Emily Pasnak-Lapchick is one of the coaches we found and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her warm and client oriented approach. Here is what she said.

Meet Life Coach Emily Pasnak-Lapchick:

Name: Emily Pasnak-Lapchick
Pillar: The Mind
Who is this coach for: Individuals and groups who are early to mid-career and searching for more fulfillment in their lives.
How they can help: For those who are seeking more structured approach there are workbooks, goal setting frameworks and other tools. For the others verbalization and discussion give best results.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these Pandemic times?

At the beginning we were struggling. We were living in New York City and the constant sirens were really wearing down our mental health.

Like so many people, the pandemic really put things into perspective and fast-tracked different parts of our lives.

We decided we wanted to move back to Florida where we both grew up to be closer to family, have more access to nature, and slow down a bit more.

It’s hard to wrap my head around how much has changed over the last few years.

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?

In some ways the pandemic has impacted everyone differently, and in other ways, all of my clients have been interested in reevaluating their lives.

There has been a deep exploration of what’s actually important. Is it spending time growing one’s career, or is it cultivating community, relationships, and savoring the small moments that bring us joy?

It’s also put into perspective the enormous need for social change in the fabric of our society, and a lot of clients are wanting to explore their role in that work.

I’ve witnessed a seismic shift in how many people are approaching their lives and what they value. That is true for me as much as anyone else!

What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?

That life isn’t promised, and we don’t have time to play by other people’s rules.

Whatever lights you up inside, foster more of that into your life and you’ll begin to flourish.

The Origin:

Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?

I’ve worked in nonprofits and social impact organizations for the last decade.

My parents were involved in social justice work so that was engrained in me from a young age. I was almost surprised to learn in middle school that not everyone was like that.

I was lucky to find what I felt was my dream job straight out of college, having access to incredible opportunities and living out my passion.

I was able to speak at the United Nations, work with grassroots activists, and engage with leaders whose books I had read in school. I felt deeply connected to my purpose.

After six years of working at that nonprofit, building and running programs with phenomenal impact, my growth had slowed and I felt like I was plateauing at work. I found myself wondering, what’s next? Where do I go from here?

I enrolled in a graduate program on Social Innovation, which was a good period to reflect, be a bit creative, and play with some new concepts.

At the end of my program, we were gifted a coaching session to help us decide next steps, and by the end of my session, my peers and coach all asked if coaching would be of interest to me given the energy and fulfillment I got from building deep, meaningful relationships and working with others to find their purpose.

That’s when the seed was first planted.

Fast forward to two years later and I had a good job but I was missing that connection to my purpose and struggling to find meaning in my work.

A previous colleague asked if I wanted to work with him as my coach, and I jumped at the chance to explore what that career could look like.

Within just one month I had already experienced a transformation, reconnected with my values and what lit me up inside, and I thought that if I can hold space for others to have this transformative experience, that would be the most fulfilling job I could imagine. I enrolled in a training program, and here we are!

What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?

Surviving sexual assault at the hands of someone who I trusted and considered a dear friend is without a doubt the worst thing I’ve ever had to overcome.

It absolutely shattered me. I had to relearn how to navigate relationships, how to trust, and how to manage my PTSD.

Through the support of some incredible therapists, a wonderful group of friends, and my stunningly compassionate partner, I have been able to work through it.

It’s hard to speak about it publicly, but unfortunately, I know a lot of people will see themselves in what happened to me.

The Coaching Style:

How do you innovate with coaching your clients?

My approach to innovating coaching is making it more accessible.

A lot of the coaching industry is geared towards executives and those higher up in organizations.

I see enormous potential for coaching to benefit individuals and groups who are early to mid-career and searching for more fulfillment in their lives.

I’ve set up sliding scale services so that people who are engaged in social movements, or social entrepreneurs, or a dedicated volunteer can all experience the transformative benefits of coaching no matter their financial situation.

What’s unique about your coaching approach?

I truly see coaching as a partnership. I will go through it with you if you’re my client.

The practice of holistic listening, hearing what’s beneath the words that are being spoken, is a gift I’ve cultivated over the years.

This enables me to be present with my clients and work with them to understand what they’re really dealing with.

Whether it’s a story they’ve told themselves about what they can or can’t do, the voice inside that says “I’m not good enough, smart enough, strong enough..“ or a thought pattern that’s keeping them stuck.. we’ll find the root cause and work to shine light on it so they can move forward.

There’s a parallel here for me in focusing on the root causes of social justice issues in order to affect change.

For me, that’s where the magic of coaching lies. You have a partner, a cheerleader, and someone to hold you accountable in your journey of personal and professional growth.

What benefits do your clients get after working with you?

One of the largest benefits is a raised consciousness.

Once we raise our consciousness, our judgments start to dwindle and your stress begins to decrease.

And who doesn’t want less stress in their lives?

With a higher consciousness, clients can begin to identify patterns of thoughts, actions, and behaviors that have been getting in their way and shift the way they approach life.

My clients shift from playing small to believing in the power that lies within themselves and move at breakneck speed to achieve goals that have sat on the backburner for too long.

Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?

I cater the tools I use to my clients, some prefer more structure and we use workbooks, goal setting frameworks, and other planning tools, and others are really searching for clarity and want to verbally process what they’re experiencing.

The Impact:

If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?

I draw inspiration from a gift my parents gave me many years ago: To become fearless in each moment we can choose to fear less.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?

That every single moment we get to decide what kind of person we want to be.

We’ve all made mistakes, we’ve all said things we regret, and we all have the opportunity to rebuild and move forward.

Your final thoughts?

For me, I liken coaching to a chrysalis. It’s a space that is cultivated for individuals to undergo a radical transformation.

If you’re ready for major shifts in your life, find a coach who suits your needs and you’ll have a support unlike any other.

Where Can You Find Emily Pasnak-Lapchick?

If this you liked what Emily said and her approach resonated with you, feel free to visit her website at www.chrysalis-exchange.com where you can learn everything about her coaching.

She is a wonderful human being, a warm person, and completely dedicated in helping you raise your consciousness to find better clarity and fulfillment in life. It was an honor having this interview with her.