Our head never knows where our journey will lead us,
​yet the deep wisdom of our heart does.

HOW I GOT HERE

I started out like most Catholic kids I know...questioning. Many things I was taught in private catholic school growing up didn't fit together or make sense in my head or my heart. I struggled to sort what felt true in me from what I was told, and to reconcile what I heard from what I witnessed.

For about 30 years, I mostly went along with what I was taught, and found myself struggling inside. I say mostly because as a kid, I developed a strong connection to the natural and spirit worlds, though I never spoke of it because it didn't fit into my Catholic upbringing. As a college student I took time to explore different spiritual traditions, and by the time I was 30, I'd found a deeper resonance with and sense of peace through ancient wisdom teachings from across the globe.

Between work and school, I carved out some solid friendships and had deeply connecting relationships...so it wasn't all struggle. There were certainly times of fulfillment and joy. But on the inside I consistently felt something was missing. Each time a relationship ended, I fell into self-doubt and struggle. What had I done wrong? What could I do differently? How could I find lasting happiness?

Here's the "cliff notes version" of how that went:
I graduated high school and went on to study psychology, counseling, and educational psychology in college and graduate school, achieved a PhD in Educational Psychology, and began a career as a school psychologist. As a part of that work and my ongoing study, I learned and practiced a multitude of psychotherapy techniques with the staff and students I supported, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavioral management, social and communication skills, collaborative problem solving and mediation, art and play therapy techniques, photo-therapy techniques, Sandbox therapy, ROPES techniques, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT),  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy technique, and movement therapies, to name a few. 

In my early 40s following over two decades of formal study and practice in psychology, counseling, and educational psychology with a 12-year career as a school psychologist, I became disillusioned by the limitations of that field and retired in 2005. From there, I took a five year break to immerse myself in the study and practice of more ancient healing wisdom rooted in energy and nature-based traditions such as Native American, shamanic, yogic, Buddhist, Wiccan, Tibetan Bön Buddhism, and the Toltec Eagle Knight lineage. 

I also studied sound, energy, crystal, and Reiki healing methods. That is when I truly began to embrace and nurture my intuition and psychic connection to the natural and invisible worlds. In 2008, I began life coaching, spiritual mentoring, and teaching traditional kundalini yoga and meditation in the private sector. I also led men and women through transformational spiritual growth classes, workshops, intensives, core healing and coaching sessions, and kept diving deeper into shamanic and yogic healing wisdom. Nine years later, I entered the virtual arena as CZ Mentoring, LLC. Today my work is seeped in wisdom from modern psychology, counseling, and educational psychology, plus specialties from various ancient, intuitive, and spiritual traditions. 

It was a pattern of painful breakups and other losses in my life, plus a powerful near-death experience (NDE) in my mid-thirties, that inspired my journey into a more broad scope of healing technologies and teaching. With focused dedication and intention, I went after, learned, and discovered specific techniques to evolve out of the emotional pain and struggle I'd been living in. Now I share this hard-earned wisdom with friends and clients in my teaching, coaching, and writing. 
A snapshot about me: I love the natural world and enjoy being outside in and with nature. I take hikes whenever time allows. I cherish sun and moon rises and sets. I take whatever crosses my path as a gift. I'm deeply spiritual with a shamanic world view. I believe all things in this reality are sacred and have their own pranic power and purpose. I believe "life" is meant to be loved, cherished, nurtured, and uplifted. My heart weeps for the pain we humans generate, while I celebrate the grace we bring. I pray for the soul healing and spiritual evolution of humankind so that all of life may thrive on this amazing and sacred planet earth we share.
What I know now that I didn't know then: There are simple ways to cultivate genuine happiness, confidence, and fulfillment. You may say nothing helps, but you haven't tried everything. Sometimes a different approach is all it takes to have that breakthrough you've been waiting for and completely transform your life for the better.

CREDENTIALS  ​

Certified Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher 
Certified Hospice Volunteer​​
Certified Life Coach 
​Energy Coach​
Shamanic Practitioner
​Inductee: Toltec Eagle Knight Shamanic Lineage​​​

Na. Certified School Psych /Retired​​
PhD Educational Psych & Counseling​
MA Educational Psych & Counseling​​
BA Psychology & Counseling


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