Judith Potts, M.A. - Personal and Life Coach
Congratulations! You are taking the first steps toward changing your life in a positive way, and I am here to help you.
- You have tried various ways to solve problems, but still feel stuck.
- You want to talk confidentially to a caring person who understands
- You want to move forward with your life and need support to do this
- You are struggling with difficult feelings and you can't shake them.
- You are lonely, isolated, or your relationships are unsatisfying.
- You're facing challenges related to aging, physical changes, loss, or retirement.
- You wish your life could be more than it is, but how do you get there?
- Your life is out of balance, with too much stress and not enough joy.
- Your want help for your marriage or relationship
- You worry about your health and want to explore alternatives.
- You need help with decision making.
- You're unhappy with your body or body image and feel trapped in a vicious cycle.
- There are problems in your family that you don't know how to handle.
- You're dealing with issues related to sexuality or gender.
- You need an unbiased opinion.
- You are worried about another person's well-being.
Coaching can help you get unstuck, address problems that are holding you back, and support you in creating a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Did you know that having a strong, trusting relationship with a Coach is one of the best predictors of a positive outcome? It's true! I specialize in forming strong, collaborative relationships with my clients from the very first contact.
I offer a free initial consultation for new clients. That way, you can meet me and see if it feels like a good fit for you, without cost or obligation.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL SESSIONS ARE CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE ONLINE OR BY TELEPHONE DUE TO COVID. WALKING OUTDOORS IS ALSO AN OPTION FOR VACCINATED CLIENTS.
I provide collaborative Coaching for individuals and couples. Click on this link to learn about the differences between Counseling and Coaching and decide what is best for you.
- Developing greater life balance
- Making lifestyle changes
- Forgiveness of self and others
- Self acceptance, self compassion
- Dealing with shame
- Self awareness, personal growth
- Low self-esteem and shyness
- Assertiveness, confidence
- Excessive worry
- Seasonal reactivity
- Mindful aging
- Retirement planning
- Body image
- Overeating and food issues
- Health and wellness
- Stress reduction, relaxation
- Improving self care
- College adjustment
- Social discomfort
- Relationship tune-up
- Improving communication
- Work-related concerns
- Sexuality and gender issues
- Parenting
- Loss
- Organization, time management
- Hypersensitivity
- Developing a life vision
- Finding and pursuing what you love
Confidentiality starts at our first contact. You are assured complete privacy when you talk to me.
Licenses and Certifications
*Licensed Mental Health Counselor, licensed by the State of Washington
*Certified Personal and Life Coach
NEW AND ONGOING PROGRAMS
*Walking: Walk while we talk!
Too much sitting can contribute to ill health in a number of way, whereas being on the move does just the opposite.
The idea of walking during a counseling session is not new. Many coaches, counselors, fitness enthusiasts, and health care practitioners endorse the concept. As a bonus, walking stimulates creative thinking and increases the flow of ideas.
In her article entitled, "Awakening to Walk & Talk Therapy", Leah Weintraub writes:
I've walked and talked with thousands of people... The solutions you come to while in motion are different than the ones you think of while sitting still... maybe because they're born out of action [they are] easier to put into action. Each walk has been a catalyst for change. It's amazing how many problems can be solved through the combination of nature, motion, and human connection. (Spirituality & Health, May/June, 2015).
Walking Instead of Sitting Prolongs Life, Even in Small Doses. An article published online April 30, 2015 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and reported on Medscape (www.medscape.com/viewarticle/844068), indicates the following conclusion from research conducted with 3,626 subjects:
Decreasing sitting by 2 minutes each hour, and adding a corresponding 2 minutes more of light activities, such as casual walking, was associated with a 33% lower hazard of death in the entire study sample.
Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your current and future health. We can incorporate walking into your sessions - just wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, and let me know that you want to walk while we talk. Or we can design a seasonally-adjusted activity program that works for you!
*Mindful Eating: Ask about a personalized program to help you manage food issues in a nurturing and calming way. Mindful eating is another way you can improve your physical health as well as your emotional balance, self-esteem, confidence, and overall well-being. Having more control over your food intake can also increase motivation for incorporating other healthy habits into your daily life.
*Support for hypersensitivity: Some people experience various distressing reactions to fragrances, noises, chemicals, bright lights, and other things in our environment, not to the extent of a full-blown allergy, but uncomfortable nonetheless. It is difficult to explain this to others, to find support and to arrange our lives to minimize exposure to things that are toxic to us. If you recognize yourself in this description and could use some help, click here. Then scroll down to the "New Services" section on the bottom of the page and read more about ways to deal with this growing problem.
*Mindful Aging:
Aging offers us innumerable opportunities to use mindfulness, to practice staying in the mindset of an observer, rather than reacting negatively to changes we are experiencing. And often, that shift in perspective can alter our experience in positive ways. Read the full article about using mindfulness to support healthy aging.
*Retirement Coaching for individuals and couples:
Are you considering retirement within the next year? Are you newly retired and feeling challenged by the changes in your life? Is your spouse/partner having difficulty adjusting to the lack of structure of retired life? Is the retirement you dreamed of no longer an option? Are the realities of aging overshadowing your enjoyment of this time in your life? We can talk through the many complexities of retirement to help you make the most of it. Scroll down on the New Services page to read more.
If you want to explore a type of service or information that I do not currently offer, please contact me by phone or email to let me know your area of interest.
Serving the Portland metro area, including Portland, Vancouver, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Milwaukie, Gresham, Troutdale, Oregon City, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Hillsboro, King City, Forest Grove, Wilsonville