YOUR KIND WORDS
"Before starting coaching, I felt so confused, lost, and frustrated with all the changes in our organization that I knew I needed help but I didn't know who to ask and what questions to ask. Coaching with Melissa has been an incredible experience. I wish the sessions could continue! I have loved learning about myself with the help of a coach and learning that there are tools to help me get out of bad habits, reframe negative thinking, etc all while finding and staying true to my core values. Now that I have completed our sessions, I feel like a different person! I now know that I can be an effective leader and still hold true to my core values. I feel centered and focused and capable of taking on the challenges that face me." "Working with Melissa, both in her Mastermind group and in one-on-one coaching, has been a wonderful experience. She has a masterful ability to create a collaborative, safe space with 10+ women sharing stories, wins, and challenges, and providing support. She keeps the flow moving beautifully so everyone's voice is heard. I'm also privileged to have 1:1 coaching support with Melissa and again, she creates a space that allows for openness and growth." " When I started coaching, I wanted to improve my executive presence and support my team through the changes that they would be experiencing in the coming transition. Our work had to become very tactical due to the changes that I experienced in the project and in the environment for my team. I felt that my experiences were always validated and that I had someone in my corner to support and help me be successful throughout such challenges. I left each session with at least a couple of clear actions that I could take that would help improve my situation. I am celebrating that I (1) was able to have support and guidance during a very confusing, stressful and turbulent period, (2) now recognize what is and is not my responsibility/a reflection on me; and (3) feel more centered and grounded in my capabilities, even if the environment does not bring out my best." "I am celebrating everything that I've learned from mentor coaching with Melissa and the opportunity to use my newfound knowledge in a broader context (Leadership coaching AND Health & Wellness coaching). The way Melissa explained what I needed to do and why helped me really understand the importance (for the client and for me) of the specific skill we were trying out. It also gave me confidence to try them out as she explained them in a way that made the skills simple to integrate with my coaching. I think that combo really helped make it easy for me to incorporate new things into my coaching." 
"Melissa is a person who leads with heart. I work with Melissa on a committee as well as on a health coaching team. Whether she's taking the lead on a project or supporting the project, I know her contribution will be thoughtful, complete, and creative. She has a unique ability to see the big picture and manage details. It's a pleasure to work beside her and feel gently held and empowered." "I do not honestly know how I would have managed through this season of changes - personal and professional - without the supportive, kind, compassionate, empowering coaching from Melissa. It was incredible to experience being heard, each session, no matter what came out of my head/mouth - and the gentle way to get to decisions, plans, next steps - I am so grateful for the gift that this coaching was for me! I got myself back! I'm feeling very positive about my progress and wins, and am celebrating (1) remembering that I am a great leader and to stand in my power when i KNOW i have the ability: (2) recognizing that I am highly motivated at work and much more satisfied in roles where I create/drive impact through others journeys then as an individual contributor. (recognizing my calling); (3) recognizing that I am in a new/different season of my career and its OK to be in the role I am in for a time, and can enter into a new career "season" later; (4) feeling like myself again, and remembering just how important that is to ensure I am my authentic self at work and at home. "I have enjoyed having Melissa as my coach. She is an experienced professional and has insights that are valuable to me in my role. Through our work together, I discovered that as a leader, I am unique and have my own unique sets of strengths and skills. I lead differently and feel differently towards my work/my team/my role. I learned that everyone really needs a "Melissa" to help work through areas of executive leadership. It isn't easy and having someone to safely talk to has made a big difference in my life both professionally and personally. I am celebrating that I now recognize my wins, address my feelings and take a proactive approach with my leaders to help them become better leaders. Melissa helped me see that the challenges I was working through aren't easy for anyone, regardless of their title, role, tenure. During our coaching term, I had a lot of personal loss (sister, mom, dad) within 4 weeks. Melissa became a coach that helped me express the loss, how it was impacting my work life balance and really helped me put into words my feelings and grief during this time. I like that Melissa always met me emotionally where I needed to go, and was there to laugh with me too. "Through coaching I have learned how to work with feedback, I have found my inner mentor and know how to reach her, and I have learned how to calm my inner critic. My coaching experience has been an eye opener for me. I am definitely using everything I have learned on a daily basis. I wish I can continue coaching forever. The lessons and techniques I have learned and the epiphany moments I shared with Melissa are priceless and I am proud to say that I will carry them with me for life. Melissa was amazing all through this journey. How she remembered every small detail of our conversation and gave me a very personalized experience all along. All of her advice and techniques are great and have worked wonders for me. I looked forward to our conversations always and it has definitely given me a positive outlook about life in general." "I enjoyed my coaching experience with Melissa, she was kind and direct. She understood where my mindset was when we started our coaching sessions. I found that she adapted her approach to my communication style and needs very well. She provided encouragement when I needed it, and offered practical advice and tools to use when I needed them. I am going to miss our time together, but I have my golden nuggets that I will carry with me." 
