marisa handler
creative coaching
I believe each of us comes into this world bringing a unique medicine, a gift that is needed for our times.
No one but you can give your gift. It comes when you claim your whole self, step into your true voice, and own your full power.
As a coach, I will help you access your greatest creativity, liberate your most authentic voice, and deliver your genius to the world in concrete form.
Nor does it end there.
Our creative energy is not separate from who we are and how we show up in the world. And when this energy is really flowing, it can transform our entire lives. We feel fully alive, aligned with our highest purpose, and like we're finally giving what we came to give.
We shift into our next level of being. Which may be bigger and more beautiful than we've ever dreamed.
My clients have received awards, landed top literary agents, earned six-figure advances with prominent New York publishing houses, overcome multi-year creative blocks, directed prize-winning films, started businesses and nonprofits, and been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Wired, among others.
Let me show you how to bring this kind of transformation to your own creative practice.
Here’s what we’ll do in this powerful one-on-one session:
● We’ll come together in sacred space to paint a vivid picture of the vision you’re ready to create.
● We’ll dig deep and cast a loving light on the blocks that keep you stuck and unfulfilled.
● I’ll use my twenty years of experience as an artist, teacher, and coach to offer you specific, tangible steps you can implement to move toward your fullest aliveness and expression.
And if it’s a mutual fit and feels aligned, I’ll share more about how I can help you step further into your vision.
APPLY FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SESSION
… Because you weren’t born to play small, to get stuck in self-criticism or paralyzed by perfectionism. Oh no no! You were born to joyfully give your genius to the world!
SUCCESS STORIES
“Marisa has helped me to take my writing to a new level. She is incisive, creative, and knows how to help you get to the heart of what you are trying to say (before you do!). She has been the best coach and friend a writer could have. Marisa, thank you for bringing my writing out of me and into the New York Times!”
–Jessica Nutik Zitter MD, author of Extreme Measures and regular contributor to the New York Times
“What Marisa does is nothing short of magical. With her help, I learned to manage my negative self-talk and get on with my work. Her approach didn’t just help my writing, though–it helped all parts of my life.”
–Sarah Baker, Writer
“Working with Marisa is quite indescribable. Her process feels guided by something bigger, and she helps to navigate one’s journey with such grace, humility and wisdom.
When I reached out to Marisa I felt stuck. I needed to work with someone who could help me reconnect with my creativity as well support me to navigate my life and business. I was looking for deep-rooted support.
After working with Marisa I felt a deep sense of clarity and flow and a shift. At the end of our journey, reflecting, I sensed that I had undergone a magical process with Marisa. The words that summed up my experience were Clarity, Belief, Trust, and Joy. I’m now feeling excited by what I am creating, and I’m operating with a deep sense of gratitude.”
–Kele Boakgomo, founder of Yugrow platform for women
“After taking a creative writing class with Marisa at Stanford, I knew I had to work with her one on one. Although I’ve been CEO of a global training company for years and have created a myriad of courses as well as video and audio content, I simply could not find my writing voice until I hired Marisa as my coach. Marisa has an amazing ability to cut through the noise and help writers find their authenticity.
After a few sessions with Marisa, I was able to harness all of my creative energy and finish the book proposal in a matter of weeks. I just signed with a prestigious agent, and I’m on my way to fulfilling a longstanding dream. Yes, I too am now a writer! Thank you, Marisa. You are a blessing!”
–Shari Levitin, author of Heart and Sell
“Marisa helped me move from a blank page to a full book proposal in a few months. Her gentle, soulful guidance inspired me to go deeper into my story, to pull out the things that would resonate with readers. She’s a true writer’s muse.”
–Kris Newby, author of Bitten
“I am most fortunate to have been referred to Marisa by another author/writing consultant. Marisa is everything I could possibly want in a writing coach. In addition to being a brilliantly insightful teacher, she also happens to be kind, sensitive, encouraging, and most generously committed to her clients. She has a remarkable knack for drawing out long forgotten memories that might otherwise have remained buried and voiceless. In her quiet, unassuming way, I think Marisa may be one of the great teachers of my life.”
–Tony Elman, writer and musician
“Marisa was my writing coach and collaborator for 6 months and I loved every minute. She’s the reason I was able to finish my book proposal. I remember saying to her ‘I want to put you on retainer for the rest of my life’.”
