Clients sometimes ask, "What kinds of tests do you use?"

Okay, I admit it. I worry when I hear this question. Because I know that when you've been running on the self discovery treadmill for a long time and not getting anywhere, it's pretty compelling to think an assessment will magically give you all the answers you're looking for.

Hey, I've been there myself: "If I just find the RIGHT test, it'll tell me exactly who I am and where I'm going."

Would you really want that?

Probably not. That would be like needing a prescription to figure out your life. But you're not sick! Even if you feel stuck, I know you are inherently wise and imaginative. So no more thinking you need a prescription, okay?

There is another way

So here you are. Like I said, I’ve been there too. And I know that there is a voice deep inside urging you on. And you will be able to hear it, no matter how faint. Because, after all, we’re about to make a trip to the heart of you, where answers are ripe, if you’re willing to work a little to get them.

But first we have to build a framework for the journey by honing in on the soul-searching questions you’re asking. Some common ones: What pulls me forward? What do I need? How do I live my values? Where do I belong? Who are my people? How can I be real in the world? What will wake me up? What is my deepest purpose? What gifts have I refused to honor in myself? (You'll notice I didn't include the question, "What do I want?" I've learned it's just too big and unwieldly too take on by itself.)

Once you’ve caught hold of your particular questions, we’ll put them aside for a bit. Because you probably won’t fully know the answers yet, and that’s okay.

And then we’ll start by time traveling, excavating the defining moments and the roles you’ve played throughout life. We’ll stop for stories and themes that are particularly meaningful for you. And peak underneath any dreams or aspirations you had to put aside, to find out what made them tick and see if there’s any life left in them.

If it works for you, we’ll do some inner work with creativity, because your imagination is the key to unlocking the door to your deeper wisdom and knowing. We’ll have the option of experimenting with imagery, storytelling, collage, writing, dreams, dialogue, and drawing. Clients say that this process not only opens up space for insight and inspiration, but it also gives them an immediate experience of healing, rejuvenation, and flow.

We can also play with imaginary lives: Which ones fascinate you? Who would you trade with if you could? We’ll try to glimpse what’s in shadow, concealed beneath these lives. We’ll hunt for where and how you project your “gold,” as Robert Johnson calls it, the part of you related to your higher callings.

Perhaps most important, we’ll unearth parts of you that haven’t had much time in the world. Who want to be let out. In fact, they may be screaming for your attention. They’re like children who’ve been cooped up on a snowy day, and they can’t wait to get out and play. And once they’ve had some time in the fresh air, they want you to make space for them at the table of your life. They want a permanent spot.

L I F E W O R K S

My business is named Bechtold LifeWork Strategies because I’m fascinated by what makes life work. So here’s one of the most important things I know about that:

LIFE WORKS WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE STORY YOU’RE LIVING

The Power of Personal Story

You are a person with a story. A continually evolving masterpiece. In fact, by understanding your story you have a much better chance of making your life work just the way you want it to. And one of the best ways to understand your story is to take the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator (PMAI).

Two standardized assessments I like and use and my clients like

You've probably heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Well, The PMAI goes a step beyond the MBTI, to the deeper place within your psyche where inner energies, characters, and stories reside. It helps you tune in to the archetypes and stories that are most active in your life. By getting to know them you become more conscious of each archetype’s gifts and pitfalls, and as a result, it's much easier to be the one running the show. No matter where you are - Deepening, Doing, or Drifting (see Is This You? ) - the PMAI will help you escape habitual patterns and limiting ruts that keep you from moving forward. The PMAI also guides you toward your personal mythology, your most authentic story, the core of who you are. Like the MBTI, the PMAI is well-researched and based on the work of Carl Jung. I had the good fortune to study with its creator, Carol Pearson, who also wrote, “Awakening the Heroes Within.”

I also use the MBTI. It helps you to identify your personality preferences and unique gifts. You can use the information to better understand yourself, your motivations, your strengths, and potential areas for growth. It provides key insights about purposeful work, relationship enhancement, communication, personal growth, and professional development. It's based on Jung's theories and is backed by years of research. I'm fully qualified to administer it.

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."

-Carl Jung