Gaia Monteleone is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her wisdom and strength of character.
She is a coach whose approach to transformation is anything but conventional. With a background rooted in Buddhist teachings, artistic expression, and a neurodivergent perspective, she has constructed a method that blends spirituality and practical empowerment. Through her signature THESA and THETA approaches, clients embark on a sacred journey of self discovery, where they not only reconnect with their inner wisdom but also translate that newfound clarity into meaningful, measurable change.
She brings to her coaching a deep well of empathy, presence, and creative insight, which she uses to guide clients toward emotional liberation and personal growth. Each session is a tailored experience that speaks to the mind, body, and soul, incorporating mindfulness, visualization, and creative exercises.
She has a unique coaching style that combines spiritual awakening with practical tools like mindfulness, visualization, and mindset shifting techniques. The first step is to find your treasure within and align with your soul. The second step is to develop a mindest and a plan that will lead you to live a life aligned with your soul and reach your goals. Here is what she said…
Meet Life Coach Gaia Monteleone:
Name: Gaia Monteleone
Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind, The Heart
Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to find their inner treasure, heal, align with their soul, gain clarity and live a life of meaning and purpose.
How they can help: By using her signiture methods THESA and THETA, as well as various tools and techniques like visualization techniques, guided meditation, mindfulness, and mindset shifting tools to transform deep inner insights into actionable and goal oriented achievements.
First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?
First of all, thank you for asking.
The pandemic has certainly been a very challenging period of my life.
It left deep marks on me and my family: emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.
We endured losses that shook us to the core.
The grief of losing loved ones during that time still lingers like a quiet ache that surfaces unexpectedly.
Funerals without proper goodbyes, empty chairs at the table, and the haunting silence that followed, it all became part of our daily reality.
As if the weight of mourning wasn’t enough, my marriage also came to an end during the pandemic.
The confinement, the emotional strain, and the overwhelming pressure of uncertainty pushed us to confront truths that had long been buried.
Separation brought pain, but also clarity.
It forced me to stand alone, vulnerable, and unsure, but also determined to rebuild myself, not just for me, but for my daughters too.
Also, my daughters went through their own storms.
Adolescence is never easy, but isolation, fear, and the abrupt changes brought on by the pandemic made everything more intense.
There were moments when I felt helpless watching them struggle with their identity, with anxiety, and with the loss of normalcy.
I had to become not just a mother, but a safe harbor, a listener, and sometimes a quiet warrior in the background, holding things together when everything seemed to fall apart.
And yet, something unexpected happened through all this challenge.
The experiences of crisis became a mirror, reflecting parts of myself I had never truly seen.
I questioned my beliefs, my choices, my sense of purpose.
In those questions, I found growth and my truth.
Slowly, I discovered reservoirs of resilience I had forgotten I had.
I also reconnected with a deep sense of spirituality… not tied to dogma, but to something more intimate:
A sense of presence, gratitude, and grace that I began to cultivate in the silence of those long, uncertain days.
Today, we are still healing, but we are stronger, more connected, and more aware.
The pandemic broke us in many ways, but it also offered us the chance to rebuild with authenticity and courage.
I now understand that all of my previous struggles have been training to become resilient.
And for that, strange as it may seem, I am deeply grateful.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?
The coronavirus pandemic had a profound impact on me, on my clients, as well as on the very heart of my coaching work.
I faced two episodes of the long version of the virus, which brought not only physical exhaustion but also a resurgence of anxiety and depression I thought I had already overcome.
It felt as though I had to start from scratch, rebuilding my body, my energy, and my inner balance step by step.
As a neurodivergent individual, my heightened sensitivity to emotional and energetic shifts made this period even more intense, but it also gave me the ability to observe and respond to these changes with deep insight.
Many of my clients experienced something similar.
The pandemic amplified feelings of isolation, loneliness, and uncertainty.
For some, it shattered their sense of identity and direction, for others, it triggered fears they had kept at bay for years.
Across the board, I witnessed a loss of grounding, a disconnect from self, from purpose, and from inner strength.
Out of this collective crisis, I developed the THESA Approach: Transcendence Healing Empowerment Soul Awakening.
This method was born from the realization that true healing and transformation begin with reconnecting to our own inner knowledge and personal power.
Rather than imposing solutions from the outside, THESA helps clients tap into the truth they already carry within.
THESA draws from the Greek word thēsauros, meaning “treasure,” evoking the idea of a sacred inner wealth waiting to be rediscovered.
