My own journey in navigating change I craved and change
I never asked for.
I love helping people put themselves back on their own list. Getting clear on what's in the way, feeling supported as you move forward, and knowing someone is genuinely in your corner. That's what this work is all about.
Coaching has always felt like a natural extension of who I am. I started my career in teaching, and what drew me in was never just the subject matter. It was people. How we learn, how we grow, and how we find our way through change. That curiosity never left me. In 2019 I followed a clear pull toward coaching, work that felt deeply meaningful and aligned with everything I had been moving toward.
Part of that path was shaped by my own wellness journey, including my experience with the Whole Life Challenge, where leading teams showed me firsthand how transformative support, reflection, and accountability can be when you're trying to create real change.
I'm based in the Greater Boston Area and work virtually with clients across the United States and internationally. Wherever you are, I'm here.
Coach Courtney | Life, Alcohol-Free & Grief Coach | Greater Boston
Hi, I'm Coach Courtney
I headed east from the Chicagoland area to attend Skidmore College and later Boston College, where I earned my master's degree in special needs, and I've been here ever since. With family ties in upstate New York and childhood summers spent on Fire Island, the East Coast has long felt familiar. I also carry a lifelong love for the mountains out west, especially Snowmass, which continues to hold a special place in my heart.
As I entered my 50s, I found myself reflecting on the life I’ve built and the work that feels most meaningful. I’m also a mom to two incredible kids who were best friends, and being their mom has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I’m living through the unimaginable after losing my son in a tragic accident, while also supporting my daughter as she steps into her next chapter and heads off to college. Our family "the squad" is rooted in a deep, loving connection, and we know how much we’ve meant to one another. That knowing brings a measure of peace, even in the midst of profound loss, and continues to shape how I move through life with care, presence, and intention.
I’m married to my best friend and deeply connected to my family and community. Choosing to live alcohol-free was the best decision I never planned, and it continues to support how I show up with clarity, steadiness, and intention in both my life and my work.
I meet people where they are and assume nothing. That’s a lesson my dad taught me, and one I carry into every coaching relationship. Another value my dad taught me, and that my sister and my son also shared, is my life motto: PMA, Positive Mental Attitude. It's everything. Even though they have all passed, it remains a special bond between us (and one I plan to carry with me forever… likely as a tattoo someday). It’s not about forcing positivity, but about perspective, responsibility, and choosing how to show up. It’s one of the many values that continue to guide how I live, listen, and support others.
A client once told me I was like a “self-care sensei,” and it made me smile. Self-care has always mattered deeply to me. I believe being on your own list of priorities isn’t indulgent, it’s essential, and it’s often where sustainable, meaningful change begins.
I believe in walking the walk and talking the talk. Coaching is one of the ways I live that, by listening deeply, holding strong boundaries, and creating steady space for the person in front of me. I’m intentional about keeping my own needs and self-care on my list of priorities, knowing when to lean into what supports me and when to step back from what doesn’t. Doing this work well means staying resourced, grounded, and clear.
Being in my clients' corner is one of the things I love about this work. My goal is to have more clarity and lightness and to never leave our session unsure or more overwhelmed than when we started. I aim to offer steady, thoughtful support without judgment, pressure, or assumptions, so you can move forward in a way that feels right for you.
My approach is forward-focused and action-oriented. While therapy often centers on understanding the past, coaching with me focuses on clarity, choice, and what's next. We work with what's present in your life now and build from there, without overwhelm.
I support clients through life transitions, habit shifts, boundaries, self-care, living alcohol-free, and navigating grief and loss through three core paths:
🌿 GRO (Get Real Outcomes) for life coaching and meaningful change.
🌿 LAF (Live Alcohol-Free) for those curious, exploring, or recommitting to an alcohol-free life.
🌿 RAY (Rest - Allow - YES!) for those navigating grief and loss, honoring what mattered deeply while gently tending to the person you are becoming.
Having walked through profound grief myself, I bring both personal understanding and professional training to this space. Life coaching was also an instrumental part of me living alcohol-free and I'm so honored to help others see and feel that this path is available to them through discovery and experimentation.
Whether we work together one-to-one, through guided DIY experiences, or via self-paced resources, the intention is always the same, to support clarity, confidence, and meaningful forward movement.
