02/25/2022
Hey there!! I’d like to introduce myself 😊 my name is Katie Jo. I live on a farm in South Central SoDak with my life partner, Ted and our crazy blended family of 7 children. Knowing that, I am sure you can about imagine, I am no stranger to chaos!
I have had my fair share of trials and tribulations throughout my life. From an absent father, being a teen mother, unhealthy relationships, marriage and divorce, some very poor choices, prison, child loss, to numerous other life traumas and lessons. To say “I have been there!” Is an understatement! Sometimes people who have been through the most make the best life coaches, counselors, social workers etc.
I have always wanted to help people but when I became a mom at 16 and again at 19, four to eight years of college to become a therapist became unrealistic for the unforeseeable future for me. I know some people who have finished school with more on their plate than I had but I just felt I wouldn’t be able to give it my all and I didn’t think that would be fair to any people I would potentially have as clients in the future. So I carried on holding various jobs along the way. With each of them however, I continued to feel a pull to help others in a more one on one personal way. I tried to do some online courses to work towards getting my degree in psychology but the basic classes were not keeping my attention and I was failing. So I gave up on that dream again.
In 2018 my son passed away from an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound while in the care of someone that I thought I could trust, while I was at work. My world completely shattered and the floor fell out from under me. I was a shell of a person and I will be honest, I questioned whether or not my life was even worth living without my son in it. It was also then that I received some unpleasant medical diagnoses which led to me having an operation and changing some medication. Fast forward about a month and a half after my operation, I found out I was expecting. I didn’t know how to feel. Hell to be honest I didn’t even know WHO I was pregnant with. I was in such a dark place. The only thing that kept me breathing were my two almost three other children, and my family and a few close friends. It wasn’t until December 2018 that I felt my world come together slightly. When I gave birth to my youngest. I knew he had a purpose and that purpose was to keep me here long enough for me to find mine.
In early 2019 my daughter and I started seeing a therapist regularly. Little did I know this woman would become such a huge part of our lives and my current journey! She did horse therapy with us along with in office sessions as well. I noticed my daughter got so much from the horse sessions. I also enjoyed the horse sessions but preferred the in office sit down approach, both of which she was wonderful at. She became an inspiration to me. Later on some circumstances prevented us from seeing her regularly anymore so I found a traditional in office therapist and my daughter continued to do horse therapy when it worked out. We remained (and still are) close with our horse therapy, Wonder Woman and beautiful soul that I am blessed to call my friend. I’m so thankful for her support in my new journey.
Then September 2019 I met the love of my life, Ted, my best friends brother who had very recently been left by his now ex-wife. We had no intentions to become anything more than friends but fate had other plans. He has since adopted my youngest son and we are working hard rebuilding our life together after our storms.
And that is the very super shortened version of how I got to where I am today!
I am and will continue to be as transparent, real, open and honest as I can. If you are looking for a life coach that is dressed professionally, doesn’t slip a cuss word (or two or three or more 😅) and has studied the technicalities of life coaching until their eyes burn, keep looking because that is not me! What I am however, is someone who will listen and not only hear what you are saying but I will feel what you’re saying. I will encourage and guide you. I will stand by you and cry with you. I will celebrate your wins and walk you through your losses. I am just a real person who has been broken myself, trying to make a difference. EveryONE needs SOMEone! That’s what I’m here for!
Much love ♥️
