top of page
About You
If everything feels like it is falling apart and you need to figure out a better path, then get in touch with me. You may be going through divorces and break-ups, especially if you are LGBTQ+ and realizing it later in life. You may be burnt out after having kids, being fired/laid off or quitting school. You may be disabled, neurodivergent and need to unmask with someone who understands. You may be overwhelmed, scared, and feeling isolated and gaslit. If you no longer want to be second-guessing yourself or wasting time explaining your identities and overwhelm to a provider, you and I can work towards an easier life where you call the shots and have a commitment to your truth.
Some of the groups I work with are: academics in and out of academia who are traumatized by their experience, all fields and career stages, this also applies to folks in medicine, law, or any industry, especially therapists; folks who are late in life (self)/diagnosed autistic, AuDHD, w/ADHD, and parents of neurodivergent kids; LGBTQ folks and their parents, mentally ill folks, disabled folks; people of color and immigrant people trying to survive on colonized land; people on spiritual journeys who are starting out or experienced healers and practitioners who want to go deeper without spiritual bypassing; people interested in exploring kink and BDSM; neurodivergent people interested in becoming life coaches or small business owners; frustrated mothers and anyone else burnt out (especially if you are in autistic burnout) from stress & facing oppression in their lives.
While I mostly see folks who are multiply marginalized, I am also the appropriate life coach for people who carry unearned power and belong to the oppressor classes: white people, cisgender people, straight people, folks with money, able-bodied and neurotypical people etc. We can work together to figure out how you can leverage your power to unlearn harmful ideologies and contribute in a meaningful way to a more equitable society. Feel free to purchase sessions for people that you want to ally with and support. Finally, I am also a consultant for businesses who want an experienced educator, workshop facilitator, and leader of organizational change.
About Me
My name is Simone and I’m a 40-year-old mom of 4. I grew up in Russia as an Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan and later moved to the US. I completed a BA in Biology and a Master’s in Public Health from NYU and worked for the American Cancer Society as a patient navigator helping thousands of people. I then got a PhD in Sociology with a certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a concentration in LGBTQ Studies. My first book was on everyday violence faced by women and LGBTQ people and my current book is on reproductive journeys of transgender and non-binary people. I left full-time academia in 2022 to be your feminist life coach and an occasional consultant for businesses and organizations.
As a late in life self-diagnosed autistic person who is agender (they/them) and a lesbian, I prioritize clients who are marginalized. Being autistic, mentally ill, and (collective) trauma-informed allows me to help you when mainstream approaches to healing are not enough.
Infodump with me, tell me all about your special interests, and let’s be ourselves without apology. In addition to life coach, think of me as career coach, peer support, household manager, and patient advocate. As a disabled person with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and PMDD, I am also here to help you process the way our bodies and minds function in an ableist society and help you navigate an unfair healthcare system.
I coach through an anti-oppression framework to help you see inequalities as structures to be dismantled. You can work with me to unlearn racism, sexism, homophobia etc., and to understand how these systems are preventing you from truly living. We address your family life, your identity, your activism, things like triggers, attachment styles, communication issues, coping mechanisms, boundary setting, and spiritual work, be it New Age or deconstructing traditional paths. Ultimately, you’ll move away from people pleasing into a state of ease where you can sit with discomfort, reparent yourself, and start healing. I too see an autistic life coach and it's changed my life!
Services
After our consult, clients commit to 3, 6, or 12 session packages, which cost $500, $1000, or $2000. Each package includes the initial consult summary, an extensive intake questionnaire before our first session, a plan of action going forward and sessions. Sessions are synchronous 1-hour sessions via Zoom (camera on/off), phone, text, or email or asynchronous 1-hour research sessions or 1-hour personalized recorded lectures. Each session is followed by an email with concrete next steps and resources. If you are unable to afford my rates, we can discuss discounts and payment plans during the consult. If you want a stand-alone 1-hour session, it costs $200 and can be purchased below.
My ‘Deep Dive’ clients work with me for 3 months and get twelve 1-hour synchronous sessions, 6 asynchnonous research sessions and/or recorded lectures and my being on-call/text for up to an additional hour every week. This deep dive costs $4,500 (valued @ $6,000). You can pay for it via a payment plan if needed.
My ‘Consulting’ clients are businesses who hire me for speaking engagements, trainings and workshops, and organizational change projects.
I work with anyone over 18 worldwide and hold free consults and paid sessions 7 days a week, day and night. Check out my blog, buy my book, subscribe to the newsletter (scroll to the bottom) and follow Defiant Life Coaching on YouTube, Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Testimonials
Although very excited to be invited for the very first time to a campus interview for a tenure track faculty position, I immediately panicked as I was unaware of what the campus interview process was all about. Dr. Kolysh immediately offered their services and took me through every detail of what these interviews look like. After a few days, I found out that I got the job they helped me prepare for! They also helped me with the negotiation process in order to reach an agreement that I felt most comfortable with. I’m super excited to start my new position and so grateful to Simone for all of their help!
Dr. Minerva Guerrero
Contact
bottom of page