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My name is Ann Czajka Holm. I am a cognitive-communication specialist and a life coach. Even though the “Czajka” part of my name is my favorite, I seldom use it because most people don”t know how to pronounce it. Therefore, professionally I use the name Ann C. Holm. For anyone who would like to take a crack at it, here is the phonetic translation: t͡ʂajka. I identify with the name because it translates into “gull” or “seabird”. To me, it represents freedom or the ability to soar! My overall passion is to inspire others to see the world of exciting possibilities and I try to infuse that spirit into all that I do.
I grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1983 with a degree in Psychology, Speech and Hearing followed by a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1986. I moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1986 where I completed my Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology. In 1987, I accepted a position at the Courage Center, a nationally recognized care center located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, specializing in the treatment of brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism, and congenital disabilities. I worked there until 1988 but I resigned my position after my first child was born. In 1989, I returned to my profession on an on-call basis. For the next 17 years, I built an eclectic resume of professional experiences at schools and especially at a number of health care settings including trauma centers, rehabilitation hospitals, acute care hospitals, and nursing homes (now called TCU’s, or Transitional Care Units ). Currently, I have come full circle and have returned to the Courage Center as a SLP cognitive specialist in the Courage At Home Program , where treatment is provided in the client’s real world, at home or on a community outing. In total, I have 25 years of experience in the field of brain science, learning theory, and neurological rehabilitation.
In 2008, I added life coaching to my professional scope. It was a natural career addition because the personal qualities and strategies used to assist in the recovery of function after a neurological event are analogous to those used to assist the general population in achieving greater personal success.These new clients include anyone who wishes to function more effectively than they currently are and with greater personal satisfaction. Areas of focus may include improving school or work performance, enhancing relationships and communication, or increasing motivation. To further my competency, I added 116 hours of life coaching training (To learn more about this emerging helping profession, please see the International Coaching Federation website). I also completed 60 hours of training in the use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the most widely accepted personality measure in the world. Currently, I am one of the first in the world to be certified to administer the new MBTI Step III instrument. I believe that understanding the unique characteristics of every individual is a key component to realizing one’s full potential. I use the indicator as a starting point in many of my coaching sessions.My goal is to guide an individual toward increased competency through self-awareness.
Of course, no biography is complete without personal information! And so… My Myers-Briggs personality type is ENFP, which means I am optimistic, gregarious, and interested in possibilities. If an activity, opportunity, or concept is new and even a bit off the beaten path, I need no coaxing to give it a try! I enjoy reading, walking, biking, skiing, traveling and relaxing at my cottage. I love entertaining a large crowd but I am not so enthralled with day to day cooking. I find classic astrology fascinating and I have taught myself how to interpret natal and synastry charts. I wonder what it would have been like to observe the planets in a clear sky with no light from below as astrologers did centuries ago! I am lousy at playing bridge but respectable at Scrabble. I always enjoy a good laugh or a hairbrain scheme. I love classic rock and my favorite song is Forever Young by Bob Dylan. I think it was fitting that he sang it for Pope John Paul II. I have 3 children, 3 smooth fox terriers and 1 husband. Last but not least, I love the MIchigan Wolverines, the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, and sometimes the Pistons!