Mary Barisa, MS

Many of us dream of a second act. An encore performance. A reimagining of who we are and what we can offer the world. Mary Barisa actually pulled it off. Throughout the 90s, Mary provided a vital service to patients with spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). “I was a transition counselor working to get them back to home, school, work, or whatever their next step was,” Mary said. “If they wanted to return to high school or college, I worked with school counselors to help them reach graduation goals.

“If they wanted to go back home, I worked with contractors to make the changes they needed to make their home livable for them,” Mary said. She worked in that capacity for 10 years and absolutely loved the work.

Then, she had a major life change herself. Her first child was born. “I worked about an hour from home, and it was too much time away from him,” Mary said. So, she left the job she loved and stayed home with him and his little brother until the younger was a sophomore in high school. Mary looks upon those years with fondness and not an ounce of regret.

Once her boys were older though, she was ready to contribute outside of the home again. She has done so as a lifestyle and wellness coach. “I still work with people to set life goals, break them down into manageable steps, and walk alongside them as they progress toward them,” she said.

Many of Mary’s clients are men and women in the “sandwich generation” sandwiched between raising children and caring for aging parents. “As they meet the day-to-day demands of both parenting and caregiving, they often run out of time for themselves,” Mary said. “But you can’t take care of everyone else if you’re not taking care of yourself. I work with them to formulate a plan to reclaim some time for themselves.”

Mary also works with recent retirees trying to figure out how the next chapter will look for them and with high school athletes hoping to play college sports. “Both my sons were college athletes,” she said. “I help high school juniors and seniors get into the college they want, make connections with the coaches, and get the right films to the right people.”

Mary is quick to point out a life coach is not counselor or a therapist. “Coaching is for people looking to make real change in their lives,” she said. “A coach helps you sort things out, make a plan, set goals, and get your life back on track.” This can happen in person at her Frisco office, virtually, or by phone.

When not on the job, Mary is a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and that friend people call when they need someone. She and her husband, a local neuropsychologist, enjoy traveling. Find out more and schedule a consultation at TimeforYouCoaching.com