Dr.Ruthless: Speaking, Seminars & ONLINE Training

Find Your Fierce. Safeguard Your Boundaries. Now Online.

"Melissa Soalt brings a remarkable contribution to enabling women to know and embrace their power. Not only do her methods prepare women to tap their full capacities for self protection, but also for life and leadership. She challenges women to define "what is non-negotiable," to stand in their power and take and own their place in the world."

Gloria Feldt, cofounder and president, Take The Lead and best-selling author, "No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power."

"You are an AMAZING person Melissa. You are a total package. Gentle and ruthless. External and internal. I was bowled over by the several ways you synthesized thinking and action in the training.... Melissa can run circles around people in mental health with her sensitivity to emotions and security vicissitudes. Top notch thinking and knowledge... Her personal safety module had my jaw drop due to her authenticity and efficacy. " -- Siddharth Shah, CEO: Greenleaf Integrative Strategies, training and development for NGO's and Government Agencies world wide

"Melissa Soalt is a stick of dynamite....Fierce & Female has to be the best female self-defense presentation I have ever seen." -- Police Magazine, Charles Yoda Humes

"Keep up Your Great Work, Melissa!" -- John Douglas, Legendary FBI Profiler & Author, MINDHUNTERS

“Melissa Soalt is the YODA of WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE! Her knowledge and wisdom is simply the best. She closes the gap between martial arts and women’s self defense.... Nothing in martial arts or male-oriented training prepares instructors for dealing with women's realities or sexual assaults... Today, it brings me pleasure to see women's faces light up when I share her concepts. If you have a chance to learn from or be mentored by Melissa, do it!"

Charles Bourgheya, Int’l Security Expert, Former Special Forces, Women’s Self Protection Trainer, SE Asia, Middle East, UK

"Melissa is a pioneer. She has so much passion for her work. Her methods are wonderful, easy-to-learn and very exciting! She empowers women to find their strength and to be stronger in life. We are privileged to receive training from her in Kathmandu and look forward to more"
-- Rashmila Prajapati, Founder, Women Empowerment Nepal

“Melissa is a knower of the Fierce and keeper of the Flame. Her dedication, heart, blasts of energy, power, thoughtfulness, and ability to fortify women puts her in a league of her own. She has a depth of understanding of the many levels of violence against women and the complexities and range of responses needed to call upon. Effective self defense requires tools, and Soalt provides a rich tapestry - from verbal deescalation to the reclaiming of one's animal instincts and self preservation. If you have a chance to study with her it could save your life."

Dana Densmore, Trailblazer. Badass. Editor & Publisher Black Belt Women (1970’s), Co-founder Women’s Feminist Self Defense Movement, Lineage Holder, Creator: Ja Shin Do

"There are no words to describe Melissa's dedication for women all over the world.... she brings change in the world by helping women and girls realize their potential to fight back. We are very lucky to have her workshop."

Co-founders of Women Nepal; leading activists in fighting sexual and street harassment

NEW: Customized Online Training and Mentoring! From 1:1 to small groups to workplaces to women in high risk professions. 

Personalized customized sessions online: From individual safety concerns and self defenses training to teens and MOTHER / DAUGHTER sessions. From private tightly knit groups to larger corporate seminars, to journalist and humanitarian aid training for women at risk. Transformational and practical with take-home practices. Inquire via Contact. 

New! Instructor Mentoring & Coaching!

Now mentoring self defense instructors seeking to deepen or develop their skills and insights teaching women. From female- centric scenario training to sexual assault and emotional preparedness, from dealing with familars and intimates - the greatest majority- to evidence-based data and realities facing women. Convey your experience and interest via Contact.

Providing Sexual Assault Preparedness Training for Female Journalists & Aid Organizations 

FOR WORKPLACE SEMINAR INFO Please CLICK HERE! 

For more about empowering women internationally and how to bring us to you area please click here.  

US PROGRAMS OVERVIEW: A mobile operation based in New England, Melissa offers a variety of engagements and seminars to fit your company, school, or organization's needs—from speaking on topics of sexual violence and the physical feminism of women's self defense to "reduce your risk" luncheon lectures, to on-site three-hour training and longer custommized international programs. Programs can also be conducted as part of a larger conference, event, or orientation. 

Fees

Fees range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the length of the program, location, travel and expenses. Training is billed per seminar, not per person.

Formats

From Fear To Power: 90 Minute Lecture and Demonstration Practical knowledge and strategies to increase safety, reduce fear, and thwart and deter aassault. Includes situational awareness, red flags and danger recogniton (behavioral clues and predator tactics) plus body language, verbal and boundary-setting skills with strangers and NON-strangers. Plus intro to physical defense. 

