story.
It all began with my family of origin. We suffered from unregulated & suppressed emotions and consequently, poor communication skills. Sadly, for many of my family members this lead to addiction, depression, and despair. We, like so many other families, were trapped in the legacy of dysfunction.
Fortunately I didn’t go down the path of addition. The legacy of dysfunction, however, didn’t elude me - I found myself in many unhealthy, even dangerous, relationships. Two decades ago the fear of staying in my almost 20 year marriage became scarier than divorce and I ended it. Little did I know that divorce was the easy part - the aftermath of divorce was the hardest thing I’d ever experienced - bankruptcy, foreclosure, food stamps, single parenthood, no income, losing “friends”, etc. Fortunately, I had started a serious journey of personal growth and development a couple years prior to divorce where I became a sponge for learning, creating, and putting into practice, skills, tools, and strategies to live a healthy, joy-filled, successful life and developing my emotional intelligence (along with God) was at the center.
Emotional intelligence (EI) isn’t a soft skill, it’s an essential skill. It’s a Skill for Life. I truly believe that if my family of origin had strong EI they, too, would have ultimately lived rich, fulfilling, joy- filled lives.
My heart-felt goal is to help you live your best life. One where your inner & outer life are an integrated whole. A life of rich, healthy relationships. A successful life full of peace, courage, love, joy. A life of high emotional intelligence.
Valerie Charles, PhD, is a highly sought-after consultant & coach specializing in Emotional Intelligence. With a wealth of experience, she has provided coaching and training services to executives from renowned companies such as Legacy Capitals, Pitcairn Family Office, Merrill Lynch, Oppenheimer Funds, Nike, Portland General Electric, and Intel. In addition, she has worked with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and organizations including the Portland Rescue Mission, Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee, and Portland Public Schools.
Dr. Val developed and successfully facilitated training programs for various institutions, such as the Oregon State University/Oregon Department of Revenue and Cowlitz County Health & Human Services. Furthermore, her expertise has also been recognized by Warner Pacific & Multnomah Universities, where she developed and taught courses on emotional intelligence, communication, team dynamics, conflict resolution, and marketing.
With a diverse academic background encompassing organizational communication, teaching, marketing, and organizational psychology, Dr. Val brings a multi-dimensional perspective to her work. She obtained a PhD with her research focusing on executive coaching and emotional intelligence. She also holds a Master's in Teaching and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication, with a focus on marketing.
Dr. Val is a certified professional coach through an International Coach Federation's accredited program. She has also served as a mentor coach and trainer for students pursuing their coach certification. Her dedication to the coaching profession is evident through her involvement with the International Coach Federation, Oregon Chapter, where she served on the Board of Directors. Additionally, she has acquired training in mediation and conflict resolution from Genesis Mediation and possesses relevant experience in divorce mediation.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Val finds joy in outdoor activities with her loved ones and her barbet pup, Oliver. She has a deep appreciation for long road trips and has explored almost every state in the country, with a personal goal of visiting each national park.