THIS INFO CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR INDIVIDUAL & ORGANIZATIONAL JOURNEYS.

Dr. Denise's Story

Everybody Has a Story. Here's Part of Mine:

LOSS: My story begins with my death in 1995. Actually, I didn't die physically at that time, but I died mentally, emotionally, and spiritually on June 3, 1995. That's when my mother, at age 49, was killed by a drunk driver. She was my confidante, inspiration and best friend. On that day, at 29 years of age, I lost my compass. However, my grief journey wasn't over. Ten years later, in 2005, I lost my heart when my 5 month old son died in a freak accident. Whereas few knew how to help me after my mom was killed, almost no one knew what to say nor do to console me after the loss of a child. Two years later, my aunt (and surrogate mother) was killed by someone drag racing (I lost my patience...how much could one person endure). And two years after that, my husband died (officially, it was due to complications of sickle cell disease but the unofficial cause was grief due to the death of our son). Some would say that I lost my mind after his death because that's when, as a single parent to 3 teenaged sons, I decided to walk away from a job with a six-figure salary, five figure bonus, exotic trips, and lots of prestige.

LIFE: In choosing another path, I ran toward my destiny: helping other grieving people to manage the issues of life, loss, leadership, and legacy. My work at the nonprofit Whole Heart Center (which I founded in 2013) recognizes that grief is not limited to death and that people need safe spaces to learn, explore, discuss, and practice. It also leverages my experiences (the 4 sudden losses, as well as a career that included leadership roles with Human Resources, employee development, diversity, mentoring, coaching, and consulting) and education (masters in thanatology, the study of death and grief, along with a PhD in marriage and family therapy and a dissertation on the bereavement experiences of African American women).

LEADERSHIP: I've now developed my own communication and conflict resolution model that helps both individuals and organizations address key areas such as: value, identity, pain, power, purpose, diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also helps them to work toward wholeness…mentally, emotionally and, at times, spiritually. Wholeheartedly working with people's hearts and minds via coaching, consulting and group facilitation is truly my mission.

LEGACY: Many of my clients are African American women. These are often the women who help everyone else, almost to the point of having nothing left for themselves. They also face heavy expectations from multiple directions. Culturally, they are expected to be strong, bearing the weight of the world without complaint (just like their mothers and grandmothers did). Society often stereotypes them as angry women and try to defy that label can often sap them of tremendous amounts of energy. Their faith communities expect them to be saved women without questions nor struggle. And their expectations for themselves include being superwomen who can handle the pressures of work, home, the community, and more without breaking a sweat. While they are beautiful, confident and powerful on the outside, the weight of these expectations is killing these women from the inside out. That's why the rate of heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses is disproportionate within this group. And it's difficult to find someone who understands their unique challenges, can speak to their needs and will teach them skills for finding comfort, peace and restoration in a world where they often feel invisible. By virtue of my' education, experience and passion, I can see the grief of these women, allow them to articulate their pain, help them to access their purpose, and then works with them to pursue their purpose. I also helps the organizations where these women are too often overlooked and misunderstood to gain education and accountability that strengths all parties. This is the legacy I will leave for my family, friends, clients, and the world!

Professionalism and Experience

As a professionally trained and experienced life coach, I have the tools and understanding to help you to create the life you imagine and get a renewed sense of self.

Taking the Steps

Committing to a healthier lifestyle is just that – a commitment, and it’s a big one that will take a lot a dedication. My commitment is to provide you with accountability, understanding and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

How does coaching work?

Coaching is an interactive experience where we discover your goals and your passions and use them to help you travel down a path to the life you want.

Is it confidential?

100%! What happens in our sessions stays in our sessions, just like seeing a therapist.

How long does it typically take to see results?

The time that your coaching process will take depends on the complexity of your goals and your commitment and openness to your process.