"I LOVED COACHING! I feel as a woman in leadership that I didn't want to admit my issues. Now I want to own them and share them. I am shifting my focus to be more open to feedback and asking for help, able to discuss openly my challenges. Through coaching, I've worked on my personal self and professional self and the results are reflected in my team. Letting people learn and grow provides more benefits than me just taking it all on. I'm celebrating a better version of myself. The conversations I've engaged my boss in, my language, my strengths and that everything seems to be ok. I am grateful for the perspective, and feedback Melissa provided. I feel like I grew up, and have embraced working on myself more which results in help for those around me. Her advice left me with a sense of growth, and responsibility. This growth has enabled me to be more available and helpful working with my team." "Melissa is magnificent interactive coach. She was able to pivot from session to session to focus on what was important to me at that time. Through this experience I have gained the tools for becoming more self aware of the positivity I bring to the teams that I interact with on a routine basis. I realized that being my authentic self is responded by others in a positive manner. And to keep being me and asking my support group for help when things become overwhelming." "If you are looking for a coach who stands right there on your side, who believes in you, and who challenges you to be all you can be, then Melissa is the coach for you. She combines strong intuition, years of her own study, and a high level of coaching skills. Melissa has a natural sense for how to balance curiosity and openness with holding you to what you want to create. I hired her to help me with a major life transition and I not only value every session, but my transition has more life and fire than I could have imagined before." "I came to coaching wanting to develop my executive presence and speak to a wider audience with confidence and conviction. Through coaching, I now understand the "why" behind my defaults and make conscious efforts to move out of my comfort zone to put forward my ideas/opinions in conversations with my managers, teams and leaders. Understanding the nature of problems, that most of these would be adaptive challenges and therefore need adaptive leadership skills to solve these challenges (such as try to be experimental, curious and comfortable being in the unknown/unfamiliar situations) also gave me more confidence. 
"I have participated in at least 4 workshops with Melissa over the last few years, as well as receiving personal coaching. In the workshops, she was always very prepared, organized, and very attentive, not to mention, fun! I've really gotten a much better understanding of Ayurvedic principles than I ever had which is still manifesting in my life body, mind and soul. In our one-on-one work, I gained meaningful insight into my needs to feel clear, light, and accomplished as I have transitioned into retirement and "empty-nesting". She listened so well, she heard things I didn't even know I said! " "Melissa is a shining light! She is a masterful coach and has a wonderful, attractive, and kind energy. Melissa’s caring for individuals and the collective is exemplary!" "Melissa has been very helpful in giving me tools to find ways to be an effective and efficient leader in my business, without compromising what’s important in my personal life. I look forward to future coaching sessions as I continue to do the work in creating a beautiful life." "Coaching forced me to look into myself and ask some questions that I think I didn't want to ask but also that I just took for granted. Melissa is a great cheerleader, and really pushed me to be accountable to the goals I set for myself. I have had difficult conversations and really put myself out there these past few months. I realized that what I have to say matters, and that I am more powerful than I thought I could be." "Melissa is a delightful combination of strength, wisdom, and joyous humor. She is an unwavering truth-teller and truth-seeker." " The wonderful teachers, the excellent workshops, the beautiful space - everything about Melissa's studio encourages calm and joyful practice. It also fosters a community of such loving and lovely souls, and I know that began with Melissa & Rita and the intention they bring to it. I’m so grateful for all the connections I have made at the studio." "Melissa and I have coached together a number of times over the last year. She helped me find the space for quiet reflection, as well as room to imagine multiple possibilities. Melissa uses simple questions in a powerful way, encouraging careful consideration that goes well below the surface. She is also ready to share the joy with you, with her wonderful laugh!" |
