Wellbeing for Parents - Finding Balance & Building Confidence
From pregnancy and the newborn stage, to returning to work after leave, to balancing the demands placed upon you as your children grow, parenthood is defined by transitions. In fact, if you’re a parent, “it’s just a phase” might be something you repeat to yourself on an almost daily basis. Add to this the desire to have a fulfilling career and the responsibilities that work can bring - it can make this time of life an exciting but very challenging one, where support from others is vital but people often end up feeling isolated. No matter where you are in your parenting journey, I will help you go from feeling overwhelmed to feeling confident balancing the various roles you play in life along with your own wellbeing. This package was created based on extensive research and includes: * Introduction / Goal Setting Session (30 min) - we will discuss where you are today and what outcomes you want to achieve through coaching * Four Coaching Sessions on Parental Wellbeing Topics (1 hour each) - I will provide you with practical concepts/tools and we will discuss the following topics: * Navigating your ever-changing reality and maintaining your sense of self * Coping with an increased mental load and decision fatigue * Managing feelings of guilt and dealing with societal expectations * Setting boundaries and communicating needs * Closing / Action Planning Session (1 hour) - we will discuss what actions you want to commit to taking and create plans for any upcoming transitions (e.g. returning to work after maternity leave, becoming an “empty nester”, etc.)
What's included
I'm an International Coaching Federation Certified Coach with hundreds of hours of coaching experience and coach training…and I’m also a mom of 2 teenagers who understands how difficult (yet important!) it is to keep our sense of self and balance all the roles we play in our lives. I bring an optimistic, problem-solving approach to my coaching - knowing that every challenge has a number of possible solutions. (I think this is my prior engineering background coming out!) My clients have shared that this approach provides them with a sense of calm, and helps to expand their thinking on possible ideas and ways forward. My coaching takes into account the whole person, knowing our professional and personal lives and goals are very intertwined, and I love helping my clients find practical and realistic ways to achieve their goals.
- Clarity around your values and how to use them as a foundation for your personal and professional decisions
- Ability to better navigate the constant change that comes with being a parent and maintaining your sense of self
- Understanding how to cope with an increased mental load and difficult thoughts/feelings (e.g. guilt, shame, ambivalence)
- Practical concepts and mental tools that are helpful for parents, but can be used in any aspect of life
- Confidence in your plan for moving forward after coaching
Meet your expert
Melissa S.
Helping Parents Find Balance and Build Confidence
Hi! I’m Melissa - an ICF certified coach, facilitator, and former talent development executive. I started my career in engineering and product roles, but spent most of the past 20+ years working in Talent Development at large multinational companies. My work has ranged from new employee recruitment and success to developing and facilitating programs for the company’s top leadership. I’ve worked in global roles the majority of my career, with the highlight being getting to live and work in Asia for 2 years. As a Coach & Co-Founder of Together We, my work today is focused on helping people at transition points feel less alone and more confident. I’m based in Seattle, Washington and have worked with clients from across the globe on both professional and personal goals. My clients include senior executives at both large corporations and start-ups, new front-line managers, technical leaders, parents returning to work from parental leave, and friends who are exploring career options, to name a few. I also have extensive experience developing and facilitating workshops aimed at building both skills and confidence in a range of topics including leadership, career development, and change management. When I’m not coaching, you can find me watching a movie or show with my family, driving my teenage kids to a theater rehearsal or sports practice, taking a walk with my husband and dog, going for coffee or wine with friends, doing some sort of at-home exercise program, or reading a book and quietly recharging.
