The Day I Crossed My Threshold
Every day I exited the elevator to step into my law office my gut clenched.
My legs grow heavy.
My neck and jaw stiffen.
My brow furrows.
It’s like I’m putting on body armor to become someone who can just get through the day.
Read the full story below…
After three years practicing discrimination law, I knew I loved helping people during their toughest moments. And I deeply cared about doing my small part to make the world a better place. But I didn't enjoy being a lawyer.
One day during a routine status conference before a federal judge, the opposing counsel—I can still hear his voice—was over the top in his disdain toward me. I understood it was an intimidation tactic and knew it wasn’t personal. But I returned to my office and just sobbed.
In that moment, I knew this was not the profession for me. As a marathon runner, I understood hard work and grit—but I also knew I needed to find a path that felt more like me.
That was when I decided to listen to my own inner voice and heart, to follow what inspired me and what felt aligned with what I truly cared about and my natural strengths. Maybe there's a career for me aligned with who I am rather than armor up to be someone else.
I wanted to do the opposite of fight. I wanted to help people make things better. I'd taken a class in mediation in law school and loved watching a seasoned mediator help all the parties involved hear each other better, repair harm, and find solutions for settlement.
I updated my résumé, printed it out, and during my lunch break one day I walked it over to the Center for Conflict Resolution to ask about upcoming mediation trainings. To my delight, a spot had just opened for that very weekend—and I said yes without hesitation.
That day I crossed the threshold that brought me to coaching clients who are navigating their own crossings.
My Professional Background
As an ICF-certified executive leadership coach with a JD and an MS in Learning and Organizational Change, I bring an integrative and human-centered approach to leadership development and organizational effectiveness.
My work is informed by more than thirty years of professional experience spanning employment and civil rights law, mediation, conflict resolution, restorative justice, diversity and inclusion facilitation, education, nonprofit board governance, and organizational leadership. I have served in non-profit board leadership roles during periods of growth and transition, including as board president of Beacon Academy during its start-up years as a Montessori-based independent high school, Rogers Park Montessori School, and currently as board president of PACTT Learning Center, which supports children and adults with autism through therapeutic day school and community-centered supported living.
In addition to my Organizational and Leadership Coaching Certification from Northwestern University, my coaching is enriched by training and workshops in positive intelligence, Somatic Experiencing (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS) coaching, presence-based and developmental coaching, reiki energy healing, and organizational and relationship systems coaching. These modalities allow me to support clients at both the cognitive and somatic levels, fostering insight, resilience, and sustainable change.
I live in Chicago and am the proud mother of three young adult men in their twenties.