By Matt Liebowitz

For the past year, Patty Framo Sommer, MSW, owner of Essential Elements Coaching, has been helping women achieve person and professional success through a series of coaching groups at her local home.
Sommer currently runs, “Women in Transition,” “Women Transitioning Through Divorce and Beyond,” and “The Synergy Exchange” (a series tailored to women business owners).
She also runs several visioning workshops held at the Pacific Athletic Club, including “Creating Your Personal Vision: What do you really want and how do you get it?” and “Creating a Powerful Work of Business Vision.”
With a master’s degree in social work from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State, Sommer’s goal in heading the coaching groups is to create a supportive environment in which women can share obstacles, set goals, receive support from other women, brainstorm ideas, and implement plans to move forward in their lives.
In “The Synergy Exchange” group, for example, Sommer helps women deal with the personal and professional obstacles, such as isolation and lack of motivation, that arise in running a business.
Sommer helps women in the “Transitioning Through Divorce and Beyond” group cope with the shift from being part of a couple to life as a newly single woman.
“It’s about taking a look at yourself and what you want, and establishing your identify,” Sommer said of the divorce support group.
Across all her coaching groups, Sommer noted a common thread.
“In all the groups, the bottom line is increasing self-confidence and connecting with other women,” said Sommer.
Two upcoming meetings include:
•Thursday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or Monday, Oct. 5, 6:30-8 p.m.
Title:Transitioning Through Divorce & Beyond: What’s Next?
•Thursday, Nov. 12, 12:30 p.m. -2 p.m. or Monday, Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Title: Creating a Powerful Work or Business Vision
For more information, including a list and schedule of all of Sommer’s groups, visit www.essentialelementscoaching.com, or call (858) 945-8822. Sommer can be reached via email at patty@essentialelementscoaching.com.

Carmel Valley Leader