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Mission Statement
At Small Pause Coaching, we help people slow down to create safety within themselves. This enables greater self-awareness, clearer choices, and more meaningful relationships in the moments that matter.
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We believe real change doesn’t come from force or urgency, but from presence.
During the pause, people regulate their nervous system. They reconnect with their values. They rediscover choice.
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From that place, energy is restored, and clarity emerges. New opportunities for personal and professional growth unfold naturally, leading to improved well-being and resilience.
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Learning to live within the pause is not an escape from life; it is a way of meeting life with presence, intention, meaning, and care.
Personal Bio
My life has been shaped by moments that demanded patience, resilience, and presence.
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As a child, chronic asthma had me in and out of hospitals, often alone in oxygen tents for days. Those early experiences of vulnerability and dependence taught me the power of noticing what is—and learning to respond with care and intention.
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By my teenage years, I discovered sports and outdoor challenges that built physical strength—but I also struggled with a sense of emptiness that led me into alcohol and drugs for over a decade. Recovery at 25 taught me a profound truth: true transformation is not about force or perfection—it is about creating safety within yourself and reconnecting with what matters most.
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Through recovery, I embraced life fully: rock climbing, mountaineering, and solo wilderness journeys on Vancouver Island tested me in ways that built resilience, clarity, and deep self-awareness. These experiences laid the foundation for how I approach life and coaching: even in uncertainty, there is always a small, intentional step forward.
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When my children, Madison and Matthew, were born, my focus shifted from mountains to family and leadership. In my career with a large local government organization, I honed my ability to inspire people, build trust, and lead through complex, uncertain circumstances. Leadership taught me that influence is less about titles and more about presence—how you show up in each moment matters more than any strategy or plan.
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In 2017, I founded Small Pause Coaching to bring these lessons to others, leaving my corporate role behind. Combining practical leadership experience with coaching certifications from the Newfield Network (NCC), ACC accreditation from the ICF, Equine Guided Learning, and HeartMath® trauma-sensitive coaching, I guide people in cultivating internal regulation, values-based clarity, and conscious choice.
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I call this work living in the pause: a practice of slowing down, noticing the moment, and choosing how to act—not out of compulsion, shame, or urgency—but from alignment, presence, and safety. In doing so, people restore energy, make clearer decisions, and cultivate meaningful relationships.
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Today, I live in Ladner Village, BC, with my blended family and four children. When I pause from work, I’m often on the water—kayaking or floating on lakes—reminding myself of the value of stillness and connection.
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I bring this same approach to coaching: guiding people to meet life fully, embrace small moments of choice, and expand what is possible without forcing outcomes.
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Values we live by
At Small Pause Coaching, we don’t just talk about values—we live them. They guide how we show up for each client, how we move through life, and how we navigate uncertainty.
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When you work with us, these values create a foundation for clarity, choice, and connection in the moments that matter most.
What our values mean
Freedom
The space to pause, notice your choices, and act with clarity rather than reaction.
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Community
A connection to people who support you, challenge you, and reflect your growth.
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Trust
The safety to explore, experiment, and show up as you are—without judgment.
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Creativity
The ability to see possibilities and solutions that emerge when your mind and body are regulated and present.
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Integrity
Living in alignment with your values and taking actions that feel honest, grounded, and aligned.