Thalassa Consulting
Welcome to Thalassa Consulting. Thalassa is the ancient Greek word for the sea, and I’ve spent my life traveling into the depths with all kinds of people. Finding the right companion on your journey can make all the difference.
Clergy Coaching
Whatever your denominational background or setting, I love working with clergy. I’m a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and Duke Divinity School, and I bring over two decades of experience as an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I planted a new church development outside of Austin, TX, and for the last 18 years I served a fun, quirky congregation outside of Portland, Oregon. For 8 years I’ve served as an adjunct faculty member at Duke Divinity school precepting for the Introduction to Leadership Class, co-teaching the Thesis class, and serving as a Spiritual Formation mentor.
Leadership Coaching
I’m an ICF certified coach and have worked with leaders in tech, law, real estate, education, and the creative world. I did my coach training at The Hudson Institute of Coaching in Santa Barbara. Hudson works mainly in the corporate space, and I was trained to work with people across industries to deepen in their leadership. I also work as coach for Wiser Coaching, helping groups of new managers at companies such as Accenture and CVS make the transition from being individual contributors to overseeing staff. Whether you are working on work/life balance, are making a career transition, or trying to level up, I can help.
Writing and Performance Coaching
Whether you are a preacher or a public speaker at work, I can help you explore ways of showing up as your best self in front of others. I can help you unleash your creative self. I also love speaking and performing. I co-teach the doctoral thesis class at Duke Divinity school helping accomplished writers discover how to put their passion and purpose into words. I’m also the author of two books and many journal articles.
Personal and Recovery Coaching
Leadership is hard. Really hard. Many leaders enter into their work healthy and with the best of intentions only to wake up one day knowing they have developed maladaptive coping mechanisms around food, sex, and substance misuse that can derail everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve. I am an Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed practitioner and a certified recovery coach through Recovery Coach University. Recovery today is so much more than rehab, AA, and absolute abstinence. There are as many paths in recovery as there are people seeking healing. I have the skill and empathy to create a space in which you can find the path to your better self.
Psychedelic Therapy and Integration
We are living in a psychedelic renaissance. States like Oregon are legalizing the use of psilocybin and ketamine for PTSD, CPSD, and substance abuse. Many healthy, professional, educated people are now hearing about the benefits or psychedelic therapy but either don’t know where to start or have signed up for a retreat with little preparation or aftercare. I’m a certified practitioner of somatic trauma therapy through the Psychedelic Somatic Institute. I have the training and the experience to understand trauma, psychedelics, and help you maximize the powerful benefits and avoid the pitfalls of this growing field.
Speaking and Leadership Retreats
A gifted speaker, I lean on my learning, humor, spoken word, and a unique style that speaks to the intellect as well as to the heart. I’ve spoken at large congregations and at NEXT Church’s National Gathering. I often pair my public speaking gifts with group moderation, and I’ve led various leadership retreats for congregations as well as other organizations such as The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools, and the Oregon State PEO board. Using practices gleaned from poet David Whyte, thought leader Simon Sinek, and Brené Brown, I help organizations to discover who they currently are, discern where they want to go, and help them build plans to turn these dreams into reality. Connect with me to see if I would be right for your next gathering or retreat.