Grid Default Body Guard

Your Trusted Confidante. 

Listening since 1999.  

Supportive. Compassionate. 

Insightful. Always discreet.

For anyone struggling to get a fresh perspective and new insights, I've got your back! I'm a seasoned interviewer and listener with natural-born insights, compassion, and empathy. I am also a professional biographer who has led dozens of people through  telling me their life story over 27 years. 
I have earned my reputation as a safe space to tell your  story and talk about the road that led you here. In the process, you will discover a brand-new view of the big picture of your life and life story.

About Vivien

"...She is a gifted writer, an extraordinary listener, and someone with a rare ability to help people discover the deeper meaning within their own stories. In many ways, she cured what was ailing me." -  Mike T., Peer Support Counselor 

What are you dealing withand how can i help?

Trained listener & Interviewer     Supportive Confidante      Certified Grief Coach     Brainstorming Partner

Clearing inner obstacles
Strategizing an approach
Rebooting your creativity and intuition

Navigating life's tricky situations 
Connecting with your inner compass
Brainstorming solutions

Processing emotions and grief
Developing a toolbox for moving forward 
Need on-site support

Story-based coaching. for greater clarity. a fresh perspective. and a new and deeper understanding of the big picture.

What if telling me your life story aloud could be the key to unlocking unexpected and amazing, discoveries, gifts, and benefits in your life? Start at whatever point in the story you like and end whenever you're ready. Since 1999, I have been leading clients through this transformative and healing process. Scroll down to see what they say about the benefits.

What is story-based coaching? 

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As you tell me your life story, or whatever part of your story is on your mind and heart, I help you see more deeply into the narrative. ﻿
All the wisdom, insights, answers, guidance, and peace you are looking for rises to the surface when you open up and start talking. Sure, I help you discover it, and I guide you toward it, But the dots almost start connecting themselves as you attune to the story you're telling. ﻿
﻿

Amazing discoveries,Gifts, and benefits

As I guide clients in the telling of their stories, I witness something fascinating: one after another, you collect treasures--insights andlost pieces of themselves along the way.  

I realized that in the process of exploring your life story narratives, we accidentally stumble upon amazing discoveries, gifts, and benefits.Reach out today and experience for yourself all the healing, grounding, cathartic, and therapeutic aspects of  this process! 

clarify. simplify. rectify. recalibrate. and reframe the narrative. 

Evolving beliefs about grief

Grief does not follow a linear path. 

Grief may come in waves or cycles. It may even remain dormant for years before resurfacing.

time May not completely heal all wounds

Instead of moving on, we develop continuing bonds.

Time does not necessarily heal 100% of our wounds. Much can be healed and the rest we just learn to carry. Time does provide space for adaptation and integration.  

It is healthy to maintain continuing bonds and find ongoing meaningful connection to our departed loved ones.

Grief is not simply an emotion. It affects our entire being. 
Addressing your grief at every level:

Customized Tools, Strategies, and a Roadmap for Coping, Mourning, Healing, and Emerging from Grief 

Emotional
Mental
Physical
Spiritual

Helping you engage with your grief 
in ways that feel authentic and comfortable, given your nature, background, culture, and faith.

"Ring the bells that still can ring./Forget your perfect offering./There is a crack in everything./
That's how the light gets in." -excerpted from Anthem by Leonard Cohen 

potential benefits

Feeling heard, seen, and understood

Diminished sense of isolation

Less tendency to disassociate

Renewed connection to one's emotions

Greater connection to ancestral mourning traditions

Enhanced ability to interact with family and loved ones

Greater willingness to accept support and helpEnhanced ability to focus

Better concentration

Greater productivity

A plan for managing physiological, emotional, and spiritual effects of grief

Feeling supported and grounded

Enhanced intuitive sense

Deeper soulfulness & creativity

Less despair during mourning

Greater functionality

Developing continuing bonds with deceased loved ones

Deeper connection with one's faith

Greater ability to recognize healing and tolerate setbacksImproved ability to balance responsibilities and mourning

Better self-care habits

﻿for writing coaching, go to: https://cooperghostwriting.com/writingcoaching/﻿

my approach is informed by

27 years of guiding life story narratives

my personal experiences,Trauma, and Losses,and 12-step background

grief coach certification

my deeply empathetic, compassionate nature

my natural insightfulness, ﻿
intuition, & Wisdom

my christian faith &jewish heritage

"...She is a gifted writer, an extraordinary listener, and someone with a rare ability to help people discover the deeper meaning within their own stories. In many ways, she cured what was ailing me." -  Mike T., Peer Support Counselor 

Sliding Scale pricing*

 2 x weekly 

$400.00 - 600.00 monthly, paid in advance

3 x weekly  

book sessions as needed

$600.00 - 960.00 monthly, paid in advance

$50.00 to $80.00 / Session paid in advance 

*I don't turn anyone away due to financial hardship. I set aside a certain amount of my timefor sliding-scale clients. That is why I use a price range rather than exact pricing.

