Transformative Coaching 
for Passionate People & Organizations

Coaching for Givers of All Kinds

Those who are inclined to do good—whether individuals, leaders or organizations—excel when it comes to helping others. This said, they tend to fall terribly short when it comes to caring for themselves, leaving many in a state of stress, anxiety, and burnout. 


Coaching with a certified, professional coach helps individuals transform the people-pleasing, perfectionism and burnout that comes with giving into lives of freedom, balance and choice; in organizations, it transforms overworked, reactive, and divided teams into productive, mindful and collaborative cultures. Individual, group and team coaching available.

Learn about coaching with Lori Varsames.

Personal Growth & Empowerment

Stress Management

Career Changes

Leadership Development

Organizational Mindfulness

Culture Shifts & Change Management

Lori Varsames
CPCC, PCC, TICC

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COACH

Transformative Coaching for Midlife with Lori Varsames
Sophie Poukish
I reached out to Lori to help me launch my sustainable clothing brand and could not be more pleased with my decision! Since working with her, I have been so much more organized in my thoughts and actions due to her prompting questions and helpful words of encouragement. I come away from every meeting feeling so inspired and motivated to work through any barriers I see to my successes. Along with her beautiful spirit, she also brings with her an amazing amount of professionalism. Thank you, Lori!
Christine Janeway
I thank my lucky stars that Lori has come into my life. This year, I’ve experienced many challenges including divorce, single parenting, selling a home, and changes in responsibilities at work. With Lori in my corner, we’ve focused on finding what my true values are, and then practical ways to honor and highlight them in my life. Our sessions together allow me to feel focused on being my authentic self, which flows over into being more honest and present for my loved ones. I really believe that Lori was meant for coaching. Her demeanor is loving and bold, and she’s an amazing listener. She knows exactly what to tease out of our conversations to come up with creative ideas and activities that have given me profound inspiration and meaning in my life.
Lindsey Roberts
All of the coaching sessions with Lori are truly from a place of genuine interest and heart-felt intention to connect with clients. Her insights are spot on and always insightful, sparking a need for gentle, but needed change. Lots of 'aha' moments! Feeling immediately at ease, she made it seem like I was talking to my best friend with amazing insight vs. a coach with just some life skills to apply and a worksheet to fill out. Lori's mission is to empower women to be the very best version of themselves. Her decades of experience in the business world and overcoming health issues also means she's able to understand exactly what your challenges are, in your unique situation. She's on the path to doing exactly what her soul calls her to do and that is how you know she's just the person you need to speak with!
Matthew Long
Lori has helped me to make myself and my needs a priority. I had to learn that putting myself last effected the way I ran my business and supported those around me. She helped me understand how our inner saboteurs hold us back from seeing clearly. Her pushing me to be mindful helped me to love myself more and recognize the infinite opportunities available. She’s also shown me that I already possess skills that can help me tackle problems that I have been too overwhelmed to face. Above all, she’s helped me navigate unforeseen obstacles. Thank you Lori!

Consultation Calls

Take advantage of a free 30-minute consultation call to discuss your goals and how you measure success. You’ll have a chance to learn more about the benefits of coaching, ask me about my approach, and see if we’re a good fit.

Blog

Weekly Musings

Dive into your next change.

When we’re getting curious about a big change in midlife—whether a move, job or relationship change—it’s in our nature to shoo the idea away before

Read More »
Personal Growth

May You Be Patient

Two weeks ago, my computer started acting funky, and I whipped myself into a frenzy over all I would not be able to do: Zoom

Read More »

Stay Connected

Inspiration
Straight to Your Inbox

Sign up for Lori’s email and explore common issues pertaining to givers, including ways to live mindfully and courageously; navigate career changes, relationship dynamics, and workplace challenges; and adopt better self-care habits.

