• A New Chapter in Presence-Based Coaching

    A New Chapter in Presence-Based Coaching

    Honoring Legacy, Deepening Presence, and Leaning into What’s Next

    Presence-Based Coaching is moving through a meaningful moment of evolution, one that continues the living lineage founded by Doug Silsbee, continued by Bebe Hansen, and shaped by each of you who have practiced and shared this work.

    This work, and the organization that holds it, has always stood for something larger than any single leader or offering. It is a community shaped through practice, embodiment, and shared presence. Since its beginnings, this work has guided thousands of coaches and leaders in bringing awareness, compassion, and wisdom into the way they live and lead. Today, we are honored to share an important transition in the stewardship of this lineage. Beginning in January 2026, Barrett Brooks will become the successor and steward of Presence-Based Coaching and Leadership, continuing the arc of evolution, grounded in the same presence-based values at the heart of PBC.

    Honoring the Lineage: From Doug to Bebe to Barrett

    The heart of Presence-Based Coaching has always been its people.

    Doug Silsbee, PBC’s founder, created a groundbreaking model for integrating presence and mindfulness into the practice of coaching and leadership. His work transformed not just how coaches support others, but how leaders understand and embody their own presence and awareness in the midst of complexity.

    When Doug entrusted Bebe Hansen with this work’s legacy, she deepened that work, continuing to evolve the integrity of the curriculum while expanding its reach to new generations of practitioners. Over the years, Bebe has fostered a growing, global community of facilitators, alumni, and students who embody the values at the core of Presence-Based Coaching.

    Now, Barrett Brooks will step forward as the next steward of this living tradition.

    Continuity Rooted in Presence

    This transition is about continuing a lineage of presence-based learning that has always defined PBC.

    • The PBC curriculum remains unchanged, preserving the foundational teachings that have guided thousands of leaders and coaches.
    • The faculty and the community relationships that make this work meaningful remain at the center of our shared experience.
    • The values of mindfulness, embodiment, and systems awareness remain at the heart of everything we do.

    In other words, what’s evolving is not the essence of PBC, rather its capacity. Under Barrett’s stewardship, Presence-Based Coaching and Leadership will continue to grow intentionally and sustainably, extending the reach of the work even further while maintaining the depth and authenticity that define it.

    From Barrett: Leading With Presence in a Changing World

    Presence-Based Coaching has profoundly influenced my own journey as a leader and executive coach. As both a student and practitioner, I have learned that real leadership is not only about strategy or expertise. It is also about awareness and the ability to meet the moment with clarity and compassion.

    My vision for PBC is simple. I want to honor the brilliance of what Doug began and what Bebe has so intentionally grown. I want to continue expanding the impact of this work in ways that feel sustainable, inclusive, and deeply human. Presence has shaped my life, and I am grateful for the chance to help steward this lineage for many years ahead.

    Barrett brings to this role years of experience in executive and entrepreneurial coaching, guiding high-performing leaders and creative professionals toward clarity, balance, and conscious growth. His work combines systems thinking, emotional intelligence, and embodied awareness, aligning seamlessly with the philosophy that has defined PBC from the beginning. Barrett was a PBC student in the fall of 2023 and received his PBC certification in LIPCC 2025. For more on Barrett, visit >>.

    From Bebe: A Legacy Continued

    This moment is both a celebration and a continuation. When Doug passed the leadership of PBC to me, it was a profound act of trust. Stewardship in this lineage has always been a practice of presence. As I pass that torch to Barrett, I do so with complete confidence. His integrity, groundedness, and embodiment of this work make him the right person to guide the next chapter. I will continue teaching, mentoring, and supporting this community that I love. I look forward to standing beside Barrett and all of you as we grow into what is emerging together.

    Bebe’s ongoing presence within the PBC community will ensure a smooth transition and emotional continuity for students, faculty, and alumni alike. Her collaboration with Barrett will preserve the authenticity of the work while nurturing its next expression

    Looking Forward Together

    This transition is not a handoff; it is a continuation and a collective movement forward. Together, we will keep deepening the practice of awareness, embodiment, and leadership in a world that needs these qualities more than ever.

    As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, our shared commitments remain steadfast:

    • To honor the legacy of Presence-Based Coaching.
    • To support leaders and coaches in embodying awareness in every dimension of their work and life.
    • To expand the reach of mindfulness-based, somatic, and neuroscience-informed coaching in ways that serve a changing world.

    This new chapter reaffirms what has always been true: Presence-Based Coaching is, and always will be, a living practice of presence and awareness in action.

    We are grateful you are part of this community, and we look forward to stepping into this next chapter together.

    With gratitude,
    Bebe Hansen & Barrett Brooks

    Bebe Hansen

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  • Post Election Thoughts from PBC

    Post Election Thoughts from PBC

    Post Election Thoughts

    Well, well. In the US, some of us are feeling shocked, punched in the gut, disappointed, afraid or grieving around the election results on Tues. Others of us are cheering, celebrating or relieved. Both are happening in this country right now, and maybe even globally as well.

    For those of us in the first group, it’s a quite bitter pill to swallow. And no matter what group you identify with (or neither of these groups!), we are all moving toward big change. How do we digest this new information, and the concomitant feelings? How can we support ourselves and each other in moments like these? You may have received many emails or texts in the last few days that provide support (I know I did, for example see Rick Hanson’s latest post here).

    And in our Presence-Based Coaching stream of work, I’d like to offer a few more practices and perspectives that I’ve used along the way during moments of change.  I’m using them right now in fact, to resource myself and to accept reality as it is presenting itself. And so that I can be there for others, especially those who are processing the loss of a dream of where we hoped our country was headed.

    I remember…

    • I am and inhabit a body. I have practiced centering 100’s if not 1,000’s of times. I pause to take a deep breath now, and feel my feet connected to this precious earth that holds us all and sense into my dignity. I feel my heart (connectedness) and my depth (resilience). Repeat. I invite you to do the same, as often as needed.
    • How important it is to prioritize self-care. Regular body-mind practices like yoga, meditation, journaling, and reading or listening to inspirational material (including music) and all help me navigate each day with presence. I reflect on how much there is to be grateful for in this very moment, and focusing on that supports my nervous system to settle.
    • Being outside in nature fills and refreshes me. Watching the beautiful North Carolina Mountains across the valley from our house reminds me that those mountains have been there a long, long time. And they will be there many, many years after today. They are a silent and deep witness to all that unfolds.
    • I continue to find joy as I engage in meaningful relationships with my partner, children, colleagues, and community. I will offer space, compassion, my heart, hands and help as often as I am able.
    • I am still committed to consciousness, to waking up and to supporting others to do the same. I am always and still growing and evolving, and I didn’t come this far to forsake what’s most important now.
    • Over the years, I’ve learned that there are gifts in even the most challenging circumstances. We actually don’t know what will happen next or how this will all turn out.  Staying in the present moment, moment by moment, can stop my mind from spinning into fear scenarios of the future.  We can rely on seeing the deeper truths of these difficult moments only in hindsight.

    I offer these practices and perspectives with love and in the hope that they in some small way provide ease to your day, and to your journey. 

    Bebe Hansen