–Patricia Karpas, co-founder of Meditation Studio
“I benefited immensely from working with Marisa, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She seems to have a rare talent for encouraging her students to delve into the dark depths of their own creativity and bring forth some of the previously unknown or temporarily misplaced treasures into the light of day. I have given myself an enormous gift by working with her, may you feel motivated to do the same for yourself.”
–Naomi Schiesel
“Marisa is such a wonderful and supportive mentor for any writer looking for direction. Her insights are always powerful and accurate, yet so gently delivered that she almost has you believing you came up with them yourself! Thanks to Marisa I started writing again after almost a decade – she has inspired me to carry on and given me the great gift of a new beginning. I just feel so grateful to have found her.”
–Lara Williams
“I feel very lucky to have found Marisa. In our time together, she helped me build my practice and harness my voice, supporting me in refining both craft and intention. What I especially appreciated is that she guided me to connect with the spirit of my work. Marisa has a gift for accessing the spirit, the interior heart of both the artist and their art. She brings clarity, tremendous creativity, and a deep presence to her coaching. I cannot recommend her enough! Time with Marisa is a meaningful journey for your work and your soul.”
–Ciara Fanlo, writer
“Over the last three years, Marisa has helped me publish several articles that were well received, and helped establish my voice in my field (Design). She helped me get through career burnout and transition into starting my own company through coaching, freewriting, and meditation. I’m the CEO of a startup today (2021) and Marisa helped me write our first product release in TechCrunch! She’s guided me through so many stages of my life, I can’t wait to see what journeys lie ahead — I am so grateful that we met when we did.”
–Jessica Ko
“Working with Marisa one-on-one was an exciting, clarifying, and empowering experience. The wonderful suggestions she made for strengthening my work were always preceded by a plethora of caring and well-thought-out observations of the good things already evident there. Her ideas also felt like they never limited my choices, but rather served to shine a light on different possible avenues I could take in my revisions and future projects. She pointed out what was well written without sparing me the rigor of a professional-grade critique of how my underlying goals might be served even better. We clarified my goals and intentions together, in an atmosphere of trust and good will.
I was struck by how Marisa flows from one point to the next during discussions–her mind moves in ways that are consistently smooth, smart, and profoundly respectful of the work. The way she approached my work (and myself as its author) made richly evident the skills she developed during her years as an MFA student at the prestigious University of Iowa Writing Workshop.
Marisa helped me to tackle technically challenging structural and thematic dimensions of my work as well as managing to allow me simply to hear and to embrace my writing voice more fully. She offered suggestions of craft books to read that would further support my writing process. Without giving me inflated expectations, she inspired me to pursue an MFA of my own, which I begin this year!
Moving forward in my writing life, I feel I have been blessed, empowered, and expertly guided toward greater growth, fulfillment, and success.”
–Jennifer Russ
“Working with Marisa is more of a spiritual journey than, say, a journey to learn the mechanics of writing. It is about finding your soul, your spirit, your wonderfulness, your true self through writing. Working with Marisa allowed me to find my own voice without judgment.”
–Karen Barnes
“Marisa has provided me with the balance I needed at a time when my writing was stagnant. She is able to provide guidance without compromising my personal style, adding value with her expertise and insight. Doubt and insecurity frequently creep into my writing practice, and through focused dialogue regarding content and voice, Marisa is able to reinstate confidence and self-esteem as a writer. I have grown more in a few months working with her one on one than in years of writing and receiving feedback from others.”
–Cecilia Hayes
“Marisa is an incredibly wise, compassionate and insightful teacher. She brings both brilliant creativity and profound clarity to the table. I would recommend her expertise and coaching to any individual wishing to take his or her writing to a deeper level. Working with Marisa is not only profoundly rewarding, it is fun!”
–Rebecca Hyke
“With something as personal as writing,it is important to have a space and teacher that supports your growth as an artist. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience with Marisa.”
–Alex Molloy
“I found Marisa when I was craving structure and reintegrating creative expression into my daily life. I found both. Inspired by Marisa’s dedication and encouragement, I once again began to write and meditate daily and reconnected to a creative flow that I was missing.”
