Custom Coaching

I have been working on getting to know myself better through therapy, self-help, and coaching since I was 15 years old, and nothing has been more effective to getting to the roots and moving forward in a meaningful way than working with Presley. She has a gift that I believe she was born with, but that she has honed in the most beautiful way through the practices and education she has taken on in her life. It’s been really hard for me to have a limited capacity for political activism at a time when it feels so needed, and our work has helped me accept my limitations without giving up on my values. I wish everyone could experience the joy of working with Presley within their lifetime.

–Chris Connolly

When I started working with Presley, I was not as centered in myself while connecting with friends and family. I would swing between gripping for connection, and being too distant.

Coaching helped me get in touch with these sides of myself and understand why I was leaning too hard into connection, and why I was driven to harden and distance myself from it. I started to notice my patterns of over- and under-connecting in the moment, which helped me become more self-aware across dating, personal, and professional interactions.

Through this work, I made progress moving closer to being the authentic grounded person I want to be. I learned how to connect more with myself and I got in touch with a flexible kind of strength that made me less intense or reactive. I found ways of feeling peace in stillness, rather than only in motion.

I’m getting to know my authentic self, and that makes it easier to cope with moments of disconnection from other people. I can feel grounded in myself even when, say, a date doesn’t work out, or a friendship hits a bump. It’s even helped me enjoy dancing more. Sometimes I get overly focused on what I am doing next, and whether my partner is enjoying the time, but recently, I tapped into what I had learned about self-connection and I felt more in the moment, authentically expressing myself which made my and my partner’s experience more joyful. It has made dancing a more fun and fulfilling experience.

Presley is a great person to do this work with because she does such a good job of creating an accepting environment. Her modeling of soft, attentive, calm has made me more gentle and curious with myself, which in turn makes my interactions with others more nourishing.

–Cable

It has been such a pleasure to work with Presley. She has a big heart and a genuine desire to help others. She is very professional and has been very patient and accommodating to my needs in sessions. I have struggled to relax and find peace and joy in my day to day. Working with Presley has helped me gain a greater understanding of myself, more inner peace, and self-confidence. I think anyone who is looking to access more mindfulness and work through stress, self-sabotage, or other challenges would truly benefit from working with Presley as a coach. I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with and continue to work with Presley!

–Eileen A.

I felt alone in caring for my mom and I always felt on “high” alert that she would get hurt or become ill and I would be responsible. The parts work has helped me understand that there were certain beliefs about myself and my role causing these feelings. I now understand these parts wanted to protect me from panic and guilt.

I was able to communicate with these parts during an activity on vacation when I started thinking about the dangers. I told the parts that it could be dangerous but there were others who could handle the issues and that we should enjoy the experience.

When mom fell, I was able to let the parts know that other family members could handle the situation and I trusted these people to call me if they couldn’t.

I am truly amazed at how quickly this method can be used in day to day tasks and situations. It becomes a natural way to relate to the self. Presley seemed to understand some of my analogies and symbolisms even when I thought they were silly or not important.

–Kristi

This week something happened which in the past would’ve triggered an internal conflict and which would’ve been really stressful for my pleaser part. But I felt quite calm deciding that not only was I not going to do what was being asked of me but I was going to take my time to reply when convenient.

Someone emailed me wanting to get information that it’s not appropriate for me to give them. Asking me in an indirect and kind of manipulative way (which I have previously found particularly triggering) – but – I just thought to myself, no, I’m not going to do that and I’m in no hurry to reply.

In the past I would not have passed on the private contact details – but I would’ve been anxious, angry and conflicted about the situation. Not wanting to lose the good will of the person making the request for help, not wanting to say no “in the wrong way” and upset them and would likely have discussed the situation with various other people to get validation for my position – and to seek their support etc. Maybe even going as far as to ask others to make a joint statement with me on the inappropriateness of such requests etc.

I would also have analysed all the reasons why I considered this request inappropriate – checking from every angle that I was justified in not complying with the request (exhausting!) and would’ve felt resentful that I put so much effort into getting great industry guest speakers for our events and instead of being thanked and feeling appreciated, I just get to deal with this kind of inappropriate request… that’s pretty much how I’ve responded to similar situations.

But this time, I just felt mildly annoyed. I felt clear and calm about how I was going to respond. Shrug. That’s how some people are.

I haven’t replied yet – but I don’t feel the dreadful internal feeling of “obligation” to satisfy another person’s wishes, needs, requests etc. I just felt a kind of quiet calm, that I have my boundaries and I’m going to honour them. And it’s okay if that person doesn’t like it or has negative feelings towards me about it.

–Anne F.