Let's Be Social

Please join me Monday morning at 8:20am PST on @ksvy_svtv to talk about mental wellness!
While my clients always leave coaching happy with the changes they wanted to make, it's not everyday that a coach receives end-of-contract gifts like these! Thank you @petslifeline for the chance to coach your team over the last six months. What a journey! So excited to see the opportunities that await you in 2025!
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#coaching #givers #sonomavalley #peoplewhocare #animallovers #gratitude
Tune in on Thursday at 11am PST to the North Bay’s KSVY (91.3) to hear me chat about coaching and New Year’s resolutions with @sonomachamber’s Mark Bodenhammer! 
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#coaching #midlife #radioshows #resolutionary #2025 #sonomavalley
Ready to make some changes in 2025? Consider personal and professional coaching—the fastest way to get where you want to go and one of the most important investments you can make in yourself. 
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#coaching #change #newyearnewyou #yesyoucan
Happy 2025! Here’s to a new year of possibilities!
Embrace sequential living.

This weekend, my husband and I celebrated our annual Friendsgiving with old friends. As we all checked in with one another about what was going on in our lives, there were lots of questions and quite a few explanations around things we weren’t doing anymore that typically are important. My friend Ingrid, a published writer and poet, a devoted mom, an accomplished teacher and department head, and an avid runner stopped me when I asked about her writing.
 
“You know, I’m all about sequential living,” she explained. “I’m letting go of this need to be superwoman and doing all the things that are important to me at once.” No, she said, she hadn’t been writing lately—just taking notes on ideas. She told us that her focus was on supporting her sister’s recovery from cancer and parenting her high-school junior. “I’ll definitely get back to my writing,” she said, “but right now I have other priorities. I wish I could do all the things that I love, but I also don’t want to pressure myself to squeeze it all in.”
 
What a refreshing paradigm shift!
 
In the hustle culture we live in, many of us share about ourselves with guilt and shame about what we aren’t doing or doing well rather than confidence about what’s working. By the time we reach midlife, this juggling act of “doing it all” becomes a relentless pursuit of perfectionism. It’s about keeping up appearances, living up to ridiculous models of adulting and parenting, and checking off someone else’s boxes of success—all at the cost of our mental health and sense of peace. Letting go of this pressure is the ultimate act of rebellion; not only does it allow us to reclaim our own happiness and sense of self, but it thumbs our noses at the standards that keep us running through life instead of actually enjoying it.
 
As the holidays approach and you start updating people on your own life, be mindful of how you speak about yourself. Let Ingrid’s words help you create a new narrative for yourself and others. And allow yourself to set limits on what’s reasonable for you during this traditionally busy season.
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#midlife #stepbystep #livesequentially #hustleculture #selflove
Focus on what you *can* control.

During tough times, when the worries of the world feel heavy on our shoulders, one of the best things we can do is just keep going. “Keep calm and carry on,” may seem trite, but it’s a time-tested adage that helps move us through difficult moments. The invitation is not to repress our big feelings, but to focus on what we can control when so much seems outside of it. In the sphere of influence, focusing on the inner circle of what we can control is powerful medicine.
 
Over the last week, I’ve been grateful to draw from my coaching toolbox to help me move through my anxiety around these changing times. Despite my track record, I’ve meditated every day to create awareness around my feelings to better self-manage; I worked out more than I have in the last month; and I’ve also tackled my to-do list with renewed zeal. These brags may sound like nothing special, but I’m typically happier in less regimented routines, I resist working out when I’m stressed, and I tend to procrastinate mundane tasks.
 
I won’t lie and tell you that I feel better about the state of the world, or this country, but I do feel more functional than ever. By checking off some boxes on my to-do list, I’ve taken the added pressures off my plate and created more spaciousness for processing my emotions, for resting, and for focusing on joy wherever I find it…in my case, in snuggles with my puppy, watching silly televisions shows with my hubby, and reaching out to friends and family.
 
If you consider yourself a giver of any kind, now is the time to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself. Look at your areas of procrastination, focus on those nagging tasks, and then focus on yourself—rest, joy, and connection. When we take good care of ourselves, we have greater capacity to help others. And when we help others, we stand to soften the cynicism of our times to hopefully change the world. Taking control of a tough situation starts with on the inside.
Day 14 Check-in for 100 Days of Meditation Challenge