–Charna Cassell
marisa handler
creative coaching
I believe each of us comes into this world bringing a unique medicine, a gift that is needed for our times.
No one but you can give your gift. It comes when you claim your whole self, step into your true voice, and own your full power.
As a coach, I will help you access your greatest creativity, liberate your most authentic voice, and deliver your genius to the world in concrete form.
Nor does it end there.
Our creative energy is not separate from who we are and how we show up in the world. And when this energy is really flowing, it can transform our entire lives. We feel fully alive, aligned with our highest purpose, and like we're finally giving what we came to give.
We shift into our next level of being. Which may be bigger and more beautiful than we've ever dreamed.
My clients have received awards, landed top literary agents, earned six-figure advances with prominent New York publishing houses, overcome multi-year creative blocks, directed prize-winning films, started businesses and nonprofits, and been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Wired, among others.
Let me show you how to bring this kind of transformation to your own creative practice.
Here’s what we’ll do in this powerful one-on-one session:
● We’ll come together in sacred space to paint a vivid picture of the vision you’re ready to create.
● We’ll dig deep and cast a loving light on the blocks that keep you stuck and unfulfilled.
● I’ll use my twenty years of experience as an artist, teacher, and coach to offer you specific, tangible steps you can implement to move toward your fullest aliveness and expression.
And if it’s a mutual fit and feels aligned, I’ll share more about how I can help you step further into your vision.
APPLY FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SESSION
… Because you weren’t born to play small, to get stuck in self-criticism or paralyzed by perfectionism. Oh no no! You were born to joyfully give your genius to the world!
SUCCESS STORIES
“Marisa has helped me to take my writing to a new level. She is incisive, creative, and knows how to help you get to the heart of what you are trying to say (before you do!). She has been the best coach and friend a writer could have. Marisa, thank you for bringing my writing out of me and into The New York Times !”
–Jessica Nutik Zitter MD, author of Extreme Measures and regular contributor to The New York Times
“What Marisa does is nothing short of magical. With her help, I learned to manage my negative self-talk and get on with my work. Her approach didn’t just help my writing, though–it helped all parts of my life.”
–Sarah Baker, Writer
“Working with Marisa is quite indescribable. Her process feels guided by something bigger, and she helps to navigate one’s journey with such grace, humility and wisdom.
When I reached out to Marisa I felt stuck. I needed to work with someone who could help me reconnect with my creativity as well support me to navigate my life and business. I was looking for deep-rooted support.
After working with Marisa I felt a deep sense of clarity and flow and a shift. At the end of our journey, reflecting, I sensed that I had undergone a magical process with Marisa. The words that summed up my experience were Clarity, Belief, Trust, and Joy. I’m now feeling excited by what I am creating, and I’m operating with a deep sense of gratitude.”
–Kele Boakgomo, founder of Yugrow platform for women
“After taking a creative writing class with Marisa at Stanford, I knew I had to work with her one on one. Although I’ve been CEO of a global training company for years and have created a myriad of courses as well as video and audio content, I simply could not find my writing voice until I hired Marisa as my coach. Marisa has an amazing ability to cut through the noise and help writers find their authenticity.
After a few sessions with Marisa, I was able to harness all of my creative energy and finish the book proposal in a matter of weeks. I just signed with a prestigious agent, and I’m on my way to fulfilling a longstanding dream. Yes, I too am now a writer! Thank you, Marisa. You are a blessing!”
–Shari Levitin, author of Heart and Sell
“Marisa was my writing coach and collaborator for 6 months and I loved every minute. She’s the reason I was able to finish my book proposal. I remember saying to her ‘I want to put you on retainer for the rest of my life’.”
–Patricia Karpas, co-founder of Meditation Studio
“Marisa helped me move from a blank page to a full book proposal in a few months. Her gentle, soulful guidance inspired me to go deeper into my story, to pull out the things that would resonate with readers. She’s a true writer’s muse.”
–Kris Newby, author of Bitten
“I am most fortunate to have been referred to Marisa by another author/writing consultant. Marisa is everything I could possibly want in a writing coach. In addition to being a brilliantly insightful teacher, she also happens to be kind,sensitive, encouraging, and most generously committed to her clients. She has a remarkable knack for drawing out long forgotten memories that might otherwise have remained buried and voiceless. In her quiet, unassuming way, I think Marisa may be one of the great teachers of my life.”
