About Patty

Counseling, Coaching & Therapy for Women
Women’s Circles & Women’s Groups

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What I Believe About Women and Wisdom

Even though I don't know you yet, I know this: You are wise.

After 20 years of providing counseling, coaching and therapy for women, I’m in awe of women’s wisdom. Especially the moments when it reveals itself during a session or during a women’s circle. Its transformative power to help women heal, grow and thrive is undeniable.

Of course, it’s easy to get disconnected from it. When you do you can be incredibly hard on yourself. Still, that deep wisdom is always there, waiting.

So being a wise woman doesn't mean you have it all together or anything.

I believe wisdom actually means this: No matter how you're feeling right now, you already have a quiet knowing within you, an inner voice of guidance and support.

My mission is to help you cultivate and find your way back to that deep abiding wisdom within.

My Approach to Counseling, Coaching and Therapy for Women

patty-bechtold-therapy-counseling-coaching-women-santa-rosa-office2I believe every woman is unique. You deserve a therapy or coaching experience that meets you right where you are and honors what matters most to you.

You deserve support to experience healing, and to take meaningful actions to feel happier and create the life that's fulfilling to you and you alone.

Using a holistic approach, I bring a blend of theories and techniques to our sessions. I'm a huge believer in the transformative power of creativity, and I'll be an active partner in the process.

Together, we'll explore practices to help you feel better immediately.

When the time feels right, we'll also dive into deeper patterns and stories. When you compassionately and creatively give these stories space in the world (even the challenging stories), you open the door to insights and unexpected aha moments. Healing, hope and forward movement follows.

Most of all, I believe in you and I believe in collaboration.

We’re in this together, and ultimately you’re the expert on your thoughts, feelings, needs and desires. I’ll share my knowledge, insight and intuition about what you’re experiencing, and continually empower you to see yourself as worthy and good enough.

I love partnering with women to do this work, and I’m honored to be able to spend my time and energy helping women in California and beyond.

My Counseling and Coaching Background and Credentials

patty-bechtold-therapy-counseling-coaching-women-santa-rosa-office5I’ve always been fascinated by the inner workings of human beings.

As a child I loved stepping into other lives, imagining what it was like to be that person.

That fascination led me to study theatre and acting in college. It opened me up to so much: deep listening, empathy, the full range of human emotions, conflict, comedy, tragedy, story.

Little did I know I was laying the foundation for my life’s work as a counselor and coach.

Before starting my therapy and coaching business, I worked at several colleges and universities.

I was an adjunct professor, academic advisor and counselor to adult reentry students. Many of my clients and students were women returning to college after experiencing life-changing events. They faced tremendous demands and juggled multiple stressors: families, careers, financial responsibilities and heavy class loads.

These women taught me so much about the nature of hope, how it often exists side-by-side with ambivalence, doubt and confusion. And how just having someone to listen and believe in you is sometimes exactly what you need to regroup, try again and move forward.

In addition to my Masters degree in Counseling, I regularly complete various trainings and continuing education.

I’m licensed to practice clinical counseling and psychotherapy with California residents, and I'm certified to practice coaching with women anywhere in the world.

  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) #925 - California
  • Board Certified Coach - Center for Credentialing and Education
  • SoulCollage® Facilitator Training - Certificate of Completion
  • The Neuroscience of Change Course - Coaches Rising
  • Training in Therapeutic Writing - Center for Journal Therapy
  • Certified Grief Support Specialist - University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Dream/Archetypal Pattern Analysis Training - Assisi Institute
  • Relationship Coach Specialist - Institute for Life Coach Training
  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Training (Level I)
  • Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator (PMAI) Facilitator Training
  • Qualified Practitioner - Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

Finding My Way Home to My Own Inner Wisdom

I've lost track of my inner wisdom many times.

In fact, I've had long periods when I’ve felt adrift and unanchored in my life. Losing my mom right at the cusp of adulthood had a lot to do with it.

Years of floundering followed her death, when anxiety took hold and depression pulled me in. I grieved, searched, strived, pushed, acted out, got lost, got tired and finally just stopped.

Eventually I stepped on the healing path, with the help of several wise counselors, coaches and mentors along the way.

I had to do some deep digging though. I had to explore what I was running from before I could actually hear my inner voice.

Now I see what a turning point that was. Making the decision to stop and listen to my inner voice was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

These days, when I'm not counseling, coaching or guiding women's groups, you're likely to find me in any number of places: in the garden, creating in my art journal, meandering through the back roads of Northern California or simply hanging out with my husband, kitties, and friends.

Even if your story is very different from mine, there's something I'm pretty sure we have in common.

One day your own inner wisdom will rise up and demand your attention, just like mine did. When it does, I'd be honored to be the one to help you hear it.

When you’re ready, call or email any time.

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Feeling a little lost? Begin finding yourself again with this five part ecourse.

You’ll also get monthly Wisdom Notes from me, for your wise life journey.