BECHTOLD LIFEWORKS COUNSELING & COACHING
start now to create a more meaningful life
About Patty
I work with smart, perceptive, independent-minded, creative people. They don't always acknowledge that about themselves, though.
And they're definitely beginning to question something.
Or have been questioning, for a long time. Everything from the choices they've made in the past to the challenges they're experiencing in the present to the visions they have for the future. And sometimes, the question is a big one:
IS THIS ALL THERE IS?
Like most of us, the arc of their lives probably hasn't unfolded the way they thought it would. And if they discover this as they're entering the second half of life, it can shake them up a bit.
OK. You might be confused right now. This page is supposed to be about me, but I'm talking about my clients. And probably you.
There's a reason for that. You see, I've been there myself. Searching for answers and not always knowing the questions. And if you've made it this far, I bet we have that in common.
It took me some time to recognize that deep down, I'm a seeker. And the funny thing is, so are most of my clients. They are truly heroines and heroes on a quest. And what an adventure it is, this experience called life.
But the thing is, at some point the adventure of our lives turns inward. And the paradox is that in order to create a meaningful life on the outside, the seeker is required to look inside.
So I can tick off a list of personal adventures for you. Like a decade of moving from place to place: Phoenix, Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Madison, Wisconsin. Or tell you funny and touching stories about my years teaching and counseling adult reentry students at the university. How about the degrees and training I've completed? And the conference presentations I've made? And of course there's the saga of all the rescued kitties I've loved. And the road trips I've taken. Not to mention my sweet, stalwart husband, always by my side, adventuring with me for oh so many years. Hey, I could even regale you with my favorite roles from my acting days.
What I really want to tell you, though, is that the greatest adventure of my life has been to stop and listen to the deep, resonant voice of my inner self.
To hear its stories. Trust its wisdom. Let it unlock a treasure trove of creativity, healing, and intuition. Allow it to have as much say in how my life goes as my sometimes too-controlling ego does. And finally, to become myself: authentic, flaws and all. Well, OK. I'm not quite all the way there, but no one said we're ever done, right?
So, to sum up, I love my work and my clients. Each day I get to help people stop and listen to that rich, soulful voice within. And we get to reflect. Play. Laugh. Dream. And yes, cry sometimes.
And always, I absolutely believe in the wisdom of your imagination and your power to transform your life. In fact, what I want most for my clients and you and me is to:
- Follow the trail of meaning and purpose
- Say yes to talents, potential, and creativity
- See the deeper story under pain and burdens
- Create the future while living in the now
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Professional Experience
Credentials
Professional Affiliations
- Owner, Bechtold LifeWorks Counseling & Coaching
- Counselor/Coach, UC Davis Extension
- Adjunct Faculty, CSU Sacramento
Credentials
- M.S., Counseling, CSU Sacramento
- Archetypal/Dream Pattern Training, Assisi Institute
- Coach Training, Institute for Life Coach Training
- Certified Facilitator: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) & Pearson Marr Archetype Indicator (PMAI)
- B.A., Theatre Arts
Professional Affiliations
- American Counseling Association
- International Coach Federation
- National Career Development Association
In Progress
California recently passed a bill to license professional counselors. Since I've been a counselor for 10 years now, I have an opportunity to be grandparented in to the new license. Currently I'm completing requirements to do so, and receiving supervision and mentoring from a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). When I'm finished, I'll have a designation as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
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