Clarity Coach | Founder of Essential Career Counseling
I help people who know something needs to change but aren’t quite sure what comes next. Sometimes the answer isn’t obvious because they’re too close to the situation. Sometimes they’ve been successful for so long that imagining a different path feels harder than it should. And sometimes they simply need space to step back, reconnect with what matters, and see possibilities they haven’t considered.
My work turns that uncertainty into clarity—and clarity into a next step that feels both meaningful and achievable.
Where I Come In
People come to me at all kinds of crossroads. They may be ready for a career change but have no idea what direction to take. They may have spent years building a career that no longer feels like the right fit. They may be returning to work after time away, considering a new chapter, or wondering how to make their experience count in a different way.
Often, they have more options than they realize, but it’s difficult to see them from where they stand.
I help people take a step back and look at the bigger picture: what they’re good at, what energizes them, what matters most, and what they want their working life to make possible. Together, we uncover connections between their strengths, interests, values, and opportunities they may not have considered.
The goal isn’t for me to tell you what to do. It’s for you to develop a clearer understanding of yourself and your options, so you can make decisions with greater confidence and move forward in a direction that fits.
The Way I Coach
My approach combines thoughtful listening, self-discovery, and practical strategy. I want you to feel comfortable exploring questions you may not have given yourself time to ask. I also want you to leave our conversations with something useful: a new perspective, a broader set of possibilities, and a concrete roadmap of your next steps.
When appropriate, I use career assessments to help make the invisible more visible. I am certified to use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Strong Interest Inventory (SII), and SkillScan, which help clients explore personality preferences, interests, and skills. Along with a Values Assessment, these insights provide a starting point for deeper conversations about career direction and fit—not a box to put you in or a single answer about what you should do.
From there, we connect self-knowledge with real-world possibilities. What might a career pivot look like? How could your existing experience translate into a new field? What would a more fulfilling next chapter involve? What small experiment or conversation could help you test a direction before committing to it?
Clients often tell me that our work helps them see themselves differently. Options that once felt out of reach become realistic, and an overwhelming decision becomes a series of manageable steps. I bring encouragement and optimism to the process, along with the practical information and structure to help turn insight into action.
What Shaped This Work
My work as a career counselor and coach is grounded in a simple belief: people make better decisions when they understand themselves and can see how their experience connects to the possibilities ahead.
Before entering career counseling, I held corporate positions in finance and management. That experience continues to inform how I work with clients. I understand the realities of organizations and the workplace, and I bring that perspective together with my training in counseling and career development.
I founded Essential Career Counseling to help people of different ages and career stages find direction, communicate their value, and pursue work that aligns with who they are and what they want. I am a Certified Master of Career Services, designated by the National Career Development Association (NCDA), and an Academy Certified Resume Writer. I have worked with individuals navigating everything from an early-career decision to a major career pivot, a return to the workforce, or a transition after decades in one field.
My work has included private practice, university and community college career services, and outplacement coaching. I have also provided career assistance through the California State Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program and volunteered with organizations supporting people in need of career guidance. I’ve presented at national conferences, universities, and career events, and my career expertise has been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Sacramento Bee.
Across all these settings, the part of the work I value most is helping someone recognize possibilities they couldn’t see before—and watching that new perspective change what feels possible.
What People Say
“I was ready for a change but unsure where to start. Linda’s program opened my eyes to various short-term and long-term career options that I hadn’t previously considered. Through our discussions and the assessments she provided, I gained greater clarity and confidence in my decision to pursue a different career path. Linda was very skilled at recognizing my strengths and finding new ways to leverage my current skill set in different roles and industries. She also gave me some really great practical advice around job searching, resume improvement, and how to negotiate.”
— Paula P.
“I found myself so deep in the day-to-day of my current position that it was so refreshing to take a step back and identify my career values and interests from square one. She gave me the tools to think through additional, realistic career options that might be good for me and tangible tools and plans to begin the search. ”
— Kyle R.
“Linda is amazing! Her all-encompassing approach helped me get clarity on a new career path following health issues, and a full career switch. She is truly caring and genuine, and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning of my time working with her. It has been a tough transition for me getting back into the workplace following time away, but she was so encouraging and helpful in getting a plan in place and making my goals seem much more attainable. I highly recommend Linda as a career coach to anyone, but especially those in times of major career and/or life transitions!”
– Jake T.
“Working with Linda was a great investment! Not only did I receive a job offer within ten weeks of meeting with her, I found her skills, encouragement, knowledge, and kindness to be incredibly helpful and valuable. I highly recommend you speak with Linda. I was nervous before our first meeting and worried about not being prepared or polished enough for the current job market and with her guidance and support I felt motivated and capable. Thank you Linda!”
–Tracy W.
If You’re Ready for More Clarity
You don’t have to know the answer before you begin. You don’t need a fully formed plan or even the right words to explain what’s changed.
You just need to be willing to explore what might be next.
Sometimes the most useful first step is a conversation that helps you see your situation in a new light.
Please email info@betweenward.com and write: “I’d like to explore coaching with Linda.”
From there, we can start a conversation to determine if we should work together to identify the possibilities that fit you and see what moving forward could look like.