The THESA approach guides individuals on a journey of spiritual awakening, healing, and soul empowerment, uncovering the deep, innate wisdom within and transforming personal growth into a sacred, authentic path.
By facilitating the clients to recognize that they have everything they need inside themselves, the coaching process becomes more immediate, more authentic, and far more sustainable.
The relationship between coach and client transforms into a (CO)creative space of empowerment.
In this way, the pain and uncertainty of the pandemic gave rise to a deeply compassionate and effective approach to transformation, one that honors the resilience, depth, and innate wisdom of every individual.
I am in the process of publishing the books with these approaches and practical examples and meditations now.
They will be soon available on Amazon.
What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?
The pandemic was, without question, one of the most defining periods of my life.
I was suddenly faced with a wave of personal tragedies and upheaval.
As I said, my husband left, leaving me alone to navigate severe financial difficulties while caring for my two adolescent daughters.
At the same time, my beloved father in law passed away due to complications related to the coronavirus.
It felt like everything I had built during the past 20 years was collapsing around me.
In the midst of this emotional and practical storm, I returned to a concept that had long guided me:
The Japanese principle of Honnin Myo, which means “from this moment on, I begin again.”
I used it like a mantra (sometimes many times a day) allowing myself to fall and rise, again and again.
It taught me that even in the darkest moments, we always have the power to restart, to choose who we want to be now.
I learned that loneliness is a state of mind, not a condition imposed from the outside.
I discovered that to truly love others, I first had to learn how to deeply love myself, even in moments of fear, exhaustion, and doubt.
I also realized that offering love, even when it feels like the last thing you want to do, can be an act of healing, for yourself and others.
I tried to support those around me, while also learning to discern who truly stood beside me, and who simply observed from the sidelines.
The pandemic became a powerful filter for truth.
Five years later, I can say with confidence that I am not the same person I was before.
I am stronger, more resilient, and more clear sighted than ever.
The pandemic broke many things, but in doing so, it revealed the essence of who I truly am.
The Origin:
Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?
Coaching has always been a part of who I am, even before I had a name for it.
I began intuitively guiding and supporting others in my early twenties, naturally drawn to deep conversations, emotional insight, and the desire to help people reconnect with their inner power.
Over the years, as I deepened my Buddhist practice, I evolved from an intuitive life coach into a spiritual coach, mentor, and an inspiration for people who were suffering.
The teachings of Buddhism opened a profound path of self awareness and compassion for me, which I began to share with others in a grounded, practical way.
People often came to me seeking clarity, strength, and direction, and I found immense fulfillment in walking beside them on their journeys.
After the pandemic, something shifted.
The global crisis made me reflect deeply on my calling and my natural gifts, especially my empathy, my presence, and my listening skills.
I decided to fully embrace coaching as my profession, not just as a passion.
This choice came from the heart, from a place of alignment with my true nature.
Alongside my coaching path, I have been an artist for many years.
It felt only natural to combine these dimensions (spirituality, art, and coaching) into one vibrant, multimodal approach.
I help clients access their inner transformation through a dynamic blend of coaching techniques, creative expression, and meditation practices.
This method brings fast, meaningful results because it speaks to the whole person, mind, body, and soul.
As a neurodivergent person, I’ve also turned my uniqueness into a powerful resource.
My different way of thinking has shaped my coaching style into something original, inclusive, and deeply transformative.
It allows me to guide others not in spite of my difference, but through it, helping them unlock their own truths and live with more freedom and authenticity.
What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?
The biggest obstacle I had to overcome in my life began in early childhood.
I was born into a highly dysfunctional family, where emotional instability was part of the daily landscape.
My mother struggled with bipolar disorder, and my brother was disabled and hemiplegic.
From a very young age, I had to develop a deep sense of responsibility and emotional awareness, perhaps earlier than most children are ever asked to.
I often felt like I was holding together a world that could fall apart at any moment.
And yet, those very challenges became the soil from which I grew.
As a neurodivergent child, I had the gift (and sometimes the burden) of perceiving things differently.
I could feel what others didn’t say, sense invisible tensions, and intuit unspoken truths.
This sensitivity led me to seek meaning beyond my environment, and I found great resonance in Eastern philosophies, especially Japanese thought.
The elegance and depth of that worldview, its quiet strength, its spiritual minimalism… offered me a form of refuge and inspiration.
