Bio
A fifth generation Texan, I grew up in Memphis, TN, in the ‘60s, when the Bible Belt was cinched tight, and the world was changing everywhere but not so’s you’d notice in Sunday School. I was good in school, so whenever I found myself floundering, I went back to studies.
I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Southern Methodist in 1980, then went back to get a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida ten years later. I’m a former professor of Psychology at Rhodes College in Memphis, a former Montessori teacher and teacher trainer, and a certified Master Coach. I’ve been a cocktail waitress, a fast-food cashier, a psychologist at a private southern girls’ school, and a wedding consultant. I’ve published my writing, supervised all sorts of school counselors, and made hundreds of speeches to hundreds of thousands of people. I’ve moved our four grown kids in and out of dorms, apartments, and houses more times than I can count. I’ve been divorced. I’ve despaired as a parent. I had cancer and recovered. I met my beloved husband at a Jungian Dream Seminar. I love my children, my family, and my life. I find God in the mountains of the Blue Ridge and my church is often a walk through the Labyrinth at our Blue Star Ranch in North Carolina. I’m itching for more grandbabies, but I try not to be too annoying about that.
Writer
Once upon a time I wrote a parenting column for the Orlando Sentinel, and I did copyediting for babysitting money in graduate school. I have a habit of writing in order to figure out what I’m really thinking about things. After 20 years of writing stories for an imagined audience, I’m in the process of compiling them into 3 books that complement each other.
One is a memoir that tells the tales of a child growing up good and southern in the days when Black folks couldn’t even try on shoes at the local department store. One is a lifestyle book that shows pictures of coming back home to what is old and true by reconnecting with nature. And one is what my clients have been clamoring for: a ‘self-help’ book on Boundaries. It’s got some How To’s in it, which may be helpful, though I stand fast in my belief that there are any number of good ways to help yourself get out of somebody else’s business. It’s the deciding to get out that’s the hardest part. But, as one of my favorite clients says, “OK, but at least tell me how to get started.” This book tells you how to get started.
Trish recently collaborated with Skip Lineberg as a guest on his wise and wonderful podcast, The Main Thing, a 9-minute listen for targeted life hacks and the down-low on what’s really important! Enjoy!
Psychologist
After 2 decades in a traditional psychology practice, I re-tooled to become a consulting psychologist.
I offer short term consultation in organizational and interpersonal dynamics – that means that I have a talent in cutting through the drama and giving you a clear picture about how to move forward with a ‘difficult’ employee or a frustrating group of people who won’t get along. Inquire here.
Philanthropist
One of the branches on my own path was training with horse whisperers to learn to do coaching with horses.
Doing guided groundwork with horses is a brilliant way to get out of your head and into your heart!
At Blue Star Ranch we offer gratis team-building retreats on a limited basis to non-profit organizations.
If you’d like to apply for a retreat opportunity, contact us here.
