I have always been fascinated by individuals’ strengths and encourage people to view themselves in light of their virtues. Realizing these characteristics, I believe that people can reach their full potential in life. For the past 10 years I have helped friends discover new careers, worked with couples on relationship issues, coached people in competitive sports, implemented management changes at work, developed strengths workshops, and much more. For me, coaching is a passion that creates purpose and meaning in my life.

Through education I have broadened my experiences and developed an important foundation for coaching. In 2008, I completed my Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Positive psychology studies what makes people successful and happy. I quickly realized the amazing power of positive psychology and the potential of this emerging field. I studied health psychology and human behavior at George Washington University—two important factors in successful coaching. I earned my Bachelor’s in German Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lived abroad for one year. This allows me to coach in German or English, and gave me a personal understanding for cultural differences. While studying traditional psychology provided me with a foundation about psychological theory, and human behavior; positive psychology has taught me about what makes people happy, successful, and how to create a more fulfilling and meaningful life. The combination of these educational experiences provides me with an ideal background for life coaching.

My goal is to help people improve their lives and to advance the fields of psychology and coaching. I integrate scientifically tested positive psychology interventions into my coaching and tailor exercises to fit each individual. I strongly feel it is important to bridge the gap between research and application—to ensure that clients are getting the most effective interventions, and to inform research through real coaching experiences.

Tanya A. Mulvey, MAPP