About Ann
You’ve done everything right.
Built the career. Held the family together. Kept showing up.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, you lost the thread back to yourself.
You are at a threshold.
And it’s exactly where my work begins.
The Baba Yaga of Change
I’m Ann Dretzka — Identity Strategist, somatic coach, and the person who will name what others are too polite to say.
I’ve crossed thresholds that were designed to destroy me.
I’ve survived things most people only see in movies.
And I’ve come out the other side not just intact, but transformed.
I’ve spent 3+ decades fusing movement, Eastern and Western frameworks, energy healing, neuroscience, and psychology because I had to. My own survival demanded it.
That lived experience is the work and the offering.
What I bring is something not everyone can DIY their way through: I’ve been in the dark long enough to know exactly where the door is. And if that door doesn’t exist, I can help you make one.
I will use KPIs and chakras in the same sentence. I thrive in spaces most coaches won’t touch. And I believe magyck is made at the exact intersection of science and soul.
Welcome to my world.
Requisite disclosure: I am not a therapist or psychologist. As a coach, I know where my boundaries lie. I happily partner with and refer therapists and psychologists as needed.
Frequently asked questions
Who IS my work for?
You’ll flourish with me if you:
🪄 Are at a threshold and recognize that you need help through it. Career crisis, biological changes, identity dissolution, or all three at once. Something has shifted, and the old frame doesn’t fit anymore.
🪄 Refuse to spiritually bypass. You’re done with toxic positivity, challenges, lists, and the Boss Babe/Lean In narrative. You need space to grieve AND transform, and you are fully resourced and ready to dig into the muck.
🪄 You want tools that work for your actual nervous system. Not inspiration. Not a 12-step framework to perform. Somatic practices, archetypal mapping, neuroscience-backed methods — built around how you’re actually wired.
🪄 Need a mix of momentum and integration without the weight of more to-dos. Sometimes you need to drip in the work. Other times you need to immerse yourself. And still other times you need space to integrate.
🪄 Want tools that work for your body and journey. Somatic practices. Archetypal mapping. Neuroscience-backed methods. Not just inspiration.
🪄 Are ready for discomfort. Thresholds aren’t comfortable. You’re not looking for easy. You’re looking for effective.
🪄You value real work over pretty work. Your life isn’t a curated highlight reel. You need the actual messy excavation — and someone who won’t flinch.
🪄 You’re neurodivergent or trauma-surviving. If this is you, I can relate. Your nervous system doesn’t work the way wellness culture assumes. Neither does mine. We work with that, not around it.
Who is my work NOT for?
❌ You’re in active crisis. If you’re experiencing acute trauma (active domestic violence, suicidal ideation, substance abuse), please seek a licensed therapist first. This is for women in post-traumatic flourishing.
❌ You want to vent without moving. Grief has a place here. Rehearsed grievance doesn’t. If you’re more interested in the story of what happened (past) vs what happens next (present/future), we’re not a match.
❌ You expect transformation without discomfort. Thresholds aren’t comfortable. If you’re looking for someone to make this easy and pretty, I’m not your guide.
❌ You blame everyone else. Yes, systems are broken. Yes, you’ve been gaslit. AND you still have agency. If you’re stuck in blame without ownership of your next move, I can’t help you.
❌ You need constant permission. I guide. I don’t grant permission to live your life.
❌ You want me to do the work for you. We co-create. I bring tools. You bring willingness. That’s the deal.
What makes this work different from other coaching or consulting?
Most coaching treats transitions as problems to solve with new skills or mindset shifts. I treat them as threshold crossings that transform your identity.
This work integrates Soma (embodied practice grounded in polyvagal theory), Story (myth and archetypal patterns), and Science (neuroscience research on stress and resilience). We don’t bypass grief or rush transformation. We honor the death of who you were while supporting who you’re becoming.
NOTE: I reject spiritual bypassing, boss babe culture, and the pressure to be positive about pain. If you’re looking for someone to tell you everything happens for a reason, I’m not your guide.
I'm not sure where to start. How do I choose?
My first answer is always for you to check in with your energy. Which feels most resonant?
Sometimes it’s obvious:
- Organizational change for coaching, consulting or fractional roles (here)
- Women-only spaces for changing bodies and dreams (Inspired Grit ®)
- Crave rest and rewylding with my and movement (Wyld Zygote ®)
Sometimes it’s all at once: your career is shifting AND your body is changing AND your identity is dissolving.
Together, we work with what’s most urgent first, knowing the offerings interconnect as your needs evolve.
Book a clarity call and we’ll figure out your step 1.
What if I'm not ready?
You won’t feel ready. That’s not how thresholds work.
Ready means willing to begin — not confident, not certain.
If you’re asking whether you’re ready, you probably are.
How long does this work take?
Thresholds take as long as they take. I don’t rush transformation.
Most 1:1 containers are 3-6 months. Group programs run 8-12 weeks.
But your actual journey? That’s not something either of us controls.
Some work with me through one threshold, and that’s enough. Others return as new crossings emerge. There’s no “graduation” from being human.
What's a threshold, and how do I know if I'm at one?
A threshold is a crossing that transforms you. It’s not just change — it’s the kind of transition that requires you to become someone different.
You’re at a threshold if:
- An old identity doesn’t fit anymore but you don’t know who you’re becoming
- You’re grieving something that doesn’t feel finished
- You feel simultaneously terrified and pulled forward
- The ground beneath you feels unstable
- Everyone around you has opinions about what you should do next
Career shifts, biological changes (perimenopause, chronic illness), relationship endings, empty nest, major loss — these are threshold moments.
Can I work with you if I'm in therapy?
Yes, and it’s often complementary.
My work isn’t therapy. It’s threshold navigation and embodied transformation. If you’re managing significant mental health challenges or active crisis, please have therapeutic support in place first.
If our work together ever feels like it’s crossing that line, I’ll be sure to name that so we can decide what is best for us.
Do you work with men?
For organizational work, sometimes.
For the bulk of my work, no. What I do is specifically designed for women navigating the intersections of gender, power, biology, and identity. I won’t dilute that. Women deserve spaces built for them.
Do you take insurance?
No. This work doesn’t fit into insurance coding structures. More importantly, threshold crossings aren’t disorders requiring treatment. This is what happens in the journey of life.
1:1 Investment is discussed during clarity calls after we determine fit. I work with women at various financial capacities and believe threshold work should be accessible. If cost is the only barrier, tell me.
How quickly can I get started?
Depends on my current capacity and which offering you’re interested in.
1:1 containers & Organizational Consulting: Usually 2-4 weeks from clarity call to first session.
Group programs: Enrollment opens at specific times; programs start on set dates.
In-Person Retreats: Planned months in advance; early registration recommended.
If you have an urgent need, tell me and we’ll see what’s possible.
Join me for free
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