Bio

Mara Leigh Taylor is the founder and executive director of GETTING OUT BY GOING IN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mental health education and rehabilitation of incarcerated and at-risk individuals. After many years of successful therapeutic work with inmates in prisons, Taylor recognized a great need for essential mental health services and founded GETTING OUT BY GOING IN to meet society's increasing need for successful reentry programs.

In response to her work with inmate and at-risk populations, Coach Taylor developed RapidChange Therapy - a brief therapy model focusing on immediate and lasting personal change with marginalized populations. Her RapidChange Therapy™ training strategies have been applied across many diverse outlets during the last decade, including strategic consulting for entertainment industry companies and professionals, as a practicum training modality for University Doctoral and Marriage and Family Interns, as a curriculum for inmates at Terminal Island Federal Prison, and as a pilot program at a Los Angeles County Juvenile Detention Camp for male minors.

Coach Taylor is the published author of Prison: Getting Out by Going In, a self empowerment book available to inmate populations. Prison: Getting Out by Going In details simple techniques for positive social actions and internal freedom. The book was developed over five years working with more than 600 inmates who successfully completed Taylor's volunteer program. The GOGI program is among the most successful non secular volunteer efforts at a Federal Prison and has earned the rare inclusion into the Mandated Release Preparation curriculum for more than 2,000 incarcerated men at Terminal Island Federal Prison. The GOGI at risk program pilot program for children, SIGN UP FOR SUCCESS! has been successful with more than 100 Inglewood youth and is currently included in future academic expansion within the Inglewood California School District.

Coach Taylor earned two master's degrees in general psychology and clinical psychology at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and was inducted as a Lifetime Member to the Psi Chi National Academic Honor Society. Her PhD in the field of esoteric philosophy was awarded by American Pacific University. To enhance her work with incarcerated individuals she earned ordination from New York's New Seminary and is an ordained minister. Coach Taylor is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association; the American Board of Neuro-Linguistic Programming; and the Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools Speakers Bureau. She also serves on the Pepperdine University Alumni Board of Directors.

Coach Taylor is a dynamic and engaging motivational speaker who has lectured to numerous educational, entertainment, international and athletic industry groups, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons; Federal Government officials of Romania; International Organization for Women In Film; the Ministry of Education Beijing, China; and the American University of Paris, France. She has been honored by the City of Inglewood, Camp David Gonzales, Inglewood Unified School District, Pepperdine University and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for her work.

Coach Taylor has appeared in more than 100 industrial and commercial productions and began her on-camera spokesperson career an on-camera host for bodybuilding and fitness events aired on ESPN. She is an internationally published journalist on the subject of Harley Davidson Motorcycles and has hosted on-air radio shows broadcast on the American Radio Network. Her voice has been heard as the voice of GTE, Teleflora Florist and others. She has coached actors in their screen performances and worked as a coach for entertainment professionals seeking career strategies. She dedicated her career to assisting and empowering incarcerated and at risk men, women and children.

Mara Leigh Taylor raised her daughter, Mia, as a single mother. She maintains a private practice in Southern California and currently is acting Executive Director of GETTING OUT BY GOING IN. Coach Taylor's second book, Freedom: It's an Inside Job will be published later this year.

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