Learn About Paula
Why do caregivers need a coach?  Because the work you do is difficult and puts you at risk for consequences you may not even know about:
  • Eighteen percent of caregivers for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias die before the patient does, largely due to the stress of their caregiving role.
  • There is an alarmingly high prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals in the United States.
  • Clinicians are highly skilled at helping others but rarely skilled at self-care strategies.
Learn About Paula

Why do caregivers need a coach?  Because the work you do is difficult and puts you at risk for consequences you may not even know about:

• Eighteen percent of caregivers for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias die before the patient does, largely due to the stress of their caregiving role.
• There is an alarmingly high prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals in the United States.
• Clinicians are highly skilled at helping others but rarely skilled at self-care strategies.

For 45 years, I’ve worked as a Registered Nurse in small and large healthcare facilities. In 2013 my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and, in addition to my role as a professional nurse, I became a family caregiver.

My training and education were great preparation for addressing his physical needs. Still, it did not prepare me for the personal and emotional pain that accompanies the increasing disability of a loved one. Watching the person I love in a steady process of loss is painful. This pain, accompanied by the feeling of powerlessness, is challenging to overcome alone.

During this misfortune, I realized that I never learned how to properly care for myself in spite of all of my training, degrees, and credentials.

I realized that to help others to the best of my ability, I had to first be a genuine friend to myself. 

Now, my message to you is that when you can’t change your circumstances, you must change yourself. 

That is what my work is all about, helping other caregivers – both professionals and family caregivers – acknowledge their pain and learn to practice the many small skills of self-care that can sustain them through the challenges of wholeheartedly caring for others.

For 45 years, I’ve worked as a Registered Nurse in small and large healthcare facilities. In 2013 my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and, in addition to my role as a professional nurse, I became a family caregiver.

My training and education were great preparation for addressing his physical needs. Still, it did not prepare me for the personal and emotional pain that accompanies the increasing disability of a loved one. Watching the person I love in a steady process of loss is painful. This pain, accompanied by the feeling of powerlessness, is challenging to overcome alone.

During this misfortune, I realized that I never learned how to properly care for myself in spite of all of my training, degrees, and credentials.

I realized that to help others to the best of my ability, I had to first be a genuine friend to myself. 

Now, my message to you is that when you can’t change your circumstances, you must change yourself. 

That is what my work is all about, helping other caregivers – both professionals and family caregivers – acknowledge their pain and learn to practice the many small skills of self-care that can sustain them through the challenges of wholeheartedly caring for others.

Qualifications & Experience

EDUCATION

  • Integrative Therapies & Healing Practices Certificate, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus (May 2020); NBC-HWC certification, 2020.
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Nursing Administration Research (NINR Funded), University of Iowa, College of Nursing, 1997-98
  • Ph.D., Major: Adult Education/Organizational Development; Minors: Nursing and Research with a special focus on Qualitative Study Design, Indiana University, 1984
  • M.S.N., Major: Maternal-Child Nursing; Special Focus: Behavioral Pediatrics, Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis, 1979
  • B.S.N., Dallas Baptist College, Dallas, Texas, 1975

LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS

  • RN License, State of Minnesota since 1984
  • Certified Public Health Nurse since 1986 
  • Certified in Interactive Guided Imagery (Academy for Guided Imagery) since 1990
  • Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) since 2020

EDUCATION

  • Integrative Therapies & Healing Practices Certificate, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus (May 2020); NBC-HWC certification, 2020.
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Nursing Administration Research (NINR Funded), University of Iowa, College of Nursing, 1997-98
  • Ph.D., Major: Adult Education/Organizational Development; Minors: Nursing and Research with a special focus on Qualitative Study Design, Indiana University, 1984
  • M.S.N., Major: Maternal-Child Nursing; Special Focus: Behavioral Pediatrics, Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis, 1979
  • B.S.N., Dallas Baptist College, Dallas, Texas, 1975

LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS

  • RN License, State of Minnesota since 1984
  • Certified Public Health Nurse since 1986 
  • Certified in Interactive Guided Imagery (Academy for Guided Imagery) since 1990
  • Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) since 2020
Paula helped me put the stress and mayhem of my everyday life into perspective. In even a few sessions, I felt I was able to add new tools to my toolkit to help balance my personal and professional goals, and I know who to call if I ever need more!

- L.P.

Medical School Student

I didn’t know what to expect when I started with Health coaching with Paula. I came into it in the thick of studying for a difficult professional exam. I wasn’t consciously aware of how much it weighed on my identity, but I knew it was a source of stress in my life. Many of our conversations were about the exam, and I found a lot of perspective in our discussions that helped me shift my perspective towards the exam and reduce much of the stress. It didn’t change the fact that I still had much studying to do. However, Paula was able to help me connect how studying mirrored many other past endeavors in my life and allowed me to take life lessons from those and apply them to this challenge. It has been extremely helpful for me and I would recommend Paula to anyone else who is looking for a health coach whatever their background may be.

- A.D.

Actuarial Analyst

I felt relief that Paula genuinely understood my experience as a caregiver. She focused on helping me adopt self-care practices and learn what is really “enough” to achieve in a day. She offered encouragement and I could talk to her about anything that was challenging for me in both my caregiver role and in managing my own life around the needs of my loved one.

- J.S.

Caregiver & Retired Physician

How Can I Help You?

Through Co-Create 4 Life, you will learn a range of well-being strategies from skillfully implementing self-care to holistic approaches to well-being, rebuilding resilience, and battling burnout. Book a free consultation call today to discuss your options.

How Can I Help You?

Through Co-Create 4 Life, you will learn a range of well-being strategies from skillfully implementing self-care to holistic approaches to well-being, rebuilding resilience, and battling burnout. Book a free consultation call today to discuss your options.