Even as a child, I began to visualize different futures for myself.
I taught myself to meditate, to shift my mental and emotional states, to cultivate peace within chaos.
These practices, which I later studied in depth as an adult, became essential tools in my journey.
Looking back, I am deeply convinced that if I hadn’t faced those early life challenges, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Empathetic, loving, caring, and committed to helping others find their way.
My past, though heavy, shaped my path with purpose.
It made me resilient, intuitive, and grounded in compassion.
It gave me the strength not just to survive, but to transform.
And now, to guide others through their transformations.
The Coaching Style:
How do you innovate with coaching your clients?
Innovation, for me, begins with the way I perceive the world.
As a neurodivergent individual, I could always see beyond the surface.
This ability to sense subtle patterns, emotional undercurrents, and untapped potential in people led to the unique perspective that has become the foundation of my coaching approaches and has inspired the development of my two complementary signature methods:
1. THESA (Transcendence, Healing, Empowerment, Soul Awakening): A sacred journey to rediscover your inner treasure of wisdom and authenticity.
2. THETA (Transformative Holistic Empowerment and Therapeutic Approach): A practical framework that realigns the soul, mind, and body using tools like visualization, meditation, mindfulness, and mindset shifting.
Together, these methods offer a unique blend of spiritual awakening and goal oriented transformation.
The THESA is a dynamic, transformative framework that empowers clients to reconnect with their innate wisdom and personal power.
Rather than focusing solely on external strategies or performance goals, my approach begins from within.
I guide my clients to rediscover the deep reservoir of insight, clarity, and strength that already exists inside them, often buried beneath layers of conditioning, fear, or self doubt.
I guide them gently to find a life purpose aligned with their newfound identity.
Once this inner source is reactivated, we begin the process of translating it into practical empowerment across all areas of life using THETA (Transformative Holistic Empowerment and Therapeutic Approach).
This approach helps the clients to cover all their desired aspects of life, such as relationships, career, creativity, purpose, and wellbeing.
Every session is tailored, fluid, and multidimensional, merging traditional coaching techniques with meditative practices, mindset work, and creative exercises that unlock different layers of awareness and action.
What makes these approaches innovative is their holistic and intuitive nature.
They don’t offer a one size fits all solution, but rather a living structure that evolves with the client.
THESA is both spiritual and strategic.
It is deeply human and deeply transformative.
My clients don’t just achieve their life purpose, they become the version of themselves capable of sustaining and expanding those achievements.
THETA works on becoming one (soul, mind, and body aligned) so as to reach their desired goals more efficiently and effectively.
Innovation, in my coaching, means creating a space where deep truth, vision, and action align.
It means honoring the uniqueness of each individual and using every tool (intuitive, intellectual, and creative) to help them step into their fullest potential.
That’s the essence of my work, and the heart of my approaches.
What’s unique about your coaching approach?
What makes my coaching approach truly unique is that it is born not only from study and professional development, but from deeply lived experiences.
Having walked through some of life’s most challenging paths and seemingly endless corridors, I’ve come to understand that transformation often doesn’t come from becoming something new, but from “unbecoming”, letting go of everything that isn’t truly you.
Only then can you return to who you were always meant to be.
I described the THESA approach above.
The THESA Approach (Transcendence, Healing, Empowerment, Soul Awakening) is a sacred journey to rediscover the inner treasure we all carry: our own wisdom, power, and capacity for transformation.
Based on this awareness, I developed the second level approach that is yet spiritual but more grounded:
THETA (Transformative Holistic Empowerment and Therapeutic Approach).
The name itself evokes a sense of calm, depth, and introspection.
It calls to mind the theta brainwave state, a place of stillness and creativity, where deep healing and insight are possible.
THETA Coaching is designed to realign the soul, mind, and body, which in many individuals are disconnected due to stress, trauma, or modern-day overload.
Using a multimodal and tailored approach, which combines visualization tools, mindfulness, guided meditation, and powerful mindset-shifting techniques, I help clients reconnect with their authentic selves.
Only from that grounded place do we begin the process of setting and achieving meaningful goals.
This method doesn’t intrude on the fields of psychology or counseling, but it allows clients to go deep in a simple, accessible way.
It holds space for profound transformation while staying focused on clarity, purpose, and results.
Now, I’m in the process of training other coaches in the THETA method to expand their reach.
