About Coaching
When speaking with someone for the first time, I often find some degree of confusion about coaching and how coaching can be of benefit. Here you will find answers to the most common questions. If after reading, you find yourself wanting more or different information, please Contact Me to schedule a free sample coaching session.
What clients say about coaching with me.
How is coaching different from therapy?
What is Coaching and How does it work?
One of the greatest challenges to the coaching relationship is a busy person who has difficulty taking time for self. So why add one more thing? Coaching, when you are fully committed and engaged, will strengthen every area of your life, allowing you to let go of behaviors and actions that are not working. So, adding coaching is not one more thing; it is the one thing that will make a difference in how the rest of every day feels and functions.
In this fast paced, dynamic world, we are challenged every day, in many ways. Change is constant. Change is continual. When change is integrated into our life, transition follows, and intensifies with each and every role we possess: parent, spouse, professional, soccer coach, teacher, guide, friend – you name it. It takes intention, planning and focus to integrate change and manage transition. As a professional coach, my passion is helping people navigate personal and professional transitions successfully by taking intentional actions, all for the purpose of getting what you want most out of life. The coaching relationship is designed to ensure lasting change and promote continuous growth. Coaching is an opportunity to be truthful, candid, open to feelings, thoughts, ideas and possibilities, all for the purpose of initiating forward movement.
Coaching requires commitment. Individuals must be ready to look at their patterns of behaving and thinking, to assess the big picture, to stretch beyond their comfort zone, to remain open to new possibilities, learning and ways of being.
The Benefits of Coaching
Entering into a coaching relationship will help you to:
- Gain fresh perspectives on personal and professional challenges and opportunities, by getting you outside your limited thinking and in relationship with someone whose job is to be curious and stimulate creative problems solving/thinking.
- Receive unbiased support and challenge which isn’t possible with family, friends and colleagues. (Those close to you often have many ideas on what you "should" do, and provide advice based on their own value system and experience.)
- Increase productivity both personally and professionally through greater clarity, increased confidence, and effective decision making.
- Be accountable through the support of a collaborative partner whose job is to help you remain accountable to your goals, decisions, and commitments.
The work you do, with a qualified coach, when you are fully committed, can be life changing, the catalyst for a life designed with intention for optimum focus, happiness, desire, success.
How...
Through an effective coaching relationship, you and I will partner for the purpose of discovering how to manage your life, whether dealing with a personal or professional transition and uncertain of next steps, or searching for that something missing. I serve as a collaborative partner who helps you to clarify vision, identify possibilities, identify resources, brainstorm, provide models and examples, set priorities, identify most effective strategies, plan, be accountable, and achieve goals and aspirations, while realizing personal awareness, development and growth.
The coaching relationship may either be short-term, support during a current situation, or long-term, ongoing, intensive support over several months. Coaching sessions are 50 minutes in duration and are conducted via phone, with the possibility of live face-to-face sessions (dependent on geography of coach and client). Additionally, assessments, such as behavioral and personality, are used where relevant and meaningful to client goals.
As a professional coach, I work from an appreciative approach beginning with Clarity – asking discovery based questions that help us understand what works well, offering constructive framing of observations and feedback, getting an understanding of the relevant facts, truths, feelings, exploring the change, identifying goals and aspirations. Next is Choice which is first the belief that you always have a choice(s) and second, understanding what those choices are so that you can begin to design an action plan with intention. The final phase is Change, during which time you act on plan, implement, and revisit any part of plan which may need redesign.
How Is Coaching Different From Therapy?
Coaching assumes that the client is creative and resourceful; coaching is a collaborative partnership; coaching focuses on the present experience and future design; coaching deals with the conscious mind, what is known; and, coaching helps clients to identify choices, create plans and take action.
Whereas
Therapy assumes the patient requires healing; the therapist has expertise in healing past traumas; therapy focuses primarily on the past; and, therapy seeks to bring the unconscious into consciousness.
Coaching can feel extremely therapeutic, and yet it is distinctly different from therapy. The focus of coaching is on identifying specific objectives, and developing strategic plans, action steps and successful behaviors that will move you toward achieving your desired goals. Coaching is focused on possibility and action, not healing. Coaching is future oriented and what is of primary focus is how you want to be.
Additionally, coaches who are members of the International Coach Federation (ICF) adhere to ethical guidelines which include maintaining confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, accurately representing the profession of coaching, being forthright in contracting and financial issues, etc. The entire code of ethics can be found on the ICF website.
Is coaching for you?
- I have the time to invest in myself?
- I consistently keep my word and promises to myself and others?
- There is a gap between where I am now and where I want to be?
- I am willing and able to do work inside and outside sessions?
- I am willing to stop behaviors that limit my success?
- I am willing to try new concepts even if I'm not sure they will work?
- I have the support I need to make big changes in my life?
- Coaching is the appropriate discipline for the changes I want to make (as opposed to therapy, medical treatment, etc.)?
- I am fully responsible for my own life and the decisions I make?
- I am willing and able to work in a collaborative environment?
If you answer "no" to more than 2 questions, coaching may not be an effective resource at this time. You may consider one of two alternatives. First, consulting which focuses on solutions and advice, offers answers, instructs you what to do, and second, therapy which focuses on the past and healing of psychological trauma.
If you are ready for coaching, please consider the following question:
What is it that you hope to achieve from your coaching work?
Ready? Call today! 1 (760) 579-9193