Maria McNeal

Certified Health & Life Coach - Helping you navigate change, reconnect with yourself, and build the life you want

About

Hi! I'm Maria. As your coach, I believe you are the expert in your own life and my role is to guide you with powerful questions, reflections, and an open, non-judgmental space to connect to your inner clarity, creativity, competence, and confidence to build the life you want. 

As a health and life coach, I take an integrative approach, honoring the connection between mind, body, and spirit to help you make changes or move through change with confidence, purpose, and alignment. Whether you're facing a career shift, relationship change, burnout, lack of meaning and purpose, or a desire for deeper well-being, I provide practical tools, compassionate guidance, and accountability so you can create sustainable transformation from the inside out. If you're ready for positive alignment in your life, set up a free discovery call today!

Specializations: 
  • Life transitions, navigating change
  • Habit Change, behavior change
  • Releasing codependent & people pleasing patterns
  • Establishing and maintaining boundaries 
  • Stress Management
  • Preventing/Recovering from burnout
  • Personal development and transformation
  • Reconnecting to yourself, your intuition, your inner voice
  • Finding purpose and meaning in your days
  • Overall health & well-being

Packages

Discovery Call

Curious about the coaching process and what's possible for you? Do you want to experience what it feels like to be coached? Let's talk!
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Jumpstart Package: 6 Sessions

Ready for a jumpstart in reaching your goals and aspirations? This package is for you.

*Sessions are virtual by default, but if you are in the Kansas City metro, I offer in person options (walk-and-talk or coffee shop sessions) as well. 
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Single 50-Minute Breakthrough Session

Feeling stuck and looking for a clear next step? This session is for you. 
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Breakthrough Package: 12 Sessions

Ready for a breakthrough? This package is for you. 
*Sessions are virtual by default, but if you are in the Kansas City metro, I offer in person options (walk-and-talk or coffee shop sessions) as well. 
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Testimonials

My life coaching session with Maria was truly amazing. She creates a warm and safe space to be vulnerable and honest. Her guidance was empowering and reachable. I left the session with clarity and a solid plan for my future steps. This single session exceeded my expectations, and I can’t wait to continue with her support.

- Ashley, Kansas City, MO

I had a coaching session with Maria focused on nutrition. She asked really helpful questions that led me to recognize what was already working and had worked for me in the past related to eating, what obstacles were present, and she supported me in creating a plan for myself that I feel I can realistically follow. She also provided accountability with follow-ups that motivated me. It all felt so simple and natural! I have gotten stuck in the past with perfectionism and trying to make “one-size-fits-all” plans work for me, and Maria helped me to work through those blocks and tailor a plan for exactly where I’m at right now. I loved the nonjudgmental space Maria created, and I would highly recommend her coaching services to anyone who is looking for additional support in any area :)

- Lily, Kansas City, MO

Maria’s coaching session was incredibly helpful and grounding. She creates such a supportive space while also helping you gain real clarity and perspective. I left feeling more confident, focused, and understood. Highly recommend her to anyone looking for guidance, growth, or encouragement.

- Jessica, Prairie Village, KS

"Working with Maria has helped me become more accountable and intentional in my day-to-day life, and I've learned so much about myself and what matters most. She's kind and thoughtful in the questions she asks, and she genuinely cares about her clients' progress. I can't recommend her enough!"

- Morgan, Austin, TX

I had the most amazing coaching session with Maria! I loved that she let me choose the vibe of the session, offering to meet virtually, at a coffee shop, or out on a trail. We decided on a ‘walk and talk’ session, which was excellent. She came incredibly prepared with a helpful diagram to guide our conversation. The entire time I felt completely heard and validated and she gave such great advice, mentioning things I hadn’t thought of but were right on track with how I was feeling. She’s so naturally understanding and easy to talk to. I left our session feeling clear, motivated, and supported. I can’t wait to continue to see my own growth and potential. I Highly recommend!

- Meaghan, Shawnee, KS

"Maria is a wonderful, kind, caring human who approaches every conversation with deep empathy. She seeks to understand first, then asks questions that get you thinking about what you yourself want and what you can do to get there. A wonderful experience with a wonderful coach!"

- Brendan, Kansas City, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is coaching?
Coaching is a collaborative and goal-oriented partnership designed to help clients reach their full potential. As your coach, I believe you are the expert in your own life and my role is to guide you with powerful questions to unlock those inherent capabilities we all have of clarity, competence, creativity, and confidence. I hold the container for individuals or groups to move toward lasting, positive change in personal development, health habits, overall wellness, or finding purpose and meaning in life.  
Who do you work with?
I work with adults 18+
Where do we meet for sessions?
I offer both virtual and in-person options if you live within the Kansas City metropolitan area. When you book an appointment, you will automatically receive a Google Meets invite but will then have the ability to choose from the following options: 

  • Virtual session via Google Meets (you can be anywhere - I am on CDT) 
  • In-person session at a local coffee shop
  • Walk and talk session at a local park

If you have further questions, feel free to email me at [email protected].
What’s the difference between coaching and therapy?
Although they can be seen as similar, there are some key differences in therapy and coaching. Coaching is a collaborative partnership designed to help clients reach their goals and make choices from a place of alignment alongside their strengths and values. Therapists are mental health professionals that can diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Therapy is often past and present focused (explores the past in depth to support healing in the present), while coaching is more present and future focused and focused on behavior change and motivation (where you are vs. where you want to be). That being said, coaching and therapy can complement each other really well! 


Do I have to be in the middle of a crisis to hire a coach?
Nope! Coaching is for mostly well-functioning individuals ready for support with forward growth. If you feel like you’re currently in crisis, or struggling with daily functioning, therapy may be the more supportive route for you to begin with, with the opportunity to add coaching when you feel ready. 
How do I know if I’m a good fit for coaching?
If you are reading this, you are probably a great fit for coaching! Coaching is an empowering process for anyone who wants to make positive changes or growth in their own life - this can include habits, overall wellness, or finding more purpose and meaning.
Will you give me a specific process to follow/tell me what to do?
I believe that you are the expert in your own life. Coaching is a collaborative process where I help you to unlock your own potential and inner guidance so you can build the life you want. I don’t write prescriptions but ask powerful questions, provide reflections, and guide you to aligned and intuitive action steps to help you unlock and get to where you want to be. Together we will create a plan that feels empowering and practical tailored to fit your individual goals and lifestyle. 
Do you take insurance?
No, coaching is not a healthcare service covered by insurance 
I’d love to try some coaching! How many sessions do you recommend?
Awesome! This is something you can choose based on time and investment and/or we can talk about it together in a discovery call or onboarding session. For lasting change, I recommend the 12-week transformation package. I'd love to chat about what makes sense for you. Book a free, no pressure discovery call today!
What certifications and education do you have?
Gaining certifications and ongoing professional development to support my clients is very important to me! If I'm not currently working on a certification, you can be sure I am reading books, listening to podcasts, working with my own coach, and connecting with other practitioners to stay up-to-date and continue to hone my skills. My certifications and education include: 

  • Certified Health & Life Coach - Health Coach Institute
  • Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner - School of Positive Transformation
  • Certified Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher - School of Positive Transformation
  • Trauma Informed Care Training and Former Trainer 
  • Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education from the University of Missouri

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