Frequently Asked Questions
What is "life coaching"?
Many people are not sure what to expect when they hire a life coach. Although the coaching profession is becoming increasingly popular as a way for individuals, couples, families, and organizations to achieve breakthroughs toward their own unique goals and aspirations, it is still uncommon for people to have direct personal experience in working with a coach.
A life coach works with you to achieve your own personal goals, which can be around a wide range of relationship, family, professional, health, spiritual, or other issues. Life coaching is not advice, consulting, counseling, mentoring or therapy. You hire a coach