A big, warm, compassionate heart does not even touch the surface of how Vivien holds another's whole system when they are experiencing grief, trauma, or heartache. She truly and consciously creates a safe space for all people in every encounter, be it friend, colleague, client--or literally even a random stranger in the check-out line at the grocery store."  - Jason Hughes, Author, One Man's Love Story 

"I’m so grateful for the way Vivien has supported me through a very tough season. After experiencing multiple losses, she gave me a safe space to talk openly about my grief, anxiety, and all the emotions that came with it. One of the most meaningful things she taught me was how to 'make friends' with all of my feelings, even the uncomfortable ones, instead of trying to push them away. Her nurturing spirit, compassion, wisdom, and ability to listen without judgment has helped me navigate grief with more gentleness and understanding.  
~ Ashlyn Jones, Songwriter/Event Production Manager ﻿

What My Clients Say

"During the worst time of my life, facing grief and trauma, Vivien was my hero. Telling my story to her for my book was the best therapy I could have ever received. She has such empathy that it lifted me out of my dark time. Thank  you for saving me."
- Shelly Hess Bangert, Author of Final Drive’

"Working with Vivien was just what I needed at the right time. She helped me process my feelings and sort through some of the grief and trauma of losing my first wife so suddenly. She was definitely a Godsend."-Jason Sherman, Author of Diary of a Widowed  Dad

"She led me through interview conversations about the most difficult and emotional period of my life, taking my words and thoughts and beautifully blending them into a book. Her talent, knowledge and patience are above reproach. And I have a new friend. Make yourself the same friend!" - Robert Fischbach, Commercial Real Estate Owner/Operator, Author of Faithful As She Fades: A Memoir of Love and Dementia 

""Vivien has a real gift for listening, She pays attention and she cares. She doesn’t stop at compassion--she wants to understand what’s actually going on and help you find clarity. Whether you’re dealing with something emotional, practical, or deeply personal, she stays with you and works through it with you until things start to make sense and a path forward becomes clear."
- Billie King, Writer/Director/Producer, and Author of Billie, A Memoir

"In choosing Vivien Cooper to help me write my memoir, I did not realize I was in the process of finding a true friend with a generous and understanding heart. Writing my story was not easy but Vivien helped me through it, whether it was to forgive, accept, or embrace the many moments that still weighed on my heart. Through it all, she was generous with her own life, with a warm kindness and humor. She has a class and dignity I have not found in any other person."
- Mike Rafferty, Author of The Last Neightboorhood: A South Philly Memoir

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"I first spoke with Vivien about an idea I had for a memoir. What began as a conversation about writing quickly became something much deeper.

Vivien is an outstanding developmental writer and ghostwriter, but what impressed me most was her extraordinary ability to listen. She listens closely—not only to what you are saying, but for the meaning that often lies beneath the words. She hears the story behind the story, sometimes recognizing connections and underlying themes before you recognize them yourself.

Throughout our conversations, she gently guided me through the process of thinking about my memoir: what I wanted to say, why I wanted to say it, and what the experiences in my life were really trying to tell me. I found the entire process incredibly informative and, unexpectedly, very therapeutic.

Vivien has a wonderfully calming voice, and her almost supernatural insights have an uncanny way of steering a conversation toward exactly where it needs to go. In talking through the experiences that might become part of my memoir, she helped me see parts of my own life differently. More importantly, she helped me recognize and begin resolving underlying issues and trauma that I had been carrying with me for years.

I came to her looking for guidance about writing a book. I came away with a much clearer understanding of the book, my story, and, in many ways, myself.

For that, I will always be indebted to Vivien. She is a gifted writer, an extraordinary listener, and someone with a rare ability to help people discover the deeper meaning within their own stories. In many ways, she cured what was ailing me." - Mike T., Peer Support Counselor