Hi, I’m Cathy Severson. For the last twenty years, I’ve been passionate about helping people find purpose through their work. I started out doing resumes, but wanted to learn more, so I returned to school to get my master’s degree in career counseling. I’ve worked in college and universities, for the government and private enterprise. I’ve worked with literally hundreds of people to help them find rewarding work.
About fifteen years ago, I went through a very difficult time. The career center I helped create closed and I was devastated. I didn’t know who I was without my work. I didn’t know where to go next or what I was supposed to do with my life. I fell into a deep depression and felt completely lost. But, I never abandoned the sense that I was supposed to do something meaningful with my life.
I finally got it! I finally realized I was totally responsible for my own happiness. I also learned that the roles I had; mother, business woman, wife were a way of expressing myself, but they weren’t my identity. They weren’t who I was. They didn’t define me.
Out of that experience, I developed a process that anyone can use to create a personally fulfilling and meaningful life. I began to build a new life for myself. I reconnected with friends and family. I learned to stop and smell the roses. I learned to have fun and play. I began to watercolor paint, which I still do to this day. I volunteered my time.
When I felt whole and complete, I knew I could go back to work and be powerful in my ability to help others. I started Passport to Purpose, a coaching firm dedicated to helping people find meaning in their work and their lives.
In 2003, I had the idea for the VISTa Life/Career Cards. The VISTa Cards give voice to my clients’ innermost longings, the secret desires of their hearts, and help them identify and articulate their true values, real interests, natural skills, and dominant traits, all of which combine to present a true picture of who they are, and all they can be!
With the VISTa Cards, I found a way to help my clients quickly, easily, so they can understand their deepest desires in a way that allows them find fulfillment, do what they love, for the reasons that drive them. The cards are now being used by career counselors in universities and colleges around the world. They are also used by therapists who want a powerful, but positive way to help clients see themselves.
I began to look for a new way I could help more people with this powerful tool.
In my career coaching practice, I would occasionally see people who were struggling with retirement. Regardless of the images on television, retirement is hard work. If you’ve put most of your energy into creating a successful career and raising a family, retirement can be a daunting transition. I became excited about how the VISTa Process helps people create a meaningful retirement.
I am also motivated by something else. I hate the possibility that my generation, which is the most educated, wealthiest and talented group of people to ever live, throwing away the opportunity to do something significant with their retirement. We’ve been given a gift. Never before in the history of the human race have we had the gift of this much time. The question is: what are we going to do with it?
What people say about Cathy:
Cathy, you have the ability to not only build a better mousetrap, but also create a better mouse. Michael G.
Thanks for opening my eyes better to see the real me! Aileen H.
Thanks for all the help and guidance. You’ve been like a road map. First I was lost, then you told me where I was, now you’re helping me plan the route to the next place. Pat W.
Working with Cathy, a career/life coach, as opposed to a therapist, I received practical tools, structure and support for reflection and process. These tools were invaluable and Cathy gave them at just the appropriate time. I was very impressed with Cathy’s sensitivity within varying situations. She knew exactly where I was emotionally and personally, especially during very pivotal times. During our work together she has been a step ahead of me, able to define and give guidance. She has amazed me by her insight and knowledge. What I have learned from this short time (2 months) is that transition takes a long time and a lot of work. Linda B.
