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Writer
I have found delight in putting my thoughts into words and on paper for a lifetime. My mother gave me a daily diary that was lockable at the age of 11. In many ways, that small gift that came with a tiny key unlocked the world of writing for me. From that day on, I have been a prolific journal writer capturing my daily thoughts and observations on pages in my handwriting.
Over my lifetime, I have written chapters on human relationships for college textbooks, a doctoral dissertation, and articles for refereed scholarly journals, including co-authoring the chapter on Employee Assistance Programs for the American Management Association’s Handbook of Human Resources.
For 25 years, from 1994 to 2019, I was the editor-in-chief of The Sandpaper, a quarterly newsletter publication that provides informative articles that deal with everyday work life and wellness topics that affect employees and supervisors.
From my decades of experience in workplace health and wellness, I have been considered a technical expert in the field and am often invited to contribute to a wide variety of association and employer wellness publications. I have been a frequent feature writer for the award-winning bimonthly official journal of the Minnesota Dental Association, Northwest Dentistry.
A feature article I wrote entitled “A Matter of Life and Death: Depression, Suicide and Survivorship” in the September to October 2016 edition of this journal won the International Golden Pen Award, which the editor of Northwest Dentistry described as the Pulitzer Prize of Dental Journalism.
I am currently completing a book for publication with the working title, Motivate Through Service: 13 Inspiring Ways to Build Enduring Relationships with People You Lead. This book offers a way forward for people stuck in conventional leadership practices by fostering the emotional and spiritual leadership qualities of those in charge and nurturing their motivation to serve while building solid work relationships.
In August of 2021, despite all efforts, my husband, the great love of my life, caught a breakthrough Covid. He was hospitalized for 54 days. He was on a ventilator for 12 of those days fighting for life. I am currently seeking a publisher for my spiritual memoir of this experience entitled Breath of Life: How Love Conquered Fear of A Covid Death, which details this story of love and hope while remaining positive in the face of death.
I am currently completing a book for publication with the working title, Motivate Through Service: 13 Inspiring Ways to Build Enduring Relationships with People You Lead. This book offers a way forward for people stuck in conventional leadership practices by fostering the emotional and spiritual leadership qualities of those in charge and nurturing their motivation to serve while building solid work relationships.
In August of 2021, despite all efforts, my husband, the great love of my life, caught a breakthrough Covid. He was hospitalized for 54 days. He was on a ventilator for 12 of those days fighting for life. I am currently seeking a publisher for my spiritual memoir of this experience entitled Breath of Life: How Love Conquered Fear of A Covid Death, which details this story of love and hope while remaining positive in the face of death.
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Gretchen, the Life Coach and Therapist
I have worked in the mental health and wellness field for the past 43 years. My desire to help others was apparent very early in my life. In high school, I was chosen and trained to be a teen peer counselor. This birthed and nurtured this aspect of my life’s work.
I went on to earn four degrees from the University of Minnesota. My Master’s degree and my Doctoral degree are from the prestigious Department of Family Social Science, which offers an interdisciplinary program in sociology and psychology with an emphasis on human relationships and family systems. At the University of Minnesota, I was trained to be a researcher, a therapist, and an educator. Over my long career, I have served on the Graduate Faculty of the University of Minnesota, been the Chief Operating Officer of a large family service agency, and provided the clinical direction for two successful employee assistance organizations.
I went on to earn four degrees from the University of Minnesota. My Master’s degree and my Doctoral degree are from the prestigious Department of Family Social Science, which offers an interdisciplinary program in sociology and psychology with an emphasis on human relationships and family systems. At the University of Minnesota, I was trained to be a researcher, a therapist, and an educator. Over my long career, I have served on the Graduate Faculty of the University of Minnesota, been the Chief Operating Officer of a large family service agency, and provided the clinical direction for two successful employee assistance organizations.
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From 1994 through 2019, I was the President and CEO of The Sand Creek Group, an international behavioral healthcare company that provided employee assistance counseling, consultation, organizational development services, and training. I held the final authority and responsibility over the clinical services of the corporation that, included the work of the Vice President of Clinical Service, the entire clinical staff, and, at one time, the clinical service delivery of nearly 10,000 Master- and Doctoral-level therapists working as independent contractors for Sand Creek throughout the country and beyond.
In addition, from 2008 to 2011, I held the volunteer position of Spiritual Director for A Place of Grace, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping military women and their families transition from the military to civilian life.
I have been a certified Employee Assistance Professional through the Employee Assistance Professional Association and the Employee Assistance Certification Commission since 1994. I have been a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the State of Minnesota since the Board of Social Work was established in the 1980s. I recently accepted emeritus status. In September 2020, I was certified as a Life Coach by Mary Morrisey and The Brave Thinking Institute, The Premier Training Center for Transformational Coaching.
In addition, from 2008 to 2011, I held the volunteer position of Spiritual Director for A Place of Grace, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping military women and their families transition from the military to civilian life.
I have been a certified Employee Assistance Professional through the Employee Assistance Professional Association and the Employee Assistance Certification Commission since 1994. I have been a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the State of Minnesota since the Board of Social Work was established in the 1980s. I recently accepted emeritus status. In September 2020, I was certified as a Life Coach by Mary Morrisey and The Brave Thinking Institute, The Premier Training Center for Transformational Coaching.