Since I was a little girl, I always had a plan for what I would accomplish next. I was the kind of kid who made lists just so I could check things off! I got straight A’s in school, then earned a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA followed by a Master’s in Counseling at Loyola Marymount University. I was driven to keep reaching for bigger and better jobs, titles, roles and salaries, secretly convinced that some future success would be the key to unlock my satisfaction and happiness.

I kept this up for decades before metaphorically hitting a wall which ended my relentless cycle of striving. Literally though, I caused a traffic accident when I was distracted by my never-ending to do list. I was five months pregnant at the time. When my doctor asked me what was more important, my job or my baby, the answer was obvious: I had to take care of my baby – which meant I actually had to take care of myself.

Forced to step away from my career, I saw how often I put my work above my health and relationships. My profession had become my identity; without it, I had to figure out who I was, what I enjoyed, how I wanted to live and who I really wanted to be when I grew up. I took an extended hiatus from my career to recover and refocus.

Though I felt like I was taken out of the game in my prime, the break gave me space to discover that my value as a person was not defined by my accomplishments. I decided to start over and went back to school to become a certified life coach with advanced studies in leadership development. Doing this work is a deep acknowledgment and fulfillment of my life’s purpose.

I have been coaching professionally since 2008 and am a past president of the International Coach Federation Chapter in Los Angeles. My happiest and most successful clients are driven to make a difference in the world and are typically high achieving women in leadership roles, often running their own businesses, starting entrepreneurial ventures, or leading non-profit organizations.

In 2018, I wrote and published a self-help memoir chronicling my journey called There’s Got to Be a Better Way: An Overachiever’s Guide to Discovering Joy. The book includes essays and stories of coaching my husband to start his own business during the 2008 recession along with adventures of raising two extraordinary children, rescuing horses and briefly taking up surfing in my 40s!

I created The Overachiever’s Guidebook – described as “indulgent and fun!” – as a companion to provide readers with prompts and exercises designed to uncover what gives their lives meaning and joy.

My coaching practice is kept intentionally small so that I can provide a high level of attention to my clients. I work limited hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays and all sessions are held virtually.

Beyond coaching engagements, I am available for spiritual mediumship readings. Mediumship Readings take place by phone for 30 minutes and in these sessions, I connect you with your loved ones who have passed to deliver messages to support you. Readings are intended for healing and serve to validate your intuition and your loved one’s guidance.

I also offer equine focused retreats at my ranch which is located an hour outside of metropolitan Los Angeles.

Though I have accounts on all the platforms, you won’t see a lot of social content from me as I choose to invest my time and energy vibrantly living my life and doing my work. Most clients are introduced to me through referrals, but if you have found me independently and are interested in working together, please reach out to me directly: hello@karenpery.com.