Life is a gift. You are worth it, 100%.
I will support you in discovering your own journey through trust, connection, and holding space for you.
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My Journey to Living Alcohol-Free
has given me clarity, presence, and peace.
As I reflect on my life and work today, I see a decade shaped by growth, curiosity, and meaningful change. One of the most impactful shifts has been choosing to live alcohol-free. It was never a rigid goal or a dramatic declaration. It started as an exploration and became something that brought clarity, peace, and freedom I did not know I was missing.
My first real curiosity about alcohol showed up in my early 40s when I joined the Whole Life Challenge. One of the options was to go alcohol-free, and at the time, it felt unnecessary and even extreme. I had already made changes to support my health and thought alcohol was something I had figured out. Looking back, that moment planted a quiet seed. It made me pause and notice my relationship with alcohol for the first time.
Throughout my 40s, I kept trying to make alcohol fit into my life. Over time, it began taking up far more space than I realized. The mental load, the decision fatigue, and the familiar cycle of hangxiety were always present, even if I did not yet have language for them. I was working hard to make moderation work, when in reality, living alcohol-free turned out to be simpler and far more supportive.
Everything shifted in July of 2022 when I received a nudge from my sister in heaven. The very next day, I began exploring what felt right and landed on a 30-day alcohol-free experiment. What made this experience different was my intention. I was not counting down to a celebratory drink. Instead, I asked myself new questions. Does alcohol serve me? Why would I bring it back now?
At six months, I committed to one full year alcohol-free, for all the reasons and all the seasons. That commitment brought a deep sense of peace and trust in myself. It allowed me to focus on living fully, rather than managing or negotiating my choices. Living came first, and everything else began to feel lighter. Along the way, I continued to deepen my understanding of behavior change, habit loops, and the nervous system. This learning shapes not just how I coach, but how I live and support others in creating sustainable, meaningful change.
Over time, I realized I did not want this shift just for myself. I wanted to support others who were curious, questioning, or ready to create change in a way that felt supportive and realistic. That is when I chose to focus my coaching on living alcohol-free, always with the LIVING first.
Today, whether we are talking about alcohol, stress, boundaries, or life transitions, the work is the same. I meet people where they are and help them create clarity, confidence, and momentum in their lives.
Living alcohol-free has given me exactly what I was looking for: clarity, presence, and peace. Supporting others as they explore what is possible for them continues to feel deeply aligned and meaningful.
Working to Get Real Outcomes in My Own Life
have come from reflection, small shifts, and staying connected.
I don’t believe in quick fixes or rigid formulas. The changes that have mattered most in my life have come from reflection, small shifts, and staying connected to what truly supports me. This is the approach I live by and bring into my coaching.
Here are a few ways I work toward real outcomes in my own life:
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I live with intention, using reflection and action together to guide my choices
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I’ve built systems and routines that support my energy, well-being, and progress
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When conflict shows up, I put the relationship first, then work toward resolution
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I look for small moments of joy and grounding every day, especially when life feels hard
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I notice what’s no longer working or aligning, and I take steps to change it, on my own, with support, or with trusted help
These practices aren’t about perfection. They’re about staying connected to myself, adjusting when needed, and continuing to move forward in ways that feel sustainable and real.
This is how I approach my own life, and it’s how I support others in creating clarity, confidence, and momentum in theirs.
A Few Things About Me
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I’ve built and run my own coaching practice, learning how to make thoughtful decisions, pivot when needed, and stay grounded while holding responsibility
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Daily walks and movement are essential to my well-being
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I love routines that support real life, not perfection
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I was born into a family with four teenagers, and then I arrived. I grew up as the youngest, the oldest, and the only child all at once. It gave me a front-row seat to different perspectives and taught me early how to observe and listen right from the beginning
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I’m closer in age to my nephew than I am to my sister, which makes me the unofficial “generation bridge” in my family.
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My husband is the fifth of five, also, so between us, we have a lot of nieces and nephews. At one point, three of them lived with us and named our house “the youth hostel.”
A Few More Fun, Random Facts
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I’m a longtime Gadget Girl who’s happily pared things down to an Oura ring
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A heated vest and couch time with our pup bring me joy
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I’ve lived in the Boston area for over half my life now