Neesha B.

Life Coach, Consultant, Educator, & Mom

I’m Neesha B., and I am a Stress & Anxiety Coach and Educator. My mission is to help women, tween, & teen girls find solutions that work for them to navigate life’s challenges and deal with stress, manage anxiety, and avoid burnout.

I know what I’m talking about – I was a teacher for 28 years, and worked within systems that often have little to no empathy for the folks trying to live and work in them. I know what it is like to struggle with stress, fight off anxiety, and even succumb to burnout.

Over the years I had to experiment with a multitude of coping strategies to manage these challenges. Once I had children I knew that I had to find better ways of managing: my family was my priority and I could not let my struggles have an impact on them.

I also wanted to learn what tools I could share with them so they could reach their full potential without sacrificing their mental health.

The research shows that developing psychological flexibility is key. There are strategies that work – we just need to find the ones that work for us.

And I am here to help you find and implement the strategies that can work for you!

Professional Background

Certified Life Coach

I am a Certified Life Coach who uses a combination of modalities that include:

Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC)
Mindfulness (Certification in Mindful Educator Essentials)
Self-compassion
Values work

education background

I am also a certified and licenced educator with more than 25 years of experience and an educational background that includes post-secondary studies in:

Educational & Counselling Psychology
Behaviour Support
Inclusion
Conflict Resolution
Leadership

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts
Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Education
Teacher Certification – Professional Licence
Graduate Diploma in Special Education
Certification in Mindful Educator Essentials
Certification in the Art of Leadership
Life Coach Certification (LCS)
Professional Membership in ACBS (Association for Contextual Behavioral Science)

Family

My Two Teen Girls

I have two teen girls of my own, and they are a source of pride, joy, and so much more.

They inspire me to be a role model of someone who is always willing and wanting to learn.

It is because caring for and protecting them is my top priority that I started on my own journey to learn how to deal with my stress and anxiety.

Part of protecting them is having respect for their privacy, so you won’t find me highlighting them on social media.

Zoe, on the other hand, is another story!

Zoe

Zoe is a rescue and is blissfully unaware of the impact of social media.

She is not only an adorable Bichon Frise, but she’s also a bit of a role model herself. Zoe is a great daily reminder of what it is to be more mindful and live in the moment. And she helps make sure that we go on family walks, get fresh air, and have a laugh.

Though we didn’t get her for the psychological benefits of having a dog, we have definitely experienced the well-being that having a dog can bring. So yes, I do sometimes call her our therapy dog.

Coaching approach, process, & style

Why Acceptance & Commitment Coaching?

When I retired from teaching and decided to put my experience, education, and skills to use in life coaching, Acceptance and Commitment Coaching was the obvious choice for me: this is what helped me develop the coping skills I needed to live with stress and anxiety. Acceptance & Commitment Coaching is based on the principles of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is evidence-based with a significant body of research behind it. ACT includes the process of learning to notice our thoughts and feelings, accepting what is truly out of our control, and committing to taking action to improve our lives.

Let me be clear though: accepting what is out of our control is not about giving up, not trying to change things, and feeling powerless.

One of the things I also love about ACT is its focus on values: I know from personal experience that knowing my values has helped me stay grounded and centered. It has helped me determine my purpose. Knowing my values empowers me to make decisions – even tough ones – more easily than I did before I learned how to identify them.

Learn more: FAQs – What is ACT?

What is your style of coaching?

My style of coaching is client-centred, which means that I listen first, and decide on and develop an individualized approach in consultation with my client, drawing on my knowledge of and experience with a range of strategies.

Learn more: FAQs – Will your approach work for me?

What are your values?

My core values include being healthy, caring for my family and friends, being a role model for my children, making a positive impact on those I work with, and acting with integrity and humility.

What is the process you will guide me through?

First, identify the main problem or challenge.

What thoughts, images, feelings, emotions, or impulses would you like to deal with?
What would you like to do differently?
What goals do you want to achieve?

Second, review what has already been tried.

Assess the coping strategies that have already been tried.
Look at what these coping mechanisms have cost you.

Third, develop an action plan.

With the information gathered, we can begin to formulate an individualized plan that will draw on elements from the following:

Coping skills other than “control”: alternative, healthy, and empowering ways of handling the difficult thoughts and feelings that amplify anxiety and increase stress.
Setting purposeful goals that serve you and your values instead of increasing anxiety and stress.
Identifying and committing to the actions that will support your goals and values without struggling to control stress and anxiety.

New program just for teen and tween girls: Thriving Teen Girls!