WELCOME

When God placed coaching on my heart, I never imagined how deeply it would become part of my life. As a survivor myself, I understand the value of having supportive people beside you when healing becomes difficult.

Learning essential life skills, pursuing meaningful goals, and building healthy relationships can feel overwhelming when you’re living with the effects of trauma. That’s why coaching is so important. You don’t have to navigate the journey alone.

Mental health coaching is a unique opportunity to partner with a coach that will tailor your personal growth, using life skills, establishing attainable goals, developing healthier relationships, and/or explore spiritual growth. Group sessions help clients to experience real-life situations in a healthy guided environment, enabling them to strengthen their skills safely.

When looking for a mental health coach, personal experience and professional training are not only helpful, but important for maintaining a safe environment for the client. At Upward Journey Coaching, LLC, we have the experience in working through the healing process, as well as having the professional training to support trauma survivors in a compassionate and caring manner.

We offer both in-person and virtual coaching sessions, with one-on-one and group options available. Workshops—including some held on an equestrian farm—can complement coaching sessions or serve as an introduction to coaching. On-line sessions can be scheduled on our website or by calling.

Our Virginia Beach Office offers mental health and personal growth sessions for in-person:

Individuals
Group sessions

Our Equestrian Farm in Chesapeake office offers mental health, personal growth, and workshops for in-person:

Individuals
Group Sessions

We also offer in-person one-on-one coaching in a public setting of the clients choice, or we can meet virtually for those who prefer virtual sessions.

Individual mental health and personal growth sessions are customized plans for each clients, and can be scheduled in our Virginia Beach, Equine Farm, or in a public setting in Virginia Beach or Chesapeake.

Whichever coaching preference you have, you can schedule your sessions through our website or by calling us.

Most one-on-one coaching sessions are 60 minutes, while group sessions and workshops are typically 90 minutes.

Transformation From Within
One-on-one and group sessions to build:

Healthy Life Skills
Goals
Stronger Relationships
Self-Confidence

Coaching Sessions

Virtual Coaching
In-Person Coaching
Workshops
Equine Coaching

Group-Centered Workshops

Designed to provide:

Safe, natural environment
- Some at an equine farm
Develop and implement life skills
Interaction with others

Workshops

Published Books

From Trauma to Poem

Drawings

Flowers, Scenery, and Animals

Online Store

Katheryn (Kathy) Marchese, Certified Mental Health Coach

Reflections

The effects of childhood abuse created challenges for me well into adulthood. I struggled with indecision, people pleasing, and insecurity, all patterns that affected my work, family relationships, friendships, and relationship with myself. For a long time, I wasn't fully aware of how deeply these patterns were affecting my life.

Today is much different. Through intensive therapy, support, and the difficult work of healing, I have experienced meaningful and lasting change. My healing journey took time, and I believe having additional support with practical life skills, goal setting, boundaries, and relationship building techniques could have helped me apply what I was learning in therapy to everyday life.

That is why mental health coaching is so meaningful to me. Healing is hard work, and learning to practice healthy life skills can feel overwhelming. Coaching can offer encouragement, accountability, and practical support alongside therapy and other professional care when needed.

It is an honor for me to walk alongside other survivors as they move toward greater confidence, clarity, and connection. God has richly blessed me with this opportunity, and I look forward to walking alongside you.