The Performance Block You Can’t Fix With Willpower Alone
Most executive coaches teach you new strategies. Gina Vanderham helps you rewire the patterns that prevent those strategies from working.
Elite Executive: The Only Program That Combines Brain Science + Performance Coaching
Traditional executive coaching focuses on one or the other. Breakthrough performance requires rewiring the mental patterns that hold you back AND building the leadership skills to leverage your new clarity.
Clear Mental Blocks with EMDR
Some mental blocks don't respond to willpower or strategy. EMDR works at the neural level where talk therapy can't reach. You'll make clearer decisions with confidence that holds under pressure.
Lead Better with Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence separates good leaders from great ones. By mastering it, you'll learn to navigate uncertainty, deliver hard truths, and lead with the kind of presence people actually follow.
Gain Peace & Clarity with Mindfulness
High-stakes leadership demands nervous system regulation under pressure, not just work-life balance. We teach you mindfulness built for boardrooms, not retreats, so you can stay grounded.
Unleash Your Leadership Potential With Elite Executive
I now value my worth, regardless of my achievements
I approached Gina for counselling and guidance regarding my self-esteem in the work place. I equated achieving/exceeding my sales targets with my worth as a human being. If I was not consistent in my achievements, I was not worthy of happiness or self-confidence. How exhausting that was! We used the EMDR-Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing technique.With caring, strength, professionalism and a smile, Gina worked with me to uncover and deal with issues I've been living with from childhood -- sexual abuse from my brother, emotional neglect from my mother, and my differing religious views from that of my family. Together in therapy we identified parallels between what happened to me as a child and the way I was feeling at work. I'm on a happier path now. I know “I'm enough” regardless of whether or not every sales target gets met. Thank you, Gina!
Unleash Your Leadership Potential With Elite Executive
Fix the Pattern, Not Just the Symptom
You've tried pushing harder. You've read the leadership books. You've even worked with coaches before.But that stress response still hijacks important meetings. The perfectionism still creates bottlenecks. The imposter syndrome still whispers you don't belong here.Here's Why:Those patterns are stored in your nervous system, not your conscious mind. EMDR accesses the brain's natural processing system to resolve them at the source.Then we build the leadership skills on that new foundation.You won't just learn new strategies. You'll show up as a different leader.
From Surviving High Pressure to Thriving In It
Executive performance isn't about working more hours. It's about making better decisions under pressure, building trust faster, and projecting the kind of calm confidence that makes boards and investors want to back you.Our clients report:
40% reduction in stress-related decision paralysis within 8 weeks
Consistently sleeping through the night for the first time in years
Leading difficult conversations without the old anxiety triggers
Receiving unsolicited feedback about 'seeming different' from teams and peers
When your nervous system is regulated and your emotional intelligence is sharp, career growth becomes inevitable, not exhausting.
Leadership That Doesn't Require Sacrificing Your Life
You didn't build your career to run yourself into the ground. Elite Executive is designed for leaders who want to perform at the highest level without sacrificing their health, relationships, or sanity.We work with executives who:
Lead through high-stakes transitions (IPO, acquisition, restructuring)
Want to break the stress → overwork → burnout cycle
Are tired of feeling like they're one bad quarter away from falling apart
Know they're capable of more but feel blocked by invisible barriers
You'll lead with clarity and power. Your career will fuel you. And you'll actually be present for the life you've built.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unleash Your Leadership Potential With Elite Executive
Complex history of trauma and abuse is healed
With Gina’s compassionate, non-judgmental, and positive guidance, I have experienced tremendous healing and growth in resolving childhood trauma and abuse, adult traumas, an abusive marriage, and alcoholism.Gina provided a safe context for me to do my personal work, through which I have learned to trust, acquire insight, and grow in self-esteem and confidence.I am now able to make and implement good decisions and choices, and live in sobriety. Plus I have entered into a healthy and happy intimate relationship.Although I was initially skeptical about EMDR, I relied on Gina’s professional judgment as to its potential benefits for me.I am grateful for this tool, since EMDR is helping me recover from a tendency to dissociate. It is also helping me to reconnect with myself physically, along with diminishing the distress I feel from the past and providing profound insights to help me move forward.I am now able to make and implement good decisions and choices.
About Our Founder
Our leader is Gina Vanderham.With over 30 years of experience as a licensed psychotherapist and counselor specializing in trauma and addiction, plus 8 years as an executive coach specializing in peak performance, Gina has helped countless people overcome challenges, heal from trauma, and achieve meaningful growth.After overcoming her own struggles with addiction in her early twenties, she discovered the power of therapy and self-awareness to transform her life.That experience inspired her mission: to help others break free from the blocks holding them back and step into their fullest potential.Now, she’s bringing that same passion and expertise into a new coaching-therapy hybrid program built specifically for executives.Gina knows what it’s like to face adversity and come out stronger, and that’s exactly the kind of transformation she helps executives achieve.