"As a colleague of Melissa Arthur's when we both worked in integrated health teams through Vera Whole Health, I was continually impressed by her presence and her apparent skills as a coach. It was clear from our coach meetings that Melissa connected deeply with her patients. In fact, it was her mindful presence that I most noticed and appreciated when we were colleagues. I was also deeply impressed by her commitment to ending racial disparities. She led discussions around this topic that showed how well she understood the issues and could communicate about them in a way that made us all feel heard and accepted. She has gone on to lead mastermind groups and to mentor other coaches and I am sure she is masterful at this as well. I highly recommend her as an exceptional coach!" " When I think back on 2021, coaching with Melissa was the best thing that happened to me. Melissa is a great mentor, a friend who has helped me navigate and guide through the journey of leadership." "This experience has been wonderful for me. I felt completely comfortable talking to Melissa. “I recently discovered my human design type, and it rocked my world because it resonated so deeply with what I have experienced my whole life. The thing is, I needed to re-program how I interface with the world in order to live an authentic life because my 60 year old patterns were not in alignment with that design. A couple of sessions with Melissa did just that! She has a way of reflecting something back to me that is like turning a light switch on. It was an aha moment about every 5 minutes in our sessions! And those moments were everything from new deep, core understandings of myself, my practice and my creativity, to practical things I can actually DO to move all of myself forward in my new ways. I am living a much more effective and joyful life in everything I do in the world because of her help. There is no such thing as work anymore, only playing my field of possibilities. And I have Melissa to thank for that!” 
"I have the opportunity to work with Melissa in her Mastermind group and as her 1:1 client and I could not be more grateful for her guidance and support. Melissa comes into every session present, attentive and leading with her big heart. Her years of experience coupled with her kind spirit and positive energy provide an unparalleled coaching experience that helps foster clarity, confidence and excitement for what is ahead. It has been a true pleasure to work with Melissa and I cannot thank her enough!" "Melissa is a very good coach, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with her. It was easy to connect and she was encouraging when I felt stressed. She helped me to be comfortable with who I am. She was good at helping me through situations and question why I felt the way was feeling. I feel like she really understood where I was coming from and helped me to get to the root of my issues." "It was really transformational to sit still with a coach and walk through my thoughts and challenges. Life changing! Melissa provided a space for support, non-judgment, and mindset shifts that. moved me forward. I am celebrating that I am enough, I am not alone, I am doing well, I don't have to be perfect, and I am excited to share what I am learning with others!" "Melissa is such a warm and wise presence. When I started working with her, I felt I needed to sharpen my focus and break through chronic obstacles which prevented me from achieving a daily quantum shift from good to great. She asked clarifying questions, helped me vision my desired outcomes, and develop strategies for developing a way of measuring and accounting for subtle shifts and improvements in my overall function. Now, rather than bringing my “b game” to my work and my life, I am bringing my “A game”, resulting in a much better sense of personal clarity, health and work focus. All this, in a fun accepting, and nurturant coaching relationship. I highly recommend Melissa’s coaching; everyone I know loves her, and she is widely recognized for her special talent." "Melissa's steady and inviting presence helps create a sacred space for clients to process their deep challenges and opportunities. She asks powerful questions, then becomes the mirror through which her clients’ strengths and goodness are generously illuminated. I highly recommend her as coach for anyone seeking to realize a more purposeful and thriving life." 