–Tony Elman
“I benefited immensely from working with Marisa, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She seems to have a rare talent for encouraging her students to delve into the dark depths of their own creativity and bring forth some of the previously unknown or temporarily misplaced treasures into the light of day. I have given myself an enormous gift by working with her, may you feel motivated to do the same for yourself.”
–Naomi Schiesel
“Marisa is such a wonderful and supportive mentor for any writer looking for direction. Her insights are always powerful and accurate, yet so gently delivered that she almost has you believing you came up with them yourself! Thanks to Marisa I started writing again after almost a decade – she has inspired me to carry on and given me the great gift of a new beginning. I just feel so grateful to have found her.”
–Lara Williams
“I feel very lucky to have found Marisa. In our time together, she helped me build my practice and harness my voice, supporting me in refining both craft and intention. What I especially appreciated is that she guided me to connect with the spirit of my work. Marisa has a gift for accessing the spirit, the interior heart of both the artist and their art. She brings clarity, tremendous creativity, and a deep presence to her coaching. I cannot recommend her enough! Time with Marisa is a meaningful journey for your work and your soul.”
–Ciara Fanlo
“Over the last three years, Marisa has helped me publish several articles that were well received, and helped establish my voice in my field (Design). She helped me get through career burnout and transition into starting my own company through coaching, freewriting, and meditation. I’m the CEO of a startup today (2021) and Marisa helped me write our first product release in TechCrunch! She’s guided me through so many stages of my life, I can’t wait to see what journeys lie ahead — I am so grateful that we met when we did.”
–Jessica Ko
“Working with Marisa one-on-one was an exciting, clarifying, and empowering experience.The wonderful suggestions she made for strengthening my work were always preceded by a plethora of caring and well-thought-out observations of the good things already evident there. Her ideas also felt like they never limited my choices, but rather served to shine a light on different possible avenues I could take in my revisions and future projects. She pointed out what was well written without sparing me the rigor of a professional-grade critique of how my underlying goals might be served even better. We clarified my goals and intentions together, in an atmosphere of trust and good will.
I was struck by how Marisa flows from one point to the next during discussions–her mind moves in ways that are consistently smooth, smart, and profoundly respectful of the work. The way she approached my work (and myself as its author) made richly evident the skills she developed during her years as an MFA student at the prestigious University of Iowa Writing Workshop.
Marisa helped me to tackle technically challenging structural and thematic dimensions of my work as well as managing to allow me simply to hear and to embrace my writing voice more fully. She offered suggestions of craft books to read that would further support my writing process. Without giving me inflated expectations, she inspired me to pursue an MFA of my own, which I begin this year!
Moving forward in my writing life, I feel I have been blessed, empowered,and expertly guided toward greater growth, fulfillment, and success.”
–Jennifer Russ
“Working with Marisa is more of a spiritual journey than, say, a journey to learn the mechanics of writing. It is about finding your soul, your spirit, your wonderfulness, your true self through writing. Working with Marisa allowed me to find my own voice without judgment.”
–Karen Barnes
“Marisa has provided me with the balance I needed at a time when my writing was stagnant. She is able to provide guidance without compromising my personal style, adding value with her expertise and insight. Doubt and insecurity frequently creep into my writing practice, and through focused dialogue regarding content and voice, Marisa is able to reinstate confidence and self-esteem as a writer. I have grown more in a few months working with her one on one than in years of writing and receiving feedback from others.”
–Cecilia Hayes
“Marisa is an incredibly wise, compassionate and insightful teacher. She brings both brilliant creativity and profound clarity to the table. I would recommend her expertise and coaching to any individual wishing to take his or her writing to a deeper level. Working with Marisa is not only profoundly rewarding, it is fun!”
–Rebecca Hyke
“With something as personal as writing (and writing for the soul for that matter),it is important to have a space and teacher that supports your growth as an artist. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience with Marisa.”
–Alex Molloy
“I found Marisa when I was craving structure and reintegrating creative expression into my daily life. I found both. Inspired by Marisa’s dedication and encouragement, I once again began to write and meditate daily and reconnected to a creative flow that I was missing.”
–Charna Cassell
