Welcome!

This is a space for women navigating life’s second half, whether you’re in the thick of a big life transition, or aching for your creativity—and your life—to finally flourish. Through my work, I invite you to live more fully, more soulfully, and more creatively than ever before.

Navigating A Big Transition?

When life shakes you to your core—through illness, divorce, betrayal, empty nest, or loss—the familiar is taken away. You’re left raw and uncertain. The “old normal” is gone. You’re left floating in the void, feeling anxious, vulnerable, and unsure of what comes next.

If you’re over 45 and seeking comfort, guidance, and hope amid the chaos, you’ve found the right place.

I’m Melissa Gayle West, a Seattle psychotherapist, life coach, and spiritual mentor with 40 years of experience walking with women through the raw terrain of Big Change. I help women reclaim their aliveness, their sovereignty, and their juicy power.

Transitions in Midlife and Beyond

Big transitions in midlife and beyond are different than those we face earlier in life. The body speaks louder. The comforting illusions of endless time are gone. What remains is the raw call to live authentically from the center of your being.

The questions become urgent:

  • How do I rebuild when the life I knew is gone?

  • Who am I, if not the identities and roles I’ve inhabited—partner, worker, healthy woman?

  • What do I believe, now that the old rules no longer hold?

  • What, or who, can I trust when it feels like life itself has betrayed me?

A Time for Transformation

In great pain, the heart is broken open in ways it resists in “normal” times. That breaking can become an initiation. Grief, pain, and confusion clear the ground for something soulful, wild, and deeply meaningful to take root.

You have the chance—if you say Yes to this initiation—to step into a life rich with love, meaning, and creative joy. A life more vibrant than you may have ever imagined. .

You Don’t Have to Walk This Journey Alone

If this could have been done on my own, believe me, I would have already figured it out! We need each other. We need support, witnessing, and wise guidance as we move through the heartbreak and into the unknown.

I’ve walked this path myself. And now I walk with other women, offering what I have learned both professionally and from the raw beauty of my own life. If you’d like to learn more about my own journey and how it informs my work, please visit the My Journey page.

Let’s Connect

If this speaks to you—if you feel the pull to explore how I might support your own journey—please visit my [INSERT pages]. Or reach out directly—I’d love to hear your story and see if we’re a good fit.

“Melissa’s compassionate support after my best friend’s death was life-changing. Her wise guidance helped me rediscover myself and embrace a new, vibrant chapter of my life.”
— Sarah W.

You can call me at 206-427-1325 or email me at Melissa@MelissaGayleWest.com.

And please know, as you stand at the crossroads of your own transformation, my heart is with you.