Companies Gina Has Worked With
Unleash Your Leadership Potential With Elite Executive
I overcame symptoms of PTSD after being highly skeptical that I would
Before I met Gina I was struggling with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from a tumultuous childhood and a severe car accident.I was in denial about ongoing family issues and how these problems had a profound negative affect on my life, both past and present.I was depressed, confused about what role I played in these problems, and wanted to find out how to heal deep-seated pain.My past trauma not only caused me emotional and psychological pain, but also manifested in physical ailments including ulcers, severe migraines, and constant nausea.These issues affected my self worth, self-esteem, and personal and professional life.I have been in therapy throughout my life and did not have much faith in the process, nor did I feel comfortable relying on a stranger to help me with my problems.I knew talking with a professional counsellor would help me, but also recognized that I needed cognitive therapy. I had been to therapists in the past, but just talking about my problems was not enough.With Gina, it was different in a constructive, positive, and results-oriented way. Upon my first counselling visit I felt very comfortable with her. She is sincerely kind and caring, but also extremely professional and knowledgeable. Gina was able to identify core issues and methods for overcoming them.Gina introduced me to the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) approach.I was a bit apprehensive about EMDR, but thought it was worth a try. It is quite unbelievable how dramatic and instantaneous the results were. I felt better right away. EMDR helps people to process and overcome stress and trauma.My overall health started improving and I began to reclaim my life.Gina also provides practical methods for improving one’s life by suggesting helpful literature, providing workbook exercises, and sharing her wealth of information on therapeutic techniques, support groups, and seminars and workshops.When you find someone you can trust 100%, it makes the healing process become reality.Gina is an expert therapist, a healer, a wealth of information, and trust worthy. She has helped me a great deal.I am much happier now.Psychotherapy has been an investment in me. Gina is definitely the best and most rewarding investment I have ever made!Thanks Gina!
Meet the Executive Coach Who Brings 30 Years of Trauma Resolution into the Boardroom
Most executive coaches help you develop new strategies. I help you rewire the neural pathways that prevent those strategies from working—especially for high-performing women leaders.
Gina Vanderham, M.A., RMFT, CCC
Licensed Psychotherapist (30+ years) | Certified Executive Coach (8+ years) | EMDR Specialist
MY STORY: FROM TRAUMA TO TRANSFORMATION
You're not alone in this—I have my own story of recovery from trauma and addiction to freedom and a career that is fulfilling and rewarding.I am passionate about helping high-performing women free themselves from the past of being not good enough or safe in their bodies, from people-pleasing to being their most authentic, powerful selves in work and in life.I understand what it's like to carry patterns you can't seem to break—to feel like no matter how hard you work or how much you achieve, something still feels off. Something still holds you back.That's because I've lived it.In my early life, I struggled with trauma and addiction. Not because I lacked intelligence or ambition, but because I was using those coping mechanisms to manage emotions and stress I didn't have the tools to process.Therapy that went beyond talking changed my life. It didn't just help me understand my patterns. It rewired them. It gave me back control over my nervous system, my responses, and ultimately, my life.That transformation is what led me to this work. And it's why I know, without a doubt, that the patterns holding you back right now don't have to be permanent.Whether it's perfectionism that makes you second-guess every decision, imposter syndrome that whispers "you don't belong here," or emotional dysregulation that hijacks important moments—these aren't character flaws. They're neural patterns. And neural patterns can change.I've spent the last 30 years helping women leaders do exactly that.
WHY I CREATED THIS HYBRID APPROACH
After 30 years as a psychotherapist and workplace consultant and 8 years as an executive coach, I kept seeing the same pattern: brilliant women leaders stuck in mental loops they couldn't think their way out of. Traditional coaching taught them new strategies and thought patterns. Traditional therapy helped them understand their patterns. But neither was rewiring the neural pathways that kept them stuck.The women who came to me had already tried everything:
They'd worked with executive coaches who taught them leadership frameworks
They'd read every book on confidence and communication
They'd practiced positive self-talk and affirmations
They'd tried meditation apps and stress management techniques
And yet, under pressure, the old patterns still showed up:
The perfectionism that made delegation impossible
The people-pleasing that led to overcommitment and resentment
The imposter syndrome that held them back from going for the next level
The anxiety that made their bodies feel unsafe, even when they were physically safe
EMDR works with original distressing memories that inform maladaptive behaviors today and rewires the brain for peak performance. It doesn't just help you understand why you feel stuck—it resolves the root cause at the neural level.But here's what makes my approach different from traditional EMDR therapy:Recovery from trauma requires safety. I use a collaborative approach with my clients that allows us to move at a pace that is comfortable for them and gives them the sense of control that is so important in trauma-informed work.You're not a patient in my office. You're a high-performing professional who deserves support that respects your intelligence, your autonomy, and your goals.That's why I created this hybrid approach—and why it works when other modalities don't.We combine:
EMDR therapy to rewire the neural patterns at their source
Executive coaching to build new strategies and leadership skills
Trauma-informed methods that honor your pace and give you control
Somatic practices to restore calm to your body
Evidence-based techniques (EFT, CBT, mindfulness) for sustainable change
The result? You don't just learn to manage your patterns. You resolve them. And you gain tools you can use for the rest of your life to keep your life in balance.