"Melissa had a great attitude and connection to our team. She had the ability to remain a neutral facilitator while not ignoring the uncomfortable - not ideal situations that arose. I particularly enjoyed the leadership and team building sessions as they have proved to be a useful addition to the tools we deploy at the workplace for greater effectiveness. We thoroughly enjoyed the sessions with Melissa and learned so much from her. She is no doubt going to be part of our success story going forward." "I loved the coaching experience, and highly recommend it, especially for new managers. It was very helpful for me, particularly integrating the coaching approach with my direct reports. Before coaching, I had been tough on myself when didn't need to be. I was so worried and felt a lot of pressure during my first full year as a manager. As a result, this worry and pressure were carried over into my second year as a manager. Having a safe place to talk to about the challenges that I am facing and knowing that there is a focus on building the skills set to improve really moved me forward. Coaching has made me much more confident in my abilities to lead and coach my team. I discovered that I am doing alright as a manager and can now celebrate my wins." "I had never done anything like this before I sat down with Melissa. I came to her coaching practice at a time in my life where I felt like so much was out of my control. Through our sessions, she helped me to break down my frustrations to their core issues and from there build out actionable steps to move forward. Sometimes things can seem so large and amorphous. Melissa helped me to realize that, when you have the courage to look the issues in the face, and answer the difficult questions, you really have the power to write your own story." "Melissa’s workshops are a treat to attend. I’ve participated in several, from discovering and fulfilling one’s purpose and aspirations to how to find balance with Ayurveda. She is well prepared for every topic she presents, but it’s more than that. Melissa can answer questions whether closely or only vaguely related to the material because she has studied the subjects in depth. And while preparedness and knowledge are important, it’s her warmth and enthusiasm that will keep me coming back. Finally, I have no doubt that she lives what she teaches. Recently, she had taken her dogs to the vet and planned to run them home and grab our class handouts before teaching our workshop, but the road was blocked. She arrived at the studio without class handouts and with her two dogs. Nevertheless, she laughed about the circumstances, joyfully and professionally taught the class, introduced us to her dogs during the intermission, and emailed the handouts immediately after class. In several moments of mayhem I’ve had since then, I remembered Melissa’s calm-despite-the-chaos demeanor and relaxed." "I am thankful for the openness Melissa encouraged and the thoughtfulness of her questions. She helped me create the space and a comfortable environment to get to the discoveries that were ultimately mine and felt so natural to accept and follow. She set a great example of coaching that I can use in my roles as a leader a parent and as a curious individual. I feel energized about the takeaways from our conversations and have more tools to help with balance and to continue on my good start here. Even if a tool doesn't work in the long run, I have fundamentally understood myself more and have an interest in continuing to ask myself the open ended questions to learn and navigate the life changes that will inherently come." 
"I’ve known Melissa for 30 years. Not casually. Not just an acquaintance. But as someone I easily call ‘best friend’. And throughout these past 30 years I’ve been gifted with her gifts. She’s helped me navigate life transitions, career trajectories, and romantic uncertainties. She has helped me cope with loss and celebrated with me during times of triumph. I’ve found myself in situations where I ask myself, “What would Melissa do?” (WWMD) and more often than not the answer presents itself pretty quickly. And it’s not because she’s fixing anything for me or purports to have all the answers, but it’s because she’s instilled in me a confidence in myself and the ability to let my heart be open to all possibilities. Illuminate Guidance is an extension of the gifts Melissa has long possessed and I’m thrilled she’s creating the framework to share them with the world." "When I came to coaching, I wanted to find my way, to define my position in the company with the background of an aging woman in the professional environment of young energetic colleagues with quick grasp. After coaching, I feel much more confident to be myself. I discovered I could try my own way and be authentic. My knowledge and experience are valuable. I am respected. " Coaching is an amazing tool - truly a gift that I'm extremely grateful for. It has positively impacted all aspects of my life. The guidance and coaching that Melissa bestowed on me was the catalyst that got me to move forward. I tend to only see the unfinished work and don't recognize the accomplishments. She was able to walk me through the "cloudy mess" and helped me to see the wins along the way. I am more confident in my ability to communicate and contribute effectively to the team and the company." "When I started coaching, I wanted to improve my leadership skills by becoming more confident in myself, and shifting my perspective from what I had as a student to being successful in the workforce. I feel like I now have the tools to be more sure of myself, and not allowing myself to lead with fear first. I have learned successful ways to rely on myself and my knowledge instead of turning outwards for help immediately. Coaching with Melissa has been a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about myself (both good and areas of improvement) to help move me towards my goals. I think I present myself one way, but internally I feel differently at times, and getting those two to be more aligned has been really powerful." "Melissa is a very warm, easy to connect with and intuitive coach. I would reflect after our sessions how well she had understood me - 'hit the nail' on the head as we would say from what she had heard. She was very adaptable within a session to find appropriate material from our discussion that I could take away and it would help." "I came to coaching to get clear on my values and goals in my personal life and career. I now have a better idea about what needs to happen in the next 2 years to achieve more personal peace. fulfillment, and financial freedom. I am celebrating that I don’t need to rush to complete everything at once-the next two years of preparation are allowed. I will start with an assessment of my every day fulfillment, emotional needs and financial needs when I’m considering big life changes (I.e. moving, starting a family, or changing my career). Melissa is incredible. I often felt helpless in my situation and asked Melissa for direct orders on what to consider, and at other times made progress in a way that was self-guided." |