I’m also hosting experiential seminars in my hometown of Trieste, Italy, a hidden gem at the edge of the Adriatic Sea, nestled between Italy and Slovenia.
Trieste offers the poetic beauty of sea swept cliffs and the rugged charm of the Karst plateau, where red earth meets white stone, and silence invites contemplation.
It is the perfect backdrop for a journey inward, a place where transformation feels not only possible but natural.
Through THETA, I aim to guide others back to their essence, where their power lives, where their truth begins, and where real, lasting change can unfold.
The THESA Method is a sacred journey that guides you to rediscover the inner treasure, your inherent wisdom, power, and authenticity.
It focuses primarily on the spiritual dimension of transformation, inviting you to let go of what doesn’t truly belong and reconnect with your original essence.
In contrast, the THETA Method builds upon that spiritual awakening by offering a holistic approach that aligns the soul, mind, and body.
It combines practical tools such as visualization, guided meditation, and mindfulness to translate deep inner work into concrete, goal oriented achievements.
Thus, while THESA celebrates the awakening of your inner treasure, THETA transforms that awareness into a practical pathway for empowerment and lasting change.
What benefits do your clients get after working with you?
Working with me offers a transformative journey where clients rediscover and unlock their inherent power and inner wisdom.
Through my unique blend of the THESA and THETA approaches, clients experience both a profound spiritual awakening and a practical pathway to realignment.
Initially, they explore a sacred journey of “unbecoming”, letting go of what no longer serves them and reconnecting with their essential truth.
This process opens the door to deeper self awareness and an emotional liberation that paves the way for lasting change.
The THESA Method is designed to help clients tap into their inner treasure, igniting a spark of creativity, clarity, and purpose.
They learn to celebrate their authenticity, embrace the lessons of the past, and view every experience as an opportunity for growth.
In doing so, many discover that their greatest obstacles become the steppingstones toward a more empowered self.
Building on this awakening, the THETA Method seamlessly realigns the soul, mind, and body.
With a multimodal, tailored approach, I integrate visualization techniques, guided meditation, mindfulness, and mindset shifting tools to transform deep inner insights into actionable and goal oriented achievements.
Clients not only gain clarity about their life goals but also develop a robust framework to pursue them with confidence and resilience.
They learn to navigate stress, trauma, and the demands of modern life without losing sight of their authentic selves.
Moreover, by engaging in this journey, clients experience an elevated sense of well being and balance.
They cultivate the ability to be present, foster gratitude, and maintain a focused determination toward their personal and professional aspirations.
In essence, working with me offers a comprehensive, heart centered approach to transformation, one that allows individuals to harness their inner power, achieve meaningful growth, and build a life that resonates with purpose and joy.
Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?
Absolutely.
I rely on two innovative, integrated approaches I described above that provide my clients with a transformative experience while ensuring maximum efficiency and clarity throughout our journey together.
The first approach is the THESA Method (Transcendence, Healing, Empowerment, Soul Awakening).
This is a sacred journey where clients reconnect with their inner treasure: that inherent wisdom, power, and authenticity deeply embedded within their soul.
THESA invites individuals to let go of everything that doesn’t align with their true self, embracing the process of “unbecoming” to return to who they were always meant to be.
This method is profoundly spiritual, offering techniques that awaken deep self awareness and a renewed sense of purpose.
Building upon this spiritual foundation, I employ the THETA Method (Transformative Holistic Empowerment and Therapeutic Approach).
THETA is a holistic framework designed to realign the soul, mind, and body, addressing the modern challenges of stress, trauma, and overwhelm.
It uses a suite of practical, multimodal tools: guided meditations to ease into a state of calm, mindfulness practices to foster present moment awareness, visualization tools to inspire new possibilities, and powerful mindset shifting techniques that convert inner insights into concrete, actionable goals.
By blending these approaches, I offer a space where deep inner transformation meets practical goal setting.
Clients are equipped not only to tap into their hidden reservoirs of strength and authenticity but also to translate that internal awakening into meaningful, measurable outcomes in their daily lives.
This integrated toolkit enables them to navigate complexities with clarity, resilience, and a clear sense of direction.
Ultimately, these specialized tools empower my clients to evolve from within, transforming their challenges into opportunities and aligning every facet of their being toward lasting fulfillment and success.
The Impact:
If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?
ONWARD AND UPWARD!
True change begins deep within us, in the quiet recesses of our soul where our authentic selves reside.
