Meet Melinda Fouts, Ph.D. | International Executive Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melinda Fouts, Ph.D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melinda, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My father always told me, the best business you can do is be your own boss, work out of a briefcase and have no overhead. I took those words to heart and after receiving my psychotherapy license, I started a private practice and fulfilled those words he spoke to me long ago.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I married my success of over 25 years in private practice as a psychotherapist with the executive coaching career. In the psychotherapy arena, what I am most proud of, is I lost no one to suicide. Statistically, in my field, we should loose a patient to suicide every 3 – 5 years.

It was a journey to be where I am today. I never gave up on my dream and never waivered to those who are dream stealers and nay-sayers. The challenges were viewed as opportunities to grow knowing nothing ever came easy.

Sessions learned. Believe in yourself, and stay true to your mission statement which is: If I can help one person have more inner peace, we are one step closer to world peace. The reason I believe this is when someone is suffering, they either consciously or unconsciously create suffering around them.

My brand in executive coaching is Success Starts with You, and we all, through limiting beliefs and patterns of behaviors, can get in the way of our success.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the Maroon Bells before sunset and hike with them up to Crater Lake since it is a short hike. Then we would have a cheese, crackers, smoked salmon, and wine picnic enjoying the evening and in hopes of seeing a bear or moose. We would then spend the next day driving up to Ashcroft, enjoying the autumn colors and golden Aspen leaves and have lunch or dinner at the Pinecreek cookhouse. The following day, we would drive to Crested Butte via Kebler Pass to see more Aspens and one of the largest Aspen Groves around. We would then hike a bit of the trail that goes to West Maroon. Time to stay around and have fun in our big wonderful backyard. I would take them on the Rio Grande Bike trail starting at Hooks Bridge in Basalt and ride towards Aspen. We would turn off and ride up towards the monastery with Capital and Mt. Sopris looming in the background. That evening we would dine at Campo di Fiori. Now, my friend is more acclimated and our next adventure is to hike part way to Capital Lake, at least as far as the river crossing. I would take them to the Farmers market in Aspen so they can get a feel of the town. We would ride the gondola up to the sun deck for the views and have dinner again in Basalt at Mezzaluna. To wind up our time together, we would drive to Glenwood and go to Iron Mountain Hot springs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All of my clients and of course, Dr. Stan Passy who took me in as an apprentice and help me develop my unique craft. He knew me better than I knew myself when it came to psychotherapy. One day he asked me if I knew my strongest tool as a psychotherapist. I did not. He told me it was my love. “You love your client and that is why you can be taught and achieve the results with them. I do not love my clients.”

Website: http://www.successstartswithyou.net

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-fouts/

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@melindafoutsph.d.6238

Other: My book, “Cognitive Enlightenment; A Disciplining of your Mind” I was awarded the Top International Executive Coach of the year by the International Association of Top Professionals in 2020.