BECHTOLD LIFEWORKS COUNSELING & COACHING
helping you create a life that works
About Patty
I counsel and coach people who are wise, adventurous, and creative. They don't always recognize that about themselves, though, and may even have lost touch with this vibrant spirit that resides within.
Quite often, my clients are in or near the second half of life, and they're beginning to question something. Or have been questioning, for some 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.
Sometimes, the question is a big one: IS THIS ALL THERE IS?
Like most of us, the arc of their lives hasn't unfolded exactly the way they thought it would. And that can shake you up a bit. In fact, it can be a time of monumntal transition.
MY STORY
OK. You might be confused right now. This page is supposed to be about me, but I'm talking about my clients. And perhaps 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 realize that deep down, I'm a Seeker. And interestingly, so are many of my clients. They are truly 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.
It took me years to get that. I thought seeking was only about looking out there: do more, see more, have more, be more.
So I can tick off a list of personal adventures for you. When I was 17, I couldn't wait to leave my home in San Mateo, where I grew up. That put in motion almost 20 years of moving from place to place: Phoenix, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Madison, Wisconsin, and Sacramento, to name a few. (My dear husband graciously humored me every time I wanted to move.)
I can also fill you in on the degrees and training I've completed, or tell you funny and touching stories about my years teaching and counseling adult reentry students at the university. And of course there are the many sagas of rescued kitties and road trips. Hey, I could even regale you with my favorite roles from my acting days.
While I don't regret those adventures, I did eventually come to understand that sometimes they were about escape, a way to thwart my inner voice and keep me from truly looking at my life.
So now, what I really want to tell you is that my greatest adventure (and most monumental transition) has been to stop and listen to that voice. To see all of myself: light, dark, and everything in between. To claim my deeper story and trust its wisdom to unlock a treasure trove of creativity, healing, and intuition. To 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?
To sum up, I love my work and my clients. Each day I get to help people stop and listen to that deep, soulful voice within. To reflect. Play. Laugh. Dream. And yes, sometimes to cry.
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
- See the deeper story under challenges and pain
- Say yes to talents, potential, and creativity
- Create the future while living deeply right now
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
- Expressive Arts Training, JFK University
- 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
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. That means credit for experience and a few less requirements. Currently I'm completing the process and receiving supervision and mentoring from a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). When I'm finished, I'll have a designation as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). At this time, however, I'm not licensed to practice psychotherapy or diagnose/treat clinical disorders.
Professional Affiliations
- American Counseling Association
- International Coach Federation
- International Expressive Arts Therapy Association
- National Career Development Association
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