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career transition to family life coach with Theresa Garvin

Listen On:

From Therapist to Coach: Creating a Thriving Career as a Family Life Coach with Theresa Garvin

What if you could build a family life coach business that doesn’t just transform individuals—but entire families? In today’s episode, Lauren Brollier Newton sits down with Theresa Garvin, a former psychotherapist who spent 35 years in clinical social work before making a bold career shift into coaching. She didn’t just switch careers—she created an innovative coaching model that helps families grow closer, communicate better, and heal together.

Theresa shares her personal journey from a traditional therapy background to becoming a family life coach, the challenges she faced, and how she built a thriving coaching business. If you’ve ever wondered how to transition from therapy (or any other profession) into coaching—or if you want to learn how to create your own unique coaching methodology—this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical advice.

From Therapist to Family Life Coach: Theresa Garvin’s Surprising Career Shift

After 35 years as a licensed clinical social worker, Teresa Garvin had a reckoning—a deep inner calling to step beyond traditional therapy and create something new. She realized that families needed more than therapy sessions focused on problems—they needed a vision for their future. That’s when she transitioned into coaching and founded The Life You Imagine and her signature program, Thriving Families.

What is a Family Life Coach?

A family life coach helps families create stronger relationships, improve communication, and resolve conflicts in a supportive, forward-focused way. Unlike therapy, which often focuses on diagnosing and treating past wounds, family life coaching is about helping families thrive together, set shared goals, and build deeper connections.

Theresa developed a unique 12-month coaching framework that supports parents, children, and couples in creating a vision for their ideal family life—then making it a reality. Whether you’re a therapist looking to transition or simply passionate about family coaching, her model offers an exciting and impactful approach.

Challenges Families Face & How Coaching Helps

Families today face a range of challenges, including:

  • Parental burnout and the struggle to balance work, parenting, and self-care
  • Communication breakdowns between parents and children
  • Blended family challenges after remarriage or divorce
  • Children’s mental health struggles (e.g., ADHD, anxiety, or learning disabilities)
  • Generational wounds and unhealed family patterns

Theresa explains how coaching can help parents navigate these challenges in a positive, empowering way—without relying on clinical therapy.

How to Build a Coaching Business That Aligns With Your Passion

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode? You don’t have to fit into a box. Theresa encourages coaches to trust their instincts and create a business that aligns with their unique skills and passions. She shares:

  • Why she initially resisted becoming a coach—and what changed her mind
  • How she designed her own coaching methodology and why it worked
  • Her advice for therapists and professionals who want to transition into coaching
  • The mindset shifts needed to create a coaching business that’s financially sustainable and deeply fulfilling

Key Takeaways from This Episode

  • Coaching families is different from therapy and fills a critical gap in family development.
  • You can create your own signature coaching program based on your expertise and passion.
  • Transitioning into coaching doesn’t have to be overwhelming—you can start small and grow.
  • The mindset shifts necessary to build a coaching business that’s financially sustainable and deeply fulfilling.
  • How trusting yourself and taking the next step can lead to massive breakthroughs.

To connect with Theresa, please visit: www.lifeyouimagine.org

To connect with Lauren and find out how the Brave Thinking Institute can support your coaching journey, visit: bti.com/coachcertification


Ready to Take Your Coaching Career to the Next Level?

If you’re feeling called to become a coach but aren’t sure how to get started—or if you’re already a coach but want to build a more impactful and successful business—join us for the Life Coach Accelerator!

This free, 5-day challenge is designed to help you:

  • Get absolute clarity on your coaching niche and ideal clients
  • Learn how to attract and enroll clients consistently
  • Overcome imposter syndrome and common coaching fears
  • Develop a business strategy that actually works
  • Charge what you’re worth and create financial freedom as a coach

Sign up for free and take the first step toward building a coaching career you love!

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