained human with relatable human experiences and human relationships can hold for you, find a good coach! Or, perhaps, use all resources available synergistically if you feel it can accelerate your process in any way, while still allowing you to process, integrate, and take the necessary actions to make progress in real life.

Absolutely! Where there is a good fit and program intentions and facilitation agreements that protect clients are aligned, I’m available for collaborating with other coaches, therapists, teachers, and men’s work and women’s work facilitators. I can support in designing and facilitating hosted gatherings, retreats, workshops or other types of events and courses. Need a helping hand or guest coach/speaker in an upcoming program you are running, in person, online, or otherwise? Reach out through the Contact page and let’s discuss how I can help! 

I’m building my practice and always looking to learn, network, and support as many people live their best lives in any way that I can add value, even if it's just helping out the event in the background or supporting the development of your programming. I’ve facilitated about a dozen workshop style gatherings that evolved based on participant feedback and now utilize proven programming elements that support clients somatically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially in a safe container that promotes healing, learning, growth, connection, and community building.

For one-on-one coaching clients, if you feel wronged, and after bringing it to my attention, still believe the issue is not correctable and warrants a refund, just ask. My intention is an energetically clean, ethical, value-added exchange, but I’m not perfect and if you feel irreparably wronged, I will refund 100% of the fee for that session. Refund must be requested within 7 days of the specific session of concern. After 7 days, payment is non-refundable. 

For pre-paid multi-session packages, if there is any need to discontinue coaching before completing the contracted term, you may request a refund for unused sessions for an adjusted amount based on number of sessions completed.