About me
Hi, I’m Colleen. WELCOME!
Let me introduce you to Captian. My loyal companion and the catalyst of my wake-up call. Here's the story...
50 Years Old… and Everything Changed
At 50 years of age, I found myself facing something I never expected—
the complete reinvention of my life as I knew it.
After more than 30 years of marriage to someone I had known since I was ten years old, I was suddenly navigating divorce, living alone in a home that had once been filled with people, laughter, and connection.
At the same time, my body and mind felt like they were unraveling.
My hormones were out of balance, I was physically depleted, and emotionally… overwhelmed in a way I had never experienced before.
When Nothing Feels Safe
My nervous system was in overdrive.
Even though there was no immediate danger, my body felt like there was.
It was as if there were threats everywhere—like “tigers in the bushes” that I couldn’t quiet.
For months, I struggled to eat, sleep, or function.
I lost over 45 pounds. My hair began to fall out.
I was diagnosed with mono. I suffered a serious skiing accident that resulted in a ruptured ACL, a broken ankle and leg—and eventually, four surgeries.
I found myself spending more time in doctors’ offices than anywhere else.
Everything felt out of control.
The Collapse
At one point, I felt like I disappeared into a cocoon.
There was a deep sense of shame—
not just about what was happening, but about my inability to “hold it together” the way I always had before.
Relationships were shifting, too.
My best friend passed away.
Longstanding friendships—decades in the making—changed or fell away in the wake of divorce.
I was grieving on multiple levels at once.
Depression and anxiety became overwhelming companions during that time.
A Moment of LightÂ
And somehow… even in the middle of all of it, I still had a sense of humor.
I remember thinking, “This would make great lyrics for a terrible country song.”
Thankfully, my dog was still okay—because dogs always die in country songs.Â
 When Everything Felt Out of Control
My anxiety and depression felt overwhelming.
It seemed like every time I tried to stand back up, something else would knock me down. I sustained multiple physical injuries, and my body—something I had always relied on—no longer felt like a place of strength.
A once fearless woman, I found myself afraid of almost everything.
I was terrified of losing my business. After all, I was a marriage therapist… whose own life felt completely out of control. I remember thinking, “Who would choose to work with me?”
I felt rejected, abandoned, alone—and deeply ashamed.
Losing My Anchor
My injuries took away something I didn’t fully understand I depended on—movement.
Exercise had always been my way of coping, of regulating, of finding my center. Without it, I felt even more unmoored.
I didn’t know who to turn to or how to ask for help.
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The Moment Everything Shifted
One morning, I was sitting there sobbing, completely overwhelmed… and my dog, Captain, came and laid his head gently on my stomach.
He began to whimper.
In that moment, something shifted.
I realized I couldn’t keep living this way—not just for me, but because even he could feel my pain.
That was the moment I made a decision:
I was going to find my way back.
I was going to start living again.
A Glimpse of Light
Even in the midst of all of this, there were moments of light.
My kids sent me a T-shirt to wear to the hospital, and it gave my surgeon and the medical staff a much-needed laugh.
It didn’t change what I was going through…
but it reminded me that not everything was lost.
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If It’s to Be, It’s Up to Me
There came a moment when I knew—
it was time.
I found a therapist. I connected with a holistic doctor.
And slowly, gently, I began to emerge from my cocoon.
At first, the steps were small.
I started walking Captain.
I returned to movement—lifting weights, practicing yoga, cycling.
Eventually, I found my way back to the water… and even to snow skiing.
On the weekends, I began scheduling simple activities.
I would do my hair, get dressed—for myself—even on days I didn’t leave the house.
And somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened.
As I climbed out of that cocoon…
I realized I had grown wings.
Life Restart 2.0
This became the beginning of my Life Restart—Version 2.0.
A life where my highest good is no longer optional.
A life where I gave myself permission:
• to be messy
• to take up space
• to matter just as much as everyone else
I began to create boundaries that both protect and support me.
I made space for grace and self-compassion.
And I made a conscious decision to live with my heart wide open—
with love as the guiding force of my life.
Time to Soar
I’ve learned that sometimes it takes enough discomfort to stop living the same patterns on repeat.
At some point, we all feel alone.
And in those moments, we need support—we need each other.
With the right support, we can begin to practice radical self-care.
We can learn to meet ourselves with kindness, compassion, and grace.
We can begin to fall in love with ourselves—just as we are.
And in doing so, we find our way back home… to our heart and our soul.
What It Gave Me
This version of me—this “2.0 Colleen”—
holds deep gratitude for what that season of life taught me.
Not because it was easy…
but because it transformed me.
Like Kintsugi pottery—broken and mended with gold—
what once felt shattered has become part of my strength and beauty.
That experience didn’t break me.
It expanded me.
It deepened my capacity to love, to understand, and to guide others.
It made me a better therapist.
A more compassionate human.
And ultimately…
It lit me up.
Commitment
I’ve made a commitment to keep rising.
To keep growing.
To keep choosing a life rooted in love.
Because in the end…
Love always wins.
 We can learn to live from a place of gratitude, love, and joy.
And as we do, we begin to share it—
offering forward the wisdom, the lessons, and the “juicy nuggets” we discover along the way.
Even life’s hardest seasons carry meaning.
Again and again, we are invited to choose—
love over fear, hope over doubt.
Because in the end…
Love always wins.
Purpose
I believe life’s purpose is to live our purpose.
And mine is this:
To help others reignite their inner pilot light—
to reconnect with their unique strengths, their voice, and their vitality—
so they can live with purpose, presence, and power.
The Ripple
My intention is to be a conduit for something greater—
to ripple out vitality, joy, abundance, and love…
One person at a time.
So let’s light this place up—
with love, vitality, and joy.
Let's be real… this could be the lyrics to a pretty great rock song!
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