Meet Shelly Barkes
Shelly has always been fascinated by people and the intricate systems in which they live and work. Through years of observation and exploration, she discovered a profound truth: for people to thrive, they need genuine connections — to their values and purpose, to other people, and to the organizations and communities they belong to. This insight led Shelly to her true calling: helping individuals and teams learn how to connect on a deeper level, both personally and professionally.
Shelly holds a degree in Communications and brings over 25 years of experience working with diverse teams in the corporate world. As an experienced facilitator, she has led numerous focus groups, training sessions, committees, project teams, and team-building exercises.
In her role as Communications Director for a publishing firm, Shelly played a pivotal role in connecting employees to the company’s strategic vision and core values, fostering a culture of engagement and collaboration. She continued this work as Manager of Employee Experience at a professional services firm, engineering innovative strategies and programs that spanned the entire employee lifecycle, enhancing employee experience and wellness, creating an inclusive work environment and boosting engagement.
Shelly’s natural curiosity and innate ability to build instant rapport allow her to authentically connect with people, listen with empathy, and cultivate trust. She creates a safe environment where challenging questions can be addressed, uncovering the most crucial areas for growth and transformation.
Shelly possesses a deep understanding of human behavior, continuously enriched by new research, ideas, and trends in human and organizational psychology. Her journey of growth and development has endowed her with vast knowledge and experience in various therapeutic and coaching modalities, including:
EMDR
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Polyvagal Theory
Coaching
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Attachment Theory
mBIT Coaching
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
Meditation & Mindfulness Practice
Breathwork
Gestalt Therapy
Positive Intelligence
Shelly is dedicated to helping her clients thrive by fostering deep connection to values, purpose, and community, leading to meaningful and lasting change that transforms lives and workplaces for the better.
Let’s Connect
Schedule a free consultation to see how we can help you chart your course to connection.