Catalyst for Renewal Inc.

You didn't come here because things are easy. You came because something has changed — or been lost — and you're not sure who you are on the other side of it. I'm Susan Sterkenberg — a PhD-level grief coach, life transitions specialist, and career coach with 30+ years of experience helping individuals and executives navigate life's most profound crossroads. For grief, I use the Sanctuaries of Renewal Inner Roadmap — a framework I developed through doctoral research in grief transformation and the lived experience of losing my son Greg in 2015. The Sanctuaries offers seven sacred interior "rooms" to move through at your own pace — not stages to rush, but places to dwell in, return to, and ultimately grow from. I have walked this path myself. That changes everything about how I walk it with you. For life transitions, I use The Compass Within methodology — helping you discover your core truths, clarify your personal compass, and design your next chapter with intention and courage. Whether you're navigating retirement, an empty nest, a milestone birthday, or the persistent sense that something more is calling — I help you answer it. For career coaching, I help executives and professionals build careers aligned with who they truly are — using the North Star Career Compass and validated 16PF assessment to create clarity, strategy, and forward momentum. My work is not therapy. It is structured, expert coaching that moves you forward — from surviving toward meaning, from stuck toward unstuck, from who you were toward who you are becoming. I am also the author of four books, including Becoming Sanctuary and The Stirring: Excavating Your Authentic Self for the Life That Is Waiting. My books are an extension of my coaching — honest, grounded, and written from the inside out. I offer in-person sessions on Hilton Head Island, SC and virtual sessions nationwide. I offer a free 30-minute consultation to all new clients. Let's begin the conversation.