What is coaching?

According to the International Coach Federation coaching is a client driven process defined as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” In addition to unlocking potential, coaching is helpful in deepening self awareness as well as increasing clarity and confidence which helps improve the clients outlook and mindset in all areas of their life.

How is coaching different from therapy?

In general, therapy focuses on exploring and bringing healing to old mental or emotional wounds that are preventing someone from living a full, functional life. Coaching on the other hand is about moving from functional to increasing and fulfilling potential. There’s no way to avoid emotions or the past. We aren’t robots. But the exploration of emotions or the discussion of the past in coaching are more about gathering information about what’s going on in the present and how to move forward in a more fulfilling way.

What happens in a session?

Sessions are unique to the person, but generally speaking we begin with identifying the focus of your session. The rest of the session is a blend of artful questions, active listening and relevant on-call exercises that is all intended to help you access your own answers from a deeper level of knowing, not just superficial thinking or emotional reacting. At the end of the session there may be a discussion of at home practices or tools that support the client’s focus or work done in the session. Many tools may be incorporated, but because of my background in meditation and hypnosis, I often invite the client into grounding, presencing, visioning and breathing exercises at the top of the call and throughout the session as appropriate. Because sessions are client led, you’re always in choice as to whether we incorporate these tools.

Is change really possible?

Absolutely. I don’t have to tell you that it’s only really possible if you’re all in. Not because it’s some placebo, affirmation, wish upon a star process. But because you need to be open to the process to fully experience it. It’s not necessary to be free of doubt or lack of confidence in what’s possible before entering coaching. It’s only necessary that you’re willing and open to the possibilities coaching can create. For me, it’s always been about how changing perception can change reality. Again, not talking affirmations or “The Secret.” I could go on (and on and on) about this but for brevity….have you ever seen one of those psychological drawings that looked one way until you knew to look at it differently? And then, in some cases, you can switch back and forth seeing both images. In others, you can now only see the new image. Either way, that image is never the same as when you first saw it and neither is what you thought about it. It’s a simple example with big impact. A big enough impact that can spiral out to how thoughts impact feelings impact actions impact outcomes. We’ll take a breath there and just say. Yes. Change is possible.

How long does it take to change?

I wish I could tell you. It depends. On what? Lots of things: how we’re measuring change, what specifically we’re looking to change, who you are and where you are in your process in regard to this change. I really dislike saying it depends though. So, I’ll say this. In every session I’ve had, there was at least some shift that happened right with the very first session. It wasn’t that a long-held block always vaporized. However, it was a consistently significant enough shift that almost without exception, clients remarked on a takeaway(s) that was going to help them move closer to their desired outcome. That’s what we want. Incremental change that’s sustainable and able to built upon.

On average, 8 - 16 sessions is sufficient for most goals. For shorter term goals with a deadline, you’re more likely to want weekly sessions for 8-12 weeks. For longer term goals, you might start off weekly and taper down to every other week for closer to 12 - 20 sessions. If you’re looking to develop a relationship with a coach for what I’ll refer to as life goals, ongoing development and support as life evolves, you could stay in contact with your coach indefinitely with varying degrees of frequency.