Allison’s Story
A Life Shaped by Experience
My life experience has paved the way for me to be a Life and Leadership Coach. As the youngest of six raised in an Irish Catholic family, I spent an extraordinary amount of time learning how to navigate difficult relationships. When I was a young teen, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and a few years later, my best friend was tragically killed. These profound experiences of loss, combined with being part of a family system shaped by chronic illness, propelled me on a journey of self-discovery.
Finding My Sense of Self
At a young age, I spent twenty-one days in the wilderness through an Outward Bound program, and in my early twenties, I traveled solo across Europe for a year. These transformative adventures played a pivotal role in helping me discover a sense of “I” after growing up in a close-knit community.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
After graduating from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology in 1990, I took on various roles, including two years with Greenpeace as an environmental educator and fundraiser. Four years later, I began my graduate studies in social work at Case Western Reserve University, earning my degree in 1996 with a focus on alcohol and drug addiction recovery.
A New Chapter: Marriage and Family
One month after graduation, I married and became a step-parent to five teenagers at the age of twenty-eight. To refine my counseling skills and navigate the challenges of my new family system, I completed an 18-month postgraduate training program at the Gestalt Institute in Cleveland. This invaluable experience shaped the foundation of my approach to all my work today.
Building My Counseling Skills at Penn State
In 1998, I started working as a college therapist at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where I spent seven years developing my counseling skills and creating programs and workshops for college students. During this time, my husband Michael Plasha opened his first yoga studio. As a lifelong teacher and mentor, Michael introduced me to hatha yoga, with a special interest in Raja yoga (the psychology of yoga). Together, we began co-leading workshops locally and nationally, integrating our learnings and practices.
Parenthood and a New Professional Direction
After experiencing years of infertility, Michael and I decided to adopt. Our son, Saul, born in Guatemala, arrived shortly after I resigned from the college to focus on life coach training and raising our son. After earning my certification from The Coaches Training Institute, I opened a private practice and embraced the life coaching model.
The Move from Psychotherapist to Life Coach
Eventually, I stepped away from practicing as a psychotherapist to focus entirely on coaching, as I felt it better serves my clients' needs. While I am grateful for the valuable skills and insights I gained from my years as a therapist, I have found that coaching allows me to help clients achieve personal growth and transformation more effectively. I am now exclusively a coach and no longer practice as a psychotherapist.
Full-Time Private Practice and Family Growth
After adopting our daughter, Tizita, from Ethiopia, I chose to return to full-time private practice as a life coach. Today, I am honored to work with clients locally, nationally, and internationally, meeting them face-to-face or via phone and Zoom. Thanks to modern technology, I can connect with clients from places like New York City, Spain, Alaska, the Netherlands, and Florida.
Pursuing Growth Through Leadership Training
My passion for personal growth and professional development led me to complete a ten-month Leadership Training Program through the Co-Active Training Institute in Asheville, North Carolina. This transformative experience deepened my coaching approach and opened doors to working with small businesses and teams.
A Life of Purpose and Commitment
Now entering my 20th year in private practice, I remain inspired by the endless possibilities that this field offers. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to support so many incredible individuals on their journeys.
From the beginning of my practice, I made a promise to my husband that my business would grow alongside our children — and I have stayed true to that commitment. Our son Saul is now a sophomore at John Carroll University, and our daughter Tizita is a freshman at Saint Vincent Academy in Savannah, Georgia.