MICHELLE FERNG
Most people I work with aren't lost. They just can't hear themselves over everything else.
This is for You if...
▪ You've built a life that looks fine from the outside, but something feels off and you can't quite name it.
▪ You're smart and self-aware and you've done the reading, but you keep circling the same questions without landing anywhere.
▪ Other people's opinions about your life have gotten louder than your own.
▪ You're at a turning point and you don't trust yourself to know which way to go.
▪ You're carrying something you haven't been able to say out loud yet.
How This Works
In our sessions, I don’t give advice.
We operate with the belief that you have the answers within you.
Our task together is to separate the signal from the noise. We slow down, pay attention to what’s actually alive for you, and work with that directly. All your thoughts, emotions, and sensations are clues that we might follow.
When we bring curiosity to all of you, exploring at a pace that you set yourself, that’s when real shifts happen.
This is slower than advice, but it tends to actually stick.
➞ Learn more about the process
What People Say
"I'm always running at a frequency of 1.5x and she's at like 0.5x. She's able to pull me back into this state of calmness."
—J.J., Senior Manager, USA
"She brings structure to chaotic thoughts, expresses messy feelings in a way I couldn’t yet articulate, and highlights angles I hadn’t considered."
—I. J., Program Manager, Belgium
"I always leave our conversations feeling lighter, clearer, and deeply understood."
—J.C., Pharmacist, Taiwan
Let's Chat
If something here resonates, the next step is a free 30-minute call. No commitment, just a conversation.→ Book your call
About Me
Hello, I'm Michelle.I spent 15 years working in global health across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, inside some of the world's most complex systems. Governments, international organizations, underfunded clinics, overextended teams. The work was technical, but what I learned was almost entirely about people.I learned that human beings are so much more than their job title or the role they're playing in a room. That when you meet someone with genuine curiosity and listen to what they're actually saying, something shifts. They relax. They trust. They tell you what's really going on. And from there, almost anything becomes possible.I learned to read rooms. To hear what wasn't being said. To understand what motivates people and what scares them, and to find the thread that brings everyone's interests into something coherent. To speak to people in their language, not mine. To hold complexity without flattening it.I also spent a lot of those years as a manager and confidant. Helping colleagues thread together the narrative of their professional journey. Where they wanted to go, what was missing, what was feasible, how to get there. It was a lot of listening, reflecting, helping people see what was possible, and encouraging them to believe it.At some point I realized that this, the human part, was what I'd always been doing. And that I wanted to make it the main thing, done properly, with real training and professional standards behind it.I trained as an ICF† certified somatic§ coach because I'd learned that the most important insights don't always come from thinking harder. The body knows things the mind hasn't caught up to yet. Paying attention to both changes what becomes available.I'm neurodivergent, queer, third-culture, and globally mobile. I've spent most of my adult life outside the expected script. I know what it costs to navigate systems and relationships that weren't designed for how you think or who you are. That's not incidental to this work. It's the ground it grows from.If any of this sounds like someone you'd want in your corner, I'd love to hear from you.
† The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to professional coaching. ICF is an accrediting and credentialing body for both training programs and coaches.§ The term "somatic" comes from the Greek word soma, meaning body. It is used to describe what is related to, or of, the body.
Most people I work with don't need more advice. They need someone to help them hear themselves think.You're looking for somewhere you can think out loud without being advised at, fixed, or rushed toward an answer.You want someone who can hold the full complexity of your situation, who won't need you to simplify it or make it more palatable, and who will help you find your own read on it, rather than handing you theirs.You want honesty, more than flattery or cheerleading. Someone who sees you clearly and tells you the truth about what they see, with kindness and care.
What Happens in Sessions
You bring whatever is alive for you. A decision you keep circling. A pattern you can't seem to get out of. Something you haven't been able to say out loud yet. We start there.I listen closely, not just to what you say but how you say it. I'll reflect back what I'm seeing, ask questions that help you go deeper, and occasionally invite you to notice what's happening in your body as we talk. We follow what feels most alive rather than working through a fixed agenda.Over time this helps you see patterns you couldn't see alone, make decisions with more clarity and self-trust, and shift how you relate to yourself and others.This is slower than advice. It tends to actually stick.
My Approach
My work is grounded in somatic coaching, which means we work with the body and nervous system as well as the mind. Rather than forcing clarity through more thinking, we pay attention to what your system is already communicating. This often leads to insights that feel more stable and easier to act on.I don't position myself as the expert on your life. I help you find the thread in what feels confusing, and stay with it long enough for something real to shift.
Format
1:1 sessions, online or in-person, 50 minutes.
Pricing
4-session package — a focused container to work through something specific.
EUR €180 | USD $210
8-session package — for deeper, ongoing work
EUR €350 | USD $400
Limited spots available for sliding-scale rates.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
→ Book a free 30-minute call. No commitment, just a conversation.
Testimonials
“It’s so lovely to be in a space with Michelle. In the moment, you feel so held—by her, by her energy. I'm always running at a frequency of 1.5x and she’s at like 0.5x. She’s able to pull me back into this state of calmness. It’s so wonderful.”
