When friends would inquire about our lovely daughter, it was not unusual for me to explain to them that aliens have snatched her away and put a alien pod in her place--void of all earthly common sense. It was the only logical explanation I could give. Most of our friends with young adult children quickly acknowledge what I was saying as being something they too, have experienced. Not only had we run out of ideas on how to help our young adult grow into adulthood and accept responsibility for her life, but we ran into the problem of her not wanting to hear anything we had to suggest/offer/plead. Thank God, there is life coach out there like Ellen. She is a nurturing people person and young adults seem attracted to her style of mentoring. Ellen has the ability to see the situation without all the emotional issues and baggage. She is very open-minded. She provided some very good and attainable goals to help our child attain independence and help us to be supportive. We really appreciated the 'emergency' phone assistance/help she provided us. I highly recommend her.

Barbara and John, from Beavercreek, OH

Recently I was put in a terrible position with my niece. There had been trouble at home and my niece had been kicked out by her stepfather. She ended up at my door step lost and angry. I called Ellen and ask how can I help my 18 year old niece get on her feet. Ellen gave me some tips, as a life coach, on exactly how to assess the situation and find the most productive direction to take. I felt that my niece needed support but I was concerned about supporting her without her remaining dependent and feeling powerless to face her future. There were many emotional challenges for my niece to overcome to succeed in life.

Ellen helped me set up a plan for my niece to be able to achieve personal independence by becoming employed, learning how to take the bus to work, budget her earnings to be able to afford renting her own room and live independently. During this process Ellen helped me see that some of the overly kind gestures I was offering my niece were not beneficial for her success. Ellen was able to teach me so much about my behavior regarding what is really helpful for my niece and what can actually hinder her progress. She was able to help me see when I was offering true support to my niece even if my niece didn't seem to understand the logical process for achieving independence. My niece was requested to return home before she had been able to complete many of her goals of independence. Maybe I was not able to see her to her final success, but there is a difference in her.

When she first came to stay with me she mentioned that school was out of the question for her, now is she is talking about attending school so that she will be able to make a reasonable living in the future. I am not sure what I would have done without Ellen's level headed approach as a life coach toward assisting in empowering my niece with her own independent possibilities for life. Thank God for parents like us that Ellen is offering her services to assist us in supporting our children in achieving success in life.

Michelle in Kaneohe, Hawaii

The journey for me started a little over two years ago. I had moved here from the Midwest and was staying 8 months with an aunt. Things weren't going well. I had no driver's license, a part time job, few friends and no hope. I went to stay with Ellen for a "weekend" and it turned into six months. Ellen became my mentor and life coach. I felt so overwhelmed and afraid. What could she do that my aunt hadn't been able to do? I felt like a failure. I was without independence and self confidence and 19 yrs. old.

After six months, I had learned essential life skills and was on my own, working full time and living in my own place. I had learned to protect my personal boundaries, how to get a driver's license, how to car shop, create resumes, search out jobs, look for apartments and roommates, and create my independence. I am working two jobs, getting ready to buy my first car, vacationing in Hawaii, and having a life I only dreamed of having by age 25. She has taught me how to take care and appreciate myself and my strengths, and to work around my weaknesses and be willing to acknowledge them. All of this did not happen overnight.

It took hard work, dedication, and a willingness to change. I have success personally and professionally. I've gone on numerous interviews these last two years, created about five resumes, and I am confident in job situations. I have more friends than I ever had in high school and I feel so much more positive. I know this sounds like a lot, but with a willingness to change, Ellen can help you break it down step by step and succeed.

"Justin" of Belmont, CA