Working with Lynda as a coach was an extremely positive, productive and enjoyable experience. She is perceptive and insightful, and very quickly saw into the heart of the issues I was grappling with. I felt a personal connection right from the start of our coaching relationship, and found her to be warm, supportive and encouraging. Her understanding of the process of decision-making was illuminating and she provided creative and useful tools to guide me toward a place of authenticity and clarity. Lynda’s dynamic and flexible approach was a joy to engage with and was integral in my achieving the goal of making a fully explored, grounded and conscious decision to help me create the kind of life I want.
I recently participated in a unique experience that allowed me to build more work life balance awareness and emphasized the value of my own self-care. Where burnout costs our mental health systems a great deal in terms of financial costs not to mention the human costs, these costs are often not addressed or poorly addressed. This workshop uses a unique approach to address self-care and our attitudes towards it. This coaching is provided via 5 one-hour telephone conference calls. There are no travel costs or time involved for travel. The entire costs per participant are far less than the costs of a single sick day. This is not therapy; this is an opportunity for growth and healing. I was one of the few who burned out and was able to return to work with greater joy and enthusiasm then ever through support and timely intervention. I reflect now and wonder if I had this opportunity years earlier, would I have had to take any time off at all?
I have attended several Creative Wellness workshops. What has always struck me about Lynda is her knowledge and understanding child protection/maltreatment and the issues faced by social workers. She is kind, compassionate, humorous and she helps you to look at the issue from a more insightful perspective. Lynda is very enthusiastic and committed to the professional self care needs of social workers.
Lynda presents very difficult and challenging material in a very kind and gentle way that provides participants with the safety required to learn while they explore personal trauma. Lynda’s committment to ensuring that professionals take time to address their own trauma or vicarious trauma needs – enables participants to engage in those courageous conversations necessary to maintaining professional humility.
This was an amazing oasis of warmth and reflection in the midst of a demanding, fast-paced life.
The benefits I experienced from participating in the Spirited Self-Care group coaching program are that I feel like I have permission to be where I am at instead of beating myself up for where or who I “should” be. I have some skills that I can put into play to gradually work toward my goals in an environment of gentleness and nurturing self. I can embrace the positive and not focus on the aspects that are “missing” right now for me. This experience was mind-opening, affirming, and gentle.
When I first came for coaching I did not know what to expect. I am surprised at how quickly things went from feeling very confused and muddy to a place of greater joy and clarity. I would recommend coaching with Lynda to anyone going through life changes. This coaching exceeded my expectations – it had a lot of substance to it. I feel like a veil has been pulled aside and I am feeling ready to live my life more fully.
Lynda reminded me how powerful I am. Somewhere along the way I forgot.
I was faced with some challenging interactions with doctors as well as difficult surgical options on my health and healing journey. Lynda used visualizations, a kind of art therapy (drawing), combined with writing, movement, touch and vocalizations to help me move the negative energy. This dramatically reduced my stress levels!!!
She reminded me through this process that:
I know what is best for me.
I can make decisions for myself in the face of multiple opinions and perspectives.
I can work through the emotions of any situation, coming to a neutral place, where I can then clearly ask people to help me in the ways that I need and want.
I found the sessions worked well when they were scheduled regularly and consistently. This continuity helped to change patterns that no longer served my best interests.
Lynda continues to be an integral part of my healing team. Her open-hearted acceptance and willingness to move through whatever is up at the moment is priceless!!!
I feel HUGE GRATITUDE to and for this woman and the piece coaching holds in my life!!! Thank you Lynda!!!
Freeing, creative, beautiful – thank you for the opportunity to be myself, to find myself again and to allow me the time and inclination to make a commitment to myself.
While I was working as a training manager for a First Nations organization in B.C. I worked with Lynda Monk on a number of occasions. She worked with us in the capacity of trainer and curriculum developer. I always found Lynda to be professional, knowledgeable, skilled and caring communicator. I always received excellent feedback on her training from training participants who commented on her energetic training style and her comprehensive knowledge of content. I highly recommend Lynda for any task associated with training and/or curriculum development in her area of expertise.
