I work with a wide range of adults and, as long as there is a good connection between us, I will work with anyone who is motivated to invest in themselves. I have a particular passion for working with parents who are challenged to dedicate time for themselves beyond the responsibilities of parenthood, and I believe that coaching can be one of the most powerful tools for parents who want to maintain a lifelong journey of personal growth and fulfillment.
What does the coaching focus on?
The goal of coaching is to support your increased connection and ownership of your life, so typically the coaching focuses on areas where you are seeking greater fulfillment. We look at the different parts of your life wherein you are wanting more, as well as the parts wherein you are wanting less. We translate those desires into concrete steps and develop strategies to move you forward toward a more satisfying life. There is no script for the coaching other than to follow the lead of your goals.
What happens during a coaching session?
We start each session by checking in to assess your current circumstances and mindset, followed by a quick look back to see how any prior goals you've set are progressing. From there we focus on a particular aspect of your life that you want to work on. I ask questions that are designed to challenge your assumptions, encourage your own insights and explore your options. We'll sometimes explore creative exercises that shake up your perspective and help you to think outside the box of your own past experiences. All this is done with the goal of helping you develop specific, actionable steps that you can take into your daily life.
What's the difference between coaching and therapy?
Generally speaking, therapy focuses on the processing of past experiences and tends to assume that there is a part of your life that is broken and needs to be fixed. By contrast, coaching is less interested in what has happened already and focuses instead on where you are at now and where you want to go. Coaching also assumes that you are whole and not in need of fixing, and therefore emphasizes your own creative ability to design a fulfilling life.
What's the difference between coaching and consulting?
Consultants are typically hired to give their advice and expertise. The client often yields some of their control to the consultant who is expected to know the answers to whatever challenges are posed. Coaches are typically hired to guide clients to their own answers and thus assume that the client will always be the expert on their own life. A coach will work to empower their clients to explore and articulate what they most want for themselves and how to get there.
Is there a required time commitment?
All coaching agreements follow a month-to-month format, but it is recommended to continue the work for a minimum of eight sessions. Changes do not happen overnight, and often there is a period of trial and error as new life strategies are devised and tested out.
What if I'm not sure that I have time for coaching?
Coaching does require a certain time commitment if it is to be successful, including time spent exploring goals and new strategies between sessions. The best part of that, aside from the pure joy of devoting more time to personal growth and fulfillment, is that through coaching you often "find" time by identifying and eliminating certain activities or habits that are not serving you. Your life becomes more efficient as you clarify what matters the most.
Where will we meet?
Most coaching sessions are done over the phone. Video calls and in-person meetings, depending on geography, are also an option.
Will it be fun?
Yes! Connecting yourself to your life aspirations is an incredible process that's exciting and fun. If we get stuck in the habit of being too serious it restricts the creative thought processes that we need in order to inspire change and courage, so play is a natural part of coaching. Laughter loosens up the mind and is always welcome in my coaching.
What kind of results can I expect?
The goal of coaching is to support your increased connection to and ownership of your entire life. If you engage in the coaching process with honesty, courage, and dedication you can expect to develop a clearer sense of your personal priorities, the things that are holding you back, your own inner resources, and the life you truly want for yourself. You will learn what it takes to be successful by your own definition.
