Colleen Linnertz began her own journey as a counselor and health educator working with people living with HIV in the mid 90’s. Many of her clients experienced a Coming Home process. Their dis-ease gave them the clarity and courage to live authentically and share their unique gifts with others. Many of them described feeling truly alive for the first time.

Colleen realized she had some of her own work to do before she could claim the same insight and authenticity. It was then that the first seeds of Journey Back to Self took root.

She worked as a bereavement counselor for Hospice as she went through her own transformation. "This was not an easy process," she explains. "There were many bumps in the road: periods of depression, isolation, and complete confusion as to who I was, or where I was going." The challenges came with many gifts. "Working with Hospice taught me the importance of valuing life in the here and now." Gratitude plus mindfulness plus authenticity equals a powerful combination. When she learned this, Colleen's life unlocked, opening her to unlimited possibilities.

She now guides her clients through their own rough spots, knowing that the rewards wait just around the corner. "This process happens for most of us as we break new ground. But no one who's been through it would trade the experience. It's work, but it's life-changing in the best possible way."

For Colleen, her inner work led to the formation of Journey Back to Self – uniquely, integrative wellness coaching. JBS combines the goal-setting and practical accountability of traditional business coaching with the healthful wellbeing of a spiritual practice – all mixed up with the wisdom, creativity, playfulness, and dreams of preschool.

Yes. Preschool. "Children know who they are," Colleen explains. "Before the world gets in the way and tries to convince them otherwise, kids have a blueprint for their life. I like to give that child within all of us the chance to step out of the shadows and take center stage. That's when we celebrate the wisdom of our inner brilliance. That's when we truly shine."

For 13 years, Colleen has developed her own unique style of health educator, counselor, and coach in order to help people discover their own inner brilliance. She is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, Certified Mindful Life Coach, and Certified Guided Imagery Therapist with advanced training in expressive arts and holistic health. Colleen is currently pursuing her PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, with an emphasis in Expressive Arts at Saybrook University.