J. J.
Senior Manager for Strategy and Planning, USA
"Michelle has a calming presence that instantly grounds me. Her ability to listen deeply and uncover hidden details is remarkable. She organizes my chaotic thoughts and reflects them back in a way that brings sudden clarity and relief. The pacing of our conversations is always comfortable, offering insights without any pressure. I always leave our conversations feeling lighter, clearer, and deeply understood."
J.C.
Pharmacist, Taiwan
“During our coaching sessions, I often begin with the sense that my challenges aren’t ‘big enough’, that others face far more serious issues. Michelle consistently creates a space where any topic is valid. She never dismisses or rushes past what I bring; everything is acknowledged and treated as relevant for growth.“She brings structure to chaotic thoughts, expresses messy feelings in a way I couldn’t yet articulate, and highlights angles I hadn’t considered. Talking to her always leaves me in a good mood. Through well-timed repetition and gentle reframing, she has softened some of my harsher internal narratives.”
I. J.
Program Manager in Offshore Wind, Belgium
“Michelle is naturally an incredibly intuitive, receptive, creative and sincerely authentic person. She came into the session with such a grace and openness. The session brought me such a sense of clarity and groundedness during an incredibly difficult and unprecedented time in my life. She listens deeply, reflects back to you what she hears through the lens of her own wisdom and brings guided insight. Cannot recommend Michelle’s services enough.”
M. H.
Public Health Research Scientist, United States
“Working with Michelle helped me soften out of my busy mind and return home to my body. The warmth in her voice and her gentle questions guided me inward, allowing me to feel what was asking for attention. Her nurturing presence creates a safe space where your whole nervous system can fully relax."It is a beautiful gift to yourself to simply begin listening to your body. And in those moments when it feels more difficult to connect, Michelle’s guidance becomes a true support. A gift for your own beautiful being.”
J. D.
Women’s Hormonal Health Coach, Netherlands
Contact Me
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is life coaching? What is somatic coaching?Life coaching is a collaborative process focused on the present and future. Unlike therapy, it doesn't diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, it helps you get clearer on what you want, understand what's getting in the way, and move forward with more intention and self-trust.Somatic coaching takes this a step further by working with the body as well as the mind. "Somatic" simply means relating to the body. Most of us are trained to think our way through problems—to analyze, plan, and push harder. Somatic coaching pays attention to what your body is already communicating: sensations, tension, impulses, the felt sense of something being right or wrong. This often leads to insights that feel more integrated and easier to act on than those reached through thinking alone.
2. How does coaching differ from therapy?Therapy typically focuses on healing, i.e. understanding and processing past experiences, trauma, mental health conditions, and emotional wounds. It is conducted by licensed mental health professionals and can involve diagnosis and clinical treatment.Coaching focuses on the present and future. We start from where you are now and work toward where you want to go. It is not a substitute for therapy, and I am not a therapist. If you are in an acute mental health crisis or dealing with significant unprocessed trauma, I would encourage you to work with a licensed therapist, and I am happy to support that process alongside it where appropriate.
3. What happens in a session with you?Sessions are conversational but not casual. You bring whatever is alive for you—a decision you're wrestling with, a pattern you keep noticing, something you can't quite put into words. We start there.I listen closely, not just to what you say but how you say it. I'll reflect back what I hear, ask questions that help you go deeper, and occasionally invite you to notice what's happening in your body as we talk. We follow what feels most alive rather than working through a fixed agenda.Most people leave sessions feeling clearer, calmer, and more connected to themselves.
4. Do you offer in-person coaching?Yes. I offer both online and in-person sessions. In-person sessions are available in Taipei, Taiwan. Online sessions are available worldwide via video call.
5. How many sessions would I need?This varies depending on what you're working on and how you engage with the process. Some people come for a focused 4-session container to work through something specific. Others prefer ongoing work over several months.If you're unsure, the free 30-minute discovery call is a good place to start. We can talk about what you're hoping to work on and figure out what makes sense together.
6. What is your background and training?I hold a Masters of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Global Public Health from the University of Virginia.In 2025, I obtained my Level 1 Body-Oriented Coaching Certificate from the Somatic School, which is the world's first somatic coaching program to receive the Level 2 Accreditation by the International Coaching Federation).Prior to that, I spent 15 years working as a manager, technical advisor, and consultant on health systems strengthening in low- and middle-income countries. My former employers include the World Bank Group, the Global Financing Facility, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, ThinkWell Global, and Jhpiego. I also freelanced as a photojournalist, covering human rights and social justice issues in places like Peru and Brazil.
7. When are you typically available?I am based in Taipei, Taiwan (GMT+8) and I work most days from 9am to 8pm.To view my availability in your local time zone, please go to my booking calendar.
8. How do I book a session?You can book a free 30-minute discovery call directly through my booking calendar. If you'd prefer to ask questions first, you're welcome to reach out via the contact form.