It is in that inner sanctuary, far beyond the noise and expectations of the world, that we discover our innate power, wisdom, and the courage to transform our lives.
I firmly believe that real transformation cannot be forced from the outside, it must be nurtured and cultivated from the inside out.
Every single one of us holds a unique spark, a divine energy waiting to be ignited.
When we reconnect with this inner treasure, nothing is impossible.
Imagine a world where every person dares to peel away the layers of doubt, fear, and conditioning, embracing the raw, beautiful truth of who they truly are.
This inner shift, this courageous act of “unbecoming” of what we are not, paves the way for a life lived with clarity, purpose, and unshakable resilience.
It is not about becoming something new, it is about returning to the brilliance of our true selves, where our dreams, passions, and potential converge into a powerful force for good.
I want to remind everyone that no matter the circumstances you face, even the darkest times hold seeds of opportunity and growth.
Embrace the journey within, trust your inner compass, and know that every challenge is an invitation to rise, shine, and become who you were always meant to be.
Let your inner light illuminate the path not only for yourself but for others seeking hope and inspiration.
Together, when we choose love, authenticity, and inner strength, we create a ripple effect that transforms our communities, our nations, and ultimately, our world.
The power to create a better future lies within you, and nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned in life is that everything is impermanent, and possibility is infinite.
I’ve lived through moments that felt endlessly complex, long, dark stretches where the path ahead seemed invisible.
And yet, through it all, I discovered something extraordinary: time is not as linear or fixed as we think.
What feels like an ending is often just a bend in the road.
If you miss one train, another may come, one that takes you somewhere even more beautiful, somewhere you never imagined.
This understanding came from experience, but also from cultivating a mindset rooted in awareness and resilience.
I’ve learned that the mind can deceive, it spins stories, projects fears, and often draws conclusions far from the truth.
Thoughts are not reality.
They are clouds passing through the sky of consciousness.
What matters is not what the mind says, but what the heart knows.
Over time, I’ve learned to listen to that deeper voice, to my inner compass.
It doesn’t shout, it whispers.
But it always knows the way.
Following it has led me through healing, growth, and profound transformation.
Another powerful lesson has been the art of gratitude.
I’ve trained myself not to complain, not because life has been easy, but because every challenge has taught me something valuable.
I’ve learned to seek the hidden gift in every experience, to see the light even in moments of darkness.
In the end, I believe we are all incredibly fortunate, just to be alive, to breathe, to feel, to grow.
Gratitude has become not just a practice, but a perspective.
It’s what allows me to stay open to the infinite possibilities that life offers, and to meet them with humility, courage, and joy.
Your final thoughts?
My final thoughts resonate deeply with my unwavering belief in self empowerment, the soul’s miraculous capacity to heal, and the transformative power of minimalism.
I have come to understand that when we strip away the unnecessary (be it material clutter or accumulated emotional burdens) we create room for our truest essence to emerge.
In a world saturated with excess, I advocate for a return to simplicity, where each element of our lives is intentionally chosen, serving a higher purpose.
Simpler is not only better, it is profoundly more powerful.
Throughout my journey, I have witnessed how the act of letting go can be incredibly liberating.
The soul, ever resilient and wise, guides us to shed what no longer serves us and to embrace the clarity and strength that lies dormant within.
By cultivating self empowerment, we discover that change is not something to be feared, but rather a transformative force that unlocks our hidden potential.
It is through this process of inner cleansing and realignment that we reconnect with our authentic selves, paving the way for a life brimming with purpose and joy.
Change, though often challenging, is deeply transformative, it allows our higher potential to surface and our true selves to shine forth.
Embracing minimalism in our lifestyles teaches us to value quality over quantity, and to see that true abundance comes from within.
In essence, my message is simple yet resonant:
Find the courage to remove life’s excess, empower yourself from the inside out, and trust in the healing power of your soul.
In doing so, you will discover that every moment is an opportunity to renew, realign, and step boldly into the transformative light of your higher potential.
Where Can You Find Gaia Monteleone?
If you liked this interview and if you would love to find your inner treasure and align with your soul, go to her website and see how Coach Gaia can help you do that.
If you want to speak with her directly please contact her via WhatsApp.
If you’d like to peak a glimpse into her coaching, follow her Facebook and Instagram accounts.
And if you’d like to connect with her more personally, you can do that through LinkedIn or by sending her a direct message on her Email info@gaiamente.eu. It was an honor having this interview with her.