About Chris
Who I Am as a Person
Hi, I’m Chris Capehart, and I’ve always enjoyed exploring - the outdoors, art, ideas, others, myself. I tend to question the status quo, and as a result I’m no stranger to change. Often those transitions have been complicated, just as life is, but with each major life change and decision I try to be led by truth, intuition, and a desire to become a more authentic and integrated self. My various changes have led me all over the United States, from the Northeast to the South and now the Southwest. Ideally, I would love to live in the ocean, but since I don’t have gills or fins, while on land I enjoy hiking, ultra trail running, attempting to write screenplays and novels, reading and listening to books, traveling within and outside the US with my partner, playing piano and occasionally singing along quite poorly, getting new tattoos, and chasing around my pets (I’ve been a dog dad for years and am currently a cat dad for the first time). I’m often described as joyful though internally I carry about a heavy world sadness and experience what Susan Cain describes in her book Bittersweet as the intersection of a deep love for life’s beauty together with a longing for transcendence that never feels fully realizable. I’m a fairly open book, so I’m always willing to share more if I believe it will help your progress when working together if there’s more you would like to know about me.
If you see me around town running on FUTS or the trails, or out volunteering with The Literacy Center and Girls on the Run, feel free to say hi!
Who I Am as an Exploration Coach
Becoming an exploration coach and founding Just Feet Ahead is the culmination of my life’s work, interests, and desire to help others. I spent over a decade in education, another decade plus in corporate accounting and finance, and then went through a master’s program for mental health counseling. While I have benefitted personally from traditional therapy and appreciate many approaches in the life coaching world, I created my exploration coaching business as a kind of synthesis of all my experiences, education, trainings, certifications, and theoretical orientations in order to best meet clients where they are and just as they are. I love to learn and will pull from my master’s programs in both literature and mental health counseling, my various therapy certifications, and experiences in both education and corporate America. But the truth is none of those credentials really matter if we don’t click. On the other hand, if we’re a good fit, then the coaching relationship itself becomes a powerful change agent. I would be honored to come alongside you, stumble around, and ask questions that hopefully lead to authentic insight and change as you attempt to better navigate yourself and your one precious life, and I appreciate the chance to work together to help bring about the life that only you can create for yourself.
Testimonials
“Chris's strength is he truly gives a damn about you as a person, not just as a client. His warmth and caring come through his attention and empathy, always wanting to understand more and better, which helps you understand yourself better. He is willing and able to step into your shoes to try to see the world through your eyes, reflecting that back to you without judgment or instruction, just curiosity and a desire to align with your understanding of yourself, which again helps you to see yourself in new and unexpected ways so that you can then make more informed decisions about your life. And as a black woman, I deeply appreciate Chris's sincere heart for social justice and his ability to create a safe place through trust, mutual respect, and dignity.”
— Ursula, Wellness Coach“Chris means it when he says he wants to come along with you as you explore yourself and your inner life and relationships. He is intelligent and passionate about helping people, always thinking and inquisitive, taking on multiple perspectives when needed. He brings his life experiences and training to each session but makes sure the session reflects who you are with all your idiosyncrasies and quirks, allowing you to feel seen, heard, and understood just as you are. He listens to understand rather than for his chance to speak, and I especially appreciate his thoughtful approach and ability to pull from many tools and perspectives to craft original sessions each time.”
— Jeffrey, LPC“As an introvert, I was initially nervous to work with a life coach since I tend to think of them as over-the-top, high-energy people (with shiny white teeth!). While Chris does possess people skills and can get along with more outgoing people, the reality is he just knows how to adapt to whoever he's with and their needs (although I suspect he is an introvert). I never felt rushed to talk or hurry through my thought processes but was allowed the time and space to gather myself and my feelings until I could put them into words. I'm probably not the most active client Chris works with but I enjoyed walk-and-talks in nature that created a more natural conversational pace.”
— Shawn, Non-Profit Communications Coordinator“What stands out most about Chris is he genuinely sees the potential in you and then pours his time and energy into helping you reach it. As a Dreamer who came to the United States at a young age, feeling accepted and supported is not always something that comes easily. Chris genuinely cares about making people feel empowered and valued, and that’s what I felt when working with him. What I appreciated most about partnering with Chris was how approachable he was and how naturally he connected with each person in a way that felt completely sincere.Chris doesn’t just offer support; he invests in your mental strength and your success. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with him is incredibly fortunate.”
— Edilsa, Corporate Accounting & Finance“Chris has an incredible ability to listen deeply and respond with clarity and intention. He encourages reflection through thoughtful questions and offers solutions that are both creative and practical. His dedication and proactive nature make him a natural and highly effective life coach.”
— Lyndsey, Higher Education
“Working with Chris was ideal for me as an avid, active athlete. Going through some midlife changes, including big career decisions, I knew I didn't want to sit on a couch talking about my feelings to a stranger. Being able to move my body and connect to someone else who enjoys physical movement helped me ease into the conversations more naturally. I never took Chris up on using art or writing, but I do appreciate the use of sound, music, and breath just to help me settle and transition away from the work mindset I tend to carry with me everywhere. Getting out into nature also helped settle me and shift my thinking from hustle culture to more personal work.”
— Jason, Corporate HR