CREDENTIALS & EXPERTISE
Over three decades of specialized training and real-world experience helping high-performing women break through their barriers and step into their full leadership potential.
LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
Licensed Psychotherapist (30+ years)
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist (RMFT)
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)
Certified Executive Coach (8+ years)
Certified EMDR Therapist
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counsellor
EQi 2.0 Certified
Psychological Health and Safety Advisor
Spiritual Director
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Trauma-Informed Executive Coaching
EMDR Therapy for High-Performing Women
Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome
Emotional Regulation & Stress Management
Leadership Development for Women Executives
Addiction & Recovery Support
Workplace Mental Health Consulting
WHO I WORK WITH
C-Suite Executives & Senior Leaders
High-performing women in leadership
Professionals navigating career transitions
Leaders in high-stress environments - Women committed to transformative work
IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?
I work with women executives who:
Have already achieved significant success but feel stuck at their current level and want more for themselves
Struggle with patterns—perfectionism, imposter syndrome, stress, emotional dysregulation—that have been with them for years
Want depth and transformation, not surface-level tactics
Value science-backed approaches over trendy methodologies
Are ready to do the real work
Want to lead authentically without sacrificing their well-being
Are tired of feeling like they have to choose between career success and feeling safe in their own bodies
Are open to addressing root causes, not just managing symptoms
The Elite Executive Process
This isn't a one-size-fits-all program. Every woman's journey is unique, and our work together is tailored to your specific needs, goals, and pace.
STEP 1: DISCOVERY CALL (30 MINUTES - COMPLIMENTARY)
During our discovery call, we will determine that we are a good fit and you are ready, and that I can help you reach your dream goals of resilience, calm in your body, high self-worth, and professional achievement.On this call, we'll discuss:
What's bringing you to this work right now
What patterns you've noticed that keep showing up
What your goals are for your leadership and your life
How the EMDR + coaching approach works
Whether this is the right fit for both of us
STEP 2: ASSESSMENT & FOUNDATION
Our process will begin with you completing the EQi assessment (Emotional Intelligence). This becomes a touchpoint for your coaching and helps us identify possible EMDR targets.We'll explore:
Where your emotional intelligence is strongest
Where there's room for growth
What triggers show up under pressure
How your nervous system responds to stress
What past experiences might be anchoring current behaviors
STEP 3: EMDR PROCESSING
Then we will look at areas of your performance at work that are anchored to events from the past which are subconsciously driving current behaviors—not going for your goals, feeling less than, people-pleasing, perfectionism—and process them with EMDR.
STEP 4: INTEGRATION & COACHING
As we process the root causes with EMDR, we'll simultaneously build new patterns through executive coaching.We'll work on:
Emotional regulation and stress management
Setting boundaries without guilt
Confident decision-making and leadership presence
Communication skills for difficult conversations
Strategic career planning and goal achievement
STEP 5: SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
We will be adding in trauma-informed somatic methods to restore calm to the body, emotional freedom techniques (EFT tapping), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness as other methods to bring your goals to you. These methods will bring you sustainable change, and you will have learned techniques and methods of healing to help you for the rest of your life to keep your life in balance. You won't just feel better during our sessions—you'll have tools you can use independently whenever you need them.
TIMELINE & COMMITMENT
Most clients work with me for 3-6 months, meeting weekly or bi-weekly depending on your needs and goals.There's no rigid timeline—we work together for as long as serves your highest good.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All of our work together is completely confidential. I've worked with executives from Fortune 500 companies to startups—discretion and privacy are paramount. You can trust that what we discuss stays between us.
READY TO STEP INTO YOUR MOST AUTHENTIC, POWERFUL SELF?
The patterns holding you back—perfectionism, imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, emotional dysregulation—don't have to define your leadership or your life.You've already proven you can achieve at the highest levels. Now it's time to do it without sacrificing your well-being, your boundaries, or your sense of self.
If you're tired of managing symptoms and ready to resolve root causes
If you want to lead from authentic power instead of performance
If you're curious whether EMDR + executive coaching might be the missing piece
Ready to Take the First Step?
Complete the form below and Gina will be in touch promptly.
Everything you share is completely confidential.