About Mary Berney

Hi! I’m Mary Berney, Coach, Author, Speaker

As a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, I draw upon over twenty years of experience in the coaching, consulting and counseling arenas to help you reach the pinnacle of your personal success, to discover your purpose and to be authentic in your journey along the way.

My clients will tell you that I have the most intuitive and authentic gift to understand their situation, grasp the intensity and depth of their experience, and guide them to clarity and authenticity. I help them get in touch with feelings, tap into their unique gifts and talents and make transformational life changes.

My life and work experience have prepared me well for my role as a trusted coach! I’ve been married and divorced; engaged and single again. I’ve raised a daughter as a single parent and struggled with working, maintaining an identity, having a play life and making ends meet. I’ve been through the ritual of exchanging parental visitation weekends and have sent my child off to college, watched her graduate and eventually marry. I’ve bought and sold homes, watched elderly family members move from their life-long home to a retirement center then pass on. I’ve had experience with Internet dating and the excitement and challenge of starting over.

I’ve had multiple jobsin the corporate arena, all with even greater levels of responsibility and pay, each one requiring greater amounts of my time, energy, and resources. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Human Resource Certificate and business management coursework, I’ve had the most incredible work experience. Besides working as a licensed psychotherapist with individual’s, couples and groups, I’ve also enjoyed work in health care, employee assistance and training and development - in each situation, providing coaching, consulting and health and wellness initiatives. I’ve worked with employees in such industries as healthcare, hardware/software technology, education, manufacturing, retail, and non-profits to Fortune 500 companies. These companies offered me the opportunity to understand and support individuals and groups from all walks of life at all levels of an organization. It has also given me the opportunity to experience the breadth and depth of the human experience: challenge and joy, intellect and street smarts, emotional intelligence and emotional fragility. I worked hard at creating balance between home and work, staying focused, being present and giving to others.

I am trained as a professional Certified Life and Career Coach and I assist teaching coaching skills to new students. In order to enhance my relationship coaching skills, I have trained with Susan Campbell, Ph.D., nationally known expert in the field of relationships and dating. I have served as the VP of Memberships for the San Diego Professional Coaching Alliance and I am an Advisory Board Member of the Women’s Institute of Southern California, serve as their Life and Career Coach and teach self-esteem courses to teen girls. I am a member of local business associations and chambers. I have published articles on life and relationships for both print and online magazines. I am a contributing author to the anthology, "The Power of Leadership in Business Networking" to be released in September 2009 and I am currently working on my own book on midlife dating and relationships. You can find many of my writings in the ARTICLE page in this site.

In addition, I publish a monthly ezine which includes articles, my monthly blog, recommended reading and other interesting inspirational and motivatinal tidbits.

My full time work as a coach takes me in several directions: working with individuals and groups, speaking, and writing. I am deeply committed to helping people and helping them change the landscape of their sense of self, life and world. I want to make a difference in the world by helping people create incredible and wonderful lives and relationships. It is my passion!

Originally from the heartland, St. Louis, Missouri, I migrated to Northen California in 1993. Based in San Diego, California, my coaching practice is nation-wide.