Find Your Fierce! Hands-on Seminars—Digging Deeper.  Half-day training. Covers all the above PLUS releases and fight-back skills for stand up and lying down defense - plus the ANATOMY of fear, how to harness its energy for maximum power. Includes exercises, role plays, discussion and practice in assault simulations. Great confidence and team builder! Supportive environment, honoring emotions and prior experiences. Nuturing deep SELF respect. Asks: What is worth figthting for? What is non-negotiable? What do I hold sacred? 

Maximum Protection! Intensive Training in Scenario-Based, Adrenaline-State Methods: Our HIGH POWERED no-nonsense, kick-ass training designed to burn life-saving methods into your body's neural network. Learn how to fight for your life full-power, full-speed in assault simulations while channeling emotions into action. Step-by-step learning and coaching conducted in a highly supportive environment. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

Customized Private Lessons Available.

Mentoring also available for Mature Martial Artists & Self Defense Trainers wishing to deeepen their skills, sensitivity and wisdom teaching Women and Assault Survivors.   

Contact us for more information

Private Sector Clients & Seminar Participants Have Included:

  • Kraft Foods
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Polaroid
  • UPS
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Reebok International
  • Red Brigade Lucknow/India 
  • Motorola 
  • Houghton Mifflin Publishing Co.
  • WEN (Women Empowerment Nepal) 
  • Stride Rite Corporation
  • Summit Hotel (Kathmandu)
  • CORE Fitness (Kathmandu)
  • Women Nepal 
  • Banyan Systems Inc.
  • Teradyne Inc.
  • MAST Industries
  • Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Inc.
  • S & S Worldwide
  • TSLD/ Delhi Organziation 
  • Cops Monitoring Corp.
  • F & G Realty Corp
  • Grand Circle Travel
  • CSC Corporation
  • Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co.
  • The Boston Globe
  • The Miami Herald
  • Sun Life of Canada Financial Group
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Boston Financial Group
  • Drew University
  • Harvard University
  • M.I.T.
  • Brown University
  • Ball State University
  • Mt. Holyoke College
  • Groton (boarding) School
  • Concord Academy
  • Brigham & Women's Hospital
  • Beth Israel Hospital
  • Massachusetts Medical Society
  • Society of Women Engineers
  • New England Journal of Medicine
  • The Institute of Life Energy (Germany)
  • West Virginia State Police
  • PSI International
  • Vice Media
  • International Aid Workers, Staff and Humanitarian Organizations
  • Journalists, Videograhpers, producers and News Outfits.
  • Young Feminist Collaborative   
Plus, scores of other businesses, schools organizations and groups. 

"The attendees were spellbound..."
The Miami Herald

"A dynamic no-nonsense professional, Melissa puts her heart into her work and really knows her stuff. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone better..."
Anthony Scotti, International Authority and Trainer, Defensive Driving & Executive Protection

"Professionally done and very well organized. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. It was a quality experience...a renewed sense of empowerment in the workplace and on the street."
Polaroid Corporation.

"Everyone at Kraft Foods would like to thank you for such an informative and exciting self defense event... All who participated came away with a newfound awareness of how to protect themselves in potentially harmful situations. The topic of self defense, and Michael's true-to-life scenario-based attacks, is now a 'hot topic' in the office... Thank you for your tremendous enthusiasm and dedication."
Kraft Foods, New England Region

"A life-saving program...Melissa is a gifted and passionate professional who immediately puts you at ease and leaves you humming with power."
F&G Realty and Property Management

"...an exhilarating evening. You were spectacular. We cannot express how valuable your seminar was for us and our nannies."
Boston Nanny Centre.

"Masterful in its design and delivery. Few trainings are capable of yielding such transformative yet pragmatic results."
E.W. Organizational Consultant and Training Specialist

"Consummate professionals... you addressed a frightening subject with skill, sensitivity and just the right amount of humor... An unforgettable experience that took us to whole new levels of power."
Barbara Hoffman, CEO Hoffman Associates

"We have found Melissa's services to be outstanding! Her program is based on strong security theory... and the techniques stick with you. This program is great and our evaluations without exception reflect this."
Beth Israel Hospital

"Thank you again for your wonderful program. We feel we've already received back our company's investment in your training through employee goodwill. When you consider the high crime rate of our society, (I'd say) companies can't afford NOT to provide your training."
The Fun Company, Human Resources.