About Ali McGary

I work as a personal coach to individual adults, families, couples, business professionals, content creators, and executives.

I grew up in the San Francisco peninsula, and I received a bachelor’s degree in film and media studies from the University of Santa Barbara. After college I thought I would either enter the film industry or attend graduate school, but I realized that what I actually wanted was to help others with their lives in the most direct way possible.

I’ve worked full-time as a coach for over 3 years and have been certified in a couple different specialties along the way. Along with these, I enjoy applying mindfulness and other frameworks I have learned from both eastern and western philosophies and modalities.

The first population I worked with was struggling young men and gamers, who I can relate to as a gamer myself. A few of my other interests are:

  • Philosophy, history, and spiritual traditions

  • Biology and neuroscience

  • Fitness and nutrition

  • Novel-writing and reading, especially fantasy and martial arts novels

  • C-dramas, anime, and any Gordon Ramsay show

Ali’s Qualifications

  • Experience in over 2,900+ coaching sessions, across 100+ people

  • Industry certifications in Career Coaching, Creator Coaching, Family Coaching, and Trauma-Informed Coaching

  • 97% client satisfaction rating

  • Certified by Healthy Gamer Institute (HGI), a NAADAC-approved program

  • Currently pursuing a certification with the National Board of Medical Examiners to become a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)

  • Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies

  • Ramón

    “Ali has been instrumental to much of the progress I've experienced in my career and personal goals throughout the last 2 years. She is an excellent active listener, asking the right questions at the right time to help me understand where I am, where I want to be, and how to get there. She is also great at establishing actionable steps to set realistic steps towards goal completion. She's very personable and kind, which makes every coaching session comfortable and energizing. Ali is great!”

  • Prefers to Remain Anonymous

    “Thank you for the help so far. I am very happy that there is someone there to help and share things on a regular basis. Which is difficult for me because it was hard for me to find someone in life to share.”

  • Osamah

    “This year:

    We fixed my sleep

    Went out to improve physical health

    Reached out to reconnect and continue social obligations

    Established a distinction between realistic and unrealistic expectations

    Got back to school after a long hiatus

    I would say that we have accomplished a lot this year.”

  • Mike

    “Thanks so much for helping me out over these last months! I don't have anybody irl who I can be 100% honest with, so having you to talk to each Friday has been fantastic. You're really helping me better understand my emotions and purpose!”

  • Prefers to Remain Anonymous

    “Thanks for all your help the last couple of years, Ali! You played a huge part in helping me get into a good PhD program!”

  • Gabe

    “Working with Ali was an incredible experience. Over the course of our time together I was able to make significant strides toward my personal goals, learned helpful tips for self-reflection and developed a meaningful healing relationship. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking for coaching services.”

  • Prefers to Remain Anonymous

    “As I feel myself continuing to grow emotionally, I have enjoyed being able to have much deeper conversations about them. Especially the difficult ones!”

  • Sarit

    “I'm really glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of this program. It has helped me get over the hurdle that is, frankly, myself when it comes to going forward in my life. I've already done or started so much actions that I was so deathly afraid & hesitant to do before I started coaching. I'm eager to start my journey as a new person with new perspectives.”

  • Prefers to Remain Anonymous

    One of Ali's greatest strengths lies in her vast array of resources and exercises. She consistently provided me with invaluable tools, techniques, and resources to help me navigate my mental health journey. Her guidance extended beyond the coaching room, offering me a roadmap to self-improvement that I had never experienced before.

Get in Touch.

How can I best help support you?

If we don’t click, that’s okay. I’m happy to help set you up with a colleague who might be a better fit.

“Goodwill, Empathy, Compassion, Equanimity”

— The Four Bramaviharas (Divine Virtues of the Hindu Sages)