You've Spent Years Being Everyone's Safe Place. Who's Been Yours?
You're standing in the middle of a life that looks fine from the outside—but inside, you're exhausted. You say yes when you mean no. You shrink yourself to keep the peace. You've become so good at reading the room that you've forgotten how to trust your own voice.
And now? Something's shifting. A transition. A crossroads. A quiet unraveling of the life you built to keep everyone else comfortable.
Here's what I know: People-pleasing isn't a personality flaw. It's a survival pattern you learned a long time ago. And it worked—until it didn't.
I help adults in transition unlearn the emotional habits that keep them small, scared, and second-guessing everything. Together, we build the self-trust, boundaries, and clarity you need to stop performing your life—and start living it.
ICF ACC Certified | Wayfinder Coach | 200+ Coaching Hours | 50+ Lives Transformed
You Don't Need Another Pep Talk.
You Need a Map.
This roadmap helps you find your own.
In 30 minutes, you'll get:
Clarity on what's actually yours to carry—and what you've been holding because you think you're supposed to
One clear next step—not a 30-point plan, just the thing that will move you forward from here
Permission to trust what you already know—even if that voice has been quiet for a while
Relief from the guilt that shows up every time you consider putting yourself first
You've been circling the same questions for months—maybe longer. What do I actually want? Why can't I just decide? Why does every choice feel like I'm letting someone down?
The confusion isn't because you're broken. It's because you've been navigating your life using everyone else's compass.
It’s not about "finding your purpose" or "manifesting your dream life." It's about getting honest with yourself—and finally taking a step that feels true.
Maybe You Already Know What You Need to Do
You've been asking everyone else what they think. Your mom. Your best friend. That coworker who seems to have it all figured out. You've been polling, processing, second-guessing—hoping someone will hand you the answer so you don't have to be the one who chose it.
But the confusion isn't because you don't know. It's because you're scared to trust what you do know.
Maybe you just left a relationship and the silence feels unbearable. Maybe you're staring at a career shift but can't move because you're already bracing for your family's disappointment. Maybe you're newly divorced, freshly retired, facing an empty nest—and for the first time in decades, no one needs you. And you have no idea who you are when you're not needed.
Here's the truth no one's saying out loud:
You've spent years making yourself small so other people could feel comfortable. You became fluent in everyone else's needs—and a stranger to your own. You say yes when your whole body is screaming no. You replay conversations for days, wondering if you said the wrong thing, did too much, asked for too little. You feel guilty for wanting something different. Selfish for even thinking about yourself.
And now, when it's finally time to choose for you—you freeze.
Because you were never taught that your own voice mattered as much as everyone else's.
But it does.
And the cost of ignoring it is the tightness in your chest. The exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. The creeping sense that life is happening around you—but not to you.
What Shifts When You Stop Abandoning Yourself
Imagine…
You're at dinner with your mom. She makes one of those comments—the kind that used to knock the wind out of you for days.
But this time, something's different.
You don't spiral. You don't defend. You don't spend the drive home dissecting every word, wondering what you should have said.
You just... let it land. And then let it go.
You're facing a big decision. Maybe it's a move. A career shift. Leaving a friendship that's been hollowing you out for years.
The old pattern would've been to ask everyone else what they think—your sister, your therapist, that one friend who always has an opinion. You would've twisted yourself into knots trying to reverse-engineer the "right" answer from their reactions.
But instead, you sit with it.
You check in with the part of you that's been quiet for a long time.
And you make the choice that feels true—even if no one else would've chosen it for you.
Your boss asks you to take on another project. It's not your job. You both know it.
The old version of you would've said yes before you even thought about it—then spent the next two weeks buried in resentment.
But now?
You pause. You check your actual capacity. And you say, "I can't take that on right now—but here's what I can do."
No apology. No guilt. Just the truth.
This is what becomes possible when you stop performing your life for an invisible audience.
Not perfection. Not some shiny "healed" version of yourself.
Just... steadiness. Self-trust. The ability to stay with yourself when it matters most.
Here's What We Actually Do Together
This isn't about affirmations or "believing in yourself harder."
We're going to look at the real patterns—the ones running quietly in the background of every decision you make:
Why you can't move forward until someone else says it's okay—and what's actually underneath that need for permission
Where that voice came from—the one that convinced you your needs don't matter as much as everyone else's
How to say no without the three-day guilt spiral that usually follows
What self-trust actually feels like when you've spent years second-guessing everything
You Already Know What You Need to Do. The Hard Part Is Actually Doing It.
You've read the books. You've tried the journaling prompts. You've told yourself a hundred times to "just be more confident" or "stop caring so much what people think."
And yet… here you are. Still stuck. Still second-guessing. Still saying yes when everything in you wants to say no.
Here's why: Knowing what you should do and being able to do it (especially in the middle of a life transition when everything feels uncertain) are not the same thing.
That gap? That's where I work.
I'm Carie, and I help people who've spent their whole lives prioritizing everyone else finally learn how to prioritize themselves—without the guilt, without the shame, without the fear that they're being selfish.
