Consulting Services

Melody Lowman’s philosophy of consulting is founded on the definition of consulting as a combination of education and “seeking the opinion of another in order to guide one’s own judgment.”

Individuals, businesses, and organizations might benefit from a professional evaluation of a particular problem and collaboration regarding a solution. Physicians and other health care professionals have consulted Mrs. Lowman regarding patient behavioral health issues, as well as increasing patient treatment compliance. Attorneys have utilized her consulting services regarding challenging clients. Business owners have utilized consultation to solve employee and client problems. Each consultation is confidential and may take place at either your office or hers.

Pro Bono Services

Melody Lowman provides some pro bono (free) programs each year to non-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has spoken for adult groups and parent groups at nursery schools, public and private elementary, middle, and high schools, churches and temples. Previous topics have included:

  • Parenting
  • Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Children
  • Motivation and Children
  • Encouraging Resiliency
  • Caring for Aging Family Members
  • Transitioning to Being the Parent of an Adult
  • Parenting Three or More Children
  • Parenting Multiples (Twins and More)
  • Coping with Serious Illness in the Family
  • Coping with Mental Illness in the Family
  • Coping with Infertility.

If your organization is interested, the decision-maker for your group should call or e-mail:

Brainstorming Career Possibilities

Rather than trying to think of a job or a career you might wish to pursue, start with thinking about yourself! You know who you are, and what you know about what makes you happy and motivated. Years ago I created the format below that has been helpful for people as they consider a field, a job, a career, or a career change.

Get yourself a stack of post-its or 3″x5″ cards. On each card answer questions about yourself in relation to work. Carry the cards or post-its with you, so you can write down ideas as you think of them. Don’t make a list-the individual cards, or pieces of paper, are part of the process. Ready?

Ask yourself the following questions and record one answer per card.

  • Who? With whom do you like to work? A large group, small group, solo? Adults? Children? Older folks? Do I like to work as part of a team? Do I like to lead or follow? This question should help you brainstorm ideas for aspects of your work environment with both co-workers and customers, clients, students, patients: any person-related aspects of work.
  • What? What tasks do you like? What makes you happy and satisfied? Think “verbs” rather than tasks related to a particular job. Do I like to write, speak, teach, organize, file, create, trouble-shoot, care-take, persuade, investigate, research, perform? Think about all aspects of your life, not just what you have done in a work setting?
  • When? This category is designed to help you think about time. Do I want to work full-time, part-time, control my own schedule? Am I willing to work nights or weekends? Do I need flexible hours? Am I thinking of working at my next position for a long time or a short time?
  • Where? There are two aspects to the “Where” question: “Where in the world?” and “Where I do my work”. “Where in the world?” leads to thinking about your willingness to relocate. Do I want to find a position within X miles of home? Which states or cities would I be interested in? Am I willing to cross a bridge? Do I want to be close to public transit? Am I interested in working in a foreign country, at least for a while? The second dimension of “Where?” has to do with your immediate environment. Do I like privacy? Do I like to be in a bustling, shared space? Do I want to or need to control my own space? Do I want or need a certain kind of light, or quiet? Do I have any accessibility needs? What do I know about how my physical environment affects me?
  • Why? Above and beyond supporting yourself, and perhaps your family, why do you work? Do I like the intellectual challenge? Do I like the social interaction? Do I want to contribute; to make a difference? How much? This category relates to all aspects of compensation. How much do I want to earn? What is the minimum I would be willing to accept? Do I want a salary or pay or hours worked? How important are bonuses? What benefits do I want, or need? What opportunities are there for advancement?

Give yourself time to brainstorm questions and answers to the above categories. Consider asking a trusted friend or family member to help you generate questions.

When you have generated a substantial number of cards divide all the cards into three piles. The first pile should be those characteristics that are absolutely necessary for your happiness and satisfaction. The third pile should be for those characteristics that would be “nice, but not necessary.” The middle pile are for those characteristics which are somewhere in between. Read through your piles. The next step will be finding a field, a career or a job that includes as many of Pile One as possible.

Good luck! Have fun with this!

Melody