About

I help people all over the place, thanks to the phone and videoconference tools. I am in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA, situated on Nipmuc and Pocumtuc land, within an area often called “Western Mass.”

I’m committed to being welcoming and inclusive of all races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, cultural or class backgrounds, body sizes, and abilities, and my coaching experience includes that whole range.

It’s also true that I am best able to help mid-career women so that is my focus. I also welcome hearing from gender non-binary and trans people who are drawn to my work. 

I can’t help everyone who contacts me, and I try to provide referrals when I can.

I continue to expand my own cultural humility. Social and racial justice issues are near and dear to my heart. I know it’s a lifelong learning process too so I won’t always get it right. I welcome you sharing your perspective with me. (I appreciate feedback and I promise to accept it graciously.)

You can learn more about my Inclusion, Equity, Antiracism practices >>

• Former wallflower who enjoys socializing, on my own introvert terms.
• Over 14 years as a self-employed professional coach (and a lifetime of informal coaching before I knew the word).
• Self-supporting business owner even during a down economy.
• Extensive training and experience in adult learning, training, and group facilitation.
• Longtime practice in meditation and mindfulness (with ups and downs of course).
• Featured expert in the media, including a work advice column for introverts that was syndicated on Huffington Post. Interview topic range: introverts, HSPs, self-employment for introverts and HSPs, superpowers, heart-centered work, work-life harmony, marketing for introverts, impact-driven work choices, and related topics.
• Graduate of the Coaches Training Institute, accredited by ICF. (Loved it!)
• Committed to following the International Coach Federation (ICF) ethical standards.
• Former Chairperson, Western Massachusetts Coaching Alliance.
• 20+ years in health and human services.
• 20+ years in management (non-profit and business worlds).
• 25+ years in marketing and communications (non-profit and business worlds).
• 15+ years helping with websites and web marketing, especially for healing arts professionals.
• 20+ years experience in public speaking, from schools to international conferences.
• Inbound Marketing Certified Professional (includes SEO and social media)
• Successful experience in a range of settings — including education, health care, human resources management, and web marketing.
• 5 years of training in conscious communication (also known as non-violent communication [NVC] or mindfulness communication), a powerful tool for heart-centered and direct communication.
• Lifelong love-based training and action for anti-racism, dismantling white supremacy, intersectional women’s rights, LGBTQQIA, health care access, human rights, peace, climate crisis, and refugee resettlement. 
• Former illustrator and ad designer (award-winning).
• B.A., Tulane University (Double major: Sociology, Latin American Studies)

Also, I am living my purpose.  I also happen to be a confident and social introvert. (That’s a real thing.)

For the real-deal credentials, check out my client testimonials. 

I find that assessment tools like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), CliftonStrengths, StrengthsProfile, Sparketype, and the Enneagram can be very revealing and useful for seeing things about ourselves we didn’t see before.

But they can be problematic when used without an advisor to help you interpret them, and if they are used to put you in a box as some employers have done.

If you’re like me, you might enjoy knowing my “type” from various measurements, like these:

• CliftonStrengths Top 5: Connectedness, Empathy, Strategic, Relator, Activator. (No wonder I ended up in coaching!)
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: INFP (near the middle on most)
• Enneagram: 1w9
• Sparketype: Advisor + Sage

I think all of these findings have been good validation for me, that I’ve chosen a field that aligns with my natural strengths, and the yin/yang of life. I love helping others find their alignment too.

Oh I could go on and on but this list could give you a window into my inspirations:

• Desmond Tutu
• Rosa Parks
• John Lewis
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Gladys Tantaquidgeon
• Lyla June
• Rachel Carson
• Jane Goodall
• Spring Washam
• Van Jones
• John O’Donohue
• Mary Oliver
• Joanna Macy
• Colette Pichon Battle
• Mother Earth

In other words, I’m inspired by Fierce Love, which is another way of saying Love in Action even when it’s hard to do.

I first opened my own business in 2008 as a consultant for service professionals (e.g., healing arts) who wanted help with online communications (e.g., web and social media), because I already had a good reputation for it from past jobs.

I soon found that many of my clients had fears that got in the way of their marketing, such as networking anxiety, or fear of exposure. So my compassionate coaching style kicked in, and we’ve all been a lot happier and seen more results since then.

After some additional coach training in 2009, I started calling myself a business coach more than a consultant, but I bring both skills to my work. I think it makes a nice blend because we can deal with the inner confidence and clarity stuff, and the practical steps all in one session so things can keep moving.

I soon added career coaching, especially coaching for introverts and HSPs.

I’ve been doing something like coaching for ages under different names (mentor, program manager, human resources manager, friend, listener). It’s been a joyful birthing process of bringing more of the real me to work. It’s an ongoing journey and I’m so grateful for it all.

My current services include business coaching, career coaching, group coaching, mentoring for coaches, and career and business courses.

I’m ready and interested in talking about big societal issues that might be weighing on you, including inequity, climate, and/or societal collapse concerns. It’s normal for sensitive souls to feel these weights and we need a place to talk about it.

And we need to be able to talk about how it relates to the best use of you now, in harmony with your own energy needs too. It’s all part of the oneness and we can’t ignore it.

Yes, my actual name is Val Nelson Taylor. I had my business before I got married and so I kept Val Nelson as the name of my business.