I didn't become a coach because I had it all figured out. I became one because I spent years trapped in the same patterns I now help people break. The endless accommodating. The chronic self-doubt. The exhaustion of never feeling like enough.
I know what it's like to lose yourself trying to keep everyone else comfortable.
And I know what it takes to find your way back.
The people I work with don't need someone to fix them. They need someone who understands the specific, quiet ways people-pleasing shows up—and how to unlearn it without falling apart in the process.
Someone who won't give them a pep talk when what they actually need is a mirror.
Someone who gets that building self-trust after years of abandoning yourself isn't about motivation—it's about practice, patience, and a lot of unlearning.
If that's what you're looking for, we should talk.
You've Been Waiting for the Right Time. This Is It.
You're at a crossroads—and you've been standing here longer than you meant to.
Not because you don't know what needs to change. But because every time you get close to choosing yourself, that familiar voice kicks in: What will they think? What if I'm wrong? What if I hurt someone?
So you wait. You overthink. You twist yourself into smaller and smaller shapes, hoping that if you just stay quiet enough, the decision will make itself.
But here's what I know: The longer you wait for permission to put yourself first, the further away you get from the person you're trying to become.
What Shifts When You Stop Waiting
You stop waking up anxious.
The fog lifts. You start trusting that quiet knowing inside you—the one that's been drowned out by everyone else's opinions.
You set boundaries without the guilt spiral
You say no—and you don't spend the next three days wondering if you're a terrible person. The "what will they think" loop finally loses its grip.
You Get Your Energy Back
You stop pouring yourself into everyone else's needs and start building a life that actually feels like yours—not the one you think you're supposed to want.
Here's How We Do It
This isn't a cookie-cutter program or a 12-step formula.
It's personalized coaching that meets you exactly where you are—and helps you take the next right step, not some giant leap you're not ready for.
We'll break the big, overwhelming stuff into things you can actually do. We'll look at the patterns that keep you stuck. And we'll build the self-trust that makes all of this possible.
Even in the first week, something shifts.
Less noise in your head. More clarity in your choices. The ability to make a decision and not second-guess it for days.
If you're done waiting for permission to live your own life, let's talk.
What My Clients Are Saying
“If you're looking to create healthier boundaries and overcome the challenges of people-pleasing, Carie is the perfect guide.”
— Ekaterina V, Photographer
“Working with Carie has been a transformative experience. As an introvert, I struggled with setting boundaries and often found myself falling into the trap of people-pleasing. Carie’s compassionate and insightful approach has helped me understand the importance of valuing my own needs while still being true to myself.”
“I’ve gained clarity on my goals, greater confidence in my decision-making, and a deeper sense of authenticity.”
— Lan J, Sr. Manager, Scientific Engagement
“Working with Carie has been one of the most empowering experiences in my professional journey. Her coaching came at a time when I was navigating many changes and questioning how to grow without losing myself in the process.”
“She has helped me face life’s challenges with more confidence and resilience which has helped me make sustained changes in my life.”
— Cathy H, Life Coach & Former Corporate Attorney
“Working with Carie has been a life-changing experience. Carie’s patient and empathetic approach creates a coaching environment where I feel safe to be myself.”
Not Sure What You Want? Start Here.
You've been asking everyone else what they think you should do. You've been waiting for a sign, a feeling, some kind of certainty that never comes.
Here's what actually helps: A simple roadmap that cuts through the noise and helps you take one clear step forward.
Get the free 30-Minute Clarity Roadmap—no fluff, no overwhelm, just a way to finally hear yourself again.
Still Have Questions?
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Therapy helps you heal the past. Coaching helps you create your future.
In coaching, we focus on clarity, confidence, and forward movement. We don’t diagnose or dwell on what’s broken—you’re not broken. We get clear on who you are now, what you want next, and how to take aligned action.
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Divorce. Empty nest. Retirement. Career changes. Relocations. Loss of a loved one.
Basically, any life chapter where the old version of you doesn’t fit anymore. These moments are emotional earthquakes—and I help you rebuild on solid ground, with a plan that feels true to you.
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We start with clarity. You’ll leave your first session knowing exactly what’s keeping you stuck and what needs to shift to move forward. Most clients feel immediate relief—like the mental fog has finally lifted—and a sense of calm direction replaces the anxiety.
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It depends on your goals and pace. Most clients begin with a 12-session package that unfolds over 3-4 months. That’s long enough to break old patterns, rebuild confidence, and start living from your Essential Self. Ongoing coaching is available for deeper transformation.
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That’s okay. Change can feel big. Start with my Free Clarity Roadmap, a short guided exercise you can do in under 30 minutes (yes, while a load of laundry runs) to see where you are, what’s keeping you stuck, and your next right step.
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Perfect. You’re exactly who I help. You’ll learn how to say “no” without guilt, make decisions without spiraling in self-doubt, and set boundaries that feel peaceful instead of scary.
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Always. Your sessions are private and judgment-free. My job is to create a safe, honest space where you can explore what you really want without pressure or pretense.
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Click Book a Free Consultation to schedule your first conversation. It’s relaxed, informal, and all about understanding where you are and what you need. There’s no sales script—just real talk about whether this is the right next step for you.