Have you ever heard what happens inside a butterfly's cocoon? The caterpillar completely dissolves—becoming "imaginal soup" before blooming into something entirely new. Imaginal soup is how I would describe my midlife journey—messy, disorienting, and ultimately transformative.

My forties felt like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded—climbing one moment, plummeting with fear the next, never knowing what was ahead. Together with perimenopause, I was navigating complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, Lyme disease, and family challenges. This took herculean energy that eventually dwindled to almost nil.

I was treading water in my own caterpillar soup.

These were dark times. I languished in my primordial soup and longed for release. It’s a wonder I survived. I am so glad I did!

My sixties are a season of blossoming. My soupy soul has become a magnificent butterfly. With an empty nest and husband in retirement, I am entering my most generative and liberating chapter yet.

Midlife was painful and heartbreaking, yet it laid the groundwork for my coaching practice. Because of my hardship, I am passionate about partnering with midlife women to heal the past, harness personal potential, and design remarkable futures.

I am a certfied Integrative Mental Health Coach and Mediation/ Restorative Justice Specialist. These experiences enrich my coaching:

• advocacy in religious institutions and social justice

• volunteering at women’s crisis centers

• creating community through entrepreneurship

• supporting teens through addiction

• raising three children with Manly Man (hubby)

Finally, I believe that HOPE is the key to healing and the cornerstone of flourishing in midlife and beyond.

Healing Ourselves Powers Everyone!

Queen of Hope, Chrissy