Conversation with MarySue Tolson, Whole Person Coach
What do you do?
I'm a Whole Person Coach who helps caregivers, educators, and other service-driven people reconnect with themselves before burnout becomes their normal. Whole Person Coaching recognizes that every part of who we are is connected, so together we explore not just what's happening on the surface, but the patterns, values, and needs underneath. Through coaching, workshops, and retreats, I help people create sustainable change that feels authentic and lasting.
Why do you do it?
I believe the way we care for ourselves shapes the way we experience our lives. Too many people spend years taking care of everyone else while putting themselves last. I love creating a space where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and discover that lasting change often begins with small, intentional steps.
What drew you to this work?
For more than 20 years, I've supported people with developmental disabilities, and one of the things I loved most about that work was helping people build lives that reflected their own goals, values, and definition of fulfillment. Coaching felt like a natural extension of that. In both roles, my job isn't to tell people what they should do. It's to ask thoughtful questions, listen deeply, and help them discover what they truly want and how to move toward it. I believe people are the experts on their own lives, and it's a privilege to walk alongside them as they create a life that feels authentic and meaningful.
What's one thing you wish people knew?
You don't have to wait until you're completely burned out to deserve support. We often think we need to keep pushing until we hit a breaking point, but lasting change begins much sooner, with small moments of slowing down, paying attention, and choosing yourself. Those little choices have a way of changing everything.
What are you currently learning?
I'm currently learning Spanish! It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, especially because my husband and I love to travel. It's been a fun reminder of what it feels like to be a beginner again and that growth doesn't happen overnight. A little consistency each day really does add up.
Favorite self-care practice?
Getting outside. Whether it's hiking, camping, running, or simply sitting quietly by the river with my dog, nature has a way of helping me come back to myself. It's where I feel most grounded and most present.
Fun personal question: What are you passionate about outside of coaching?
Right now, I'm training for my first marathon! It's teaching me many of the same lessons I explore with my clients: consistency over perfection, trusting the process, and celebrating progress along the way.
