Meet Marcia
Marcia Grimsley, BA, MS, Professional Life Coach
For over 20 years, I have helped people from all walks of life achieve their personal, interpersonal, health, and career goals. With a unique background as a successful therapist, counselor, and business consultant, I help empower my clients to create the life they want to live.
My Education…
I hold a BA in Psychology from Temple University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I have taken post-graduate counseling courses and professional training in Life Coaching.
Therapeutic and Counseling Experience…
Early in my career, I worked for years as a staff supervisor and social worker for local and state agencies in Virginia and Texas. As a social worker and counselor, I provided services for people who were chronically ill, or faced physical challenges such as visual impairment. I collaborated with healthcare providers, facilitating support groups for clients and their families.
I then took a position for several years with a private counseling and therapy practice. Here I worked with private adult clients of various ages and backgrounds. When working with these individuals, my goal was to assist them in regaining a sense of hope, self-esteem, and power over their lives.
Business Experience…
Growing up in Pennsylvania, our family life revolved around my Father’s manufacturing business. Both he and my Grand-Parents owned and operated a company with 200 employees that manufactured elastic products. My Father provided me with the opportunity to work after school and Summers, experiencing the business world. While in college, I spent Summers as his bookkeeper’s assistant, helping with employee payroll and accounts payable. I also accompanied my Dad into the manufacturing market. I learned early that eventually, I would like to own and operate my own business, in whatever field of work I would pursue.
After receiving my four year college degree, I became employed with Gimbels Department store in Philadelphia. I entered their merchandising and sales training program. For the next two years, I received training in retail sales and merchandise acquisition in the retail market. I was then promoted to assistant buyer in the women’s coat department, working in this position for one year.
Wanting to focus on counseling and return to graduate school when possible, I next took a job at the County Court of Philadelphia in Domestic Relations. Here I received extensive training in interviewing. I entered graduate school in Richmond 10 months later.
After completing graduate school, I moved to Houston, Texas. There I took a job with the Lighthouse for the Blind, where I worked as a social worker and eventually became the supervisor in that department. In Houston I met and married my husband, a Chiropractor.
In 1982 my husband and I launched a multi-doctor chiropractic clinic in the Austin area. For the following 8 years, I involved myself in a steady stream of business and practice-management seminars, while working part-time for a counseling center. Thus equipped, I started a small business as a consultant for small companies and private healthcare practices. I specialized in teaching customer service delivery and communication skills to managers and staff.
As a business and career coach, I now offer classes both locally and virtually around the country. These talks and classes include Interviewing Techniques, Executive Functioning Skills, Advanced Communication and Interpersonal Interactions in the Workplace, and other similar topics.
Please visit the Career and Business Coaching page, for more information on Career and Business Coaching.
Working With Visually-Impaired Adults…
Over the years, I have been privileged to work with clients in the field of Vision and Disabilities.
I have personally had a visual impairment for most of my adult life. Throughout my life, I have learned to live productively with these challenges. As a child, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Like some children with JRA, my vision was affected at a very early age.
In Graduate School, I elected to include courses in the study of Physical Disabilities for Non-Medical Professionals at the Medical College of Virginia. Upon receiving my master’s degree in counseling and therapy, I accepted a position with what was then called The Virginia Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. There I helped create and supervise their state-wide Intake Program. This allowed me to interface with other professionals within the agency, such as vocational rehabilitation counselors, rehabilitation teachers, and mobility specialists.
Later, after moving to Houston, Texas, I worked in the Social Service Department at the Lighthouse for the Blind. There, my caseload included visually impaired adults of all ages within the community, as well as those employed at the Lighthouse. I was eventually promoted to social service supervisor. This afforded me the opportunity to also work closely with their Vocational Rehabilitation Department and their Job Readiness Program. While living in Texas, I continued my education with some doctoral-level courses in counseling and therapy.
Moving forward, I married my husband and re-located to Austin. While living there, I had the honor of being appointed by the Governor of Texas to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Texas State School for the Blind. I had the opportunity to get to know professionals working in the field of Vision throughout the state. This was an incredible learning experience for me.
For the past 19 years, I have owned and operated a life coaching practice in Virginia. In addition to my private clients, I have been working as a consultant life coach to the Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired. These clients, along with their voc rehab counselors determine their coaching goals and the duration of their coaching experience. I am honored to bring my services to the visually-impaired population of Virginia!
My Current Life Coaching Practice…
Today, my professional life coaching practice, Life Advancement Coaching, is based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I now coach a wide range of individuals across the US, including personal clients, clients referred from state agencies, and business owners, managers and their staff. It is my privilege to assist others in reaching their goals and living a richer, fuller, and more productive lifestyle.
For several years, I taught skillful living classes at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg. Currently, I am a member of The Integrative Medical Program for the Cancer Center at Mary Washington Healthcare. Also, I create and facilitate workshops and classes, in person and online, for groups and organizations. I am available for public speaking. For more information, please call my office at 540.785.4104 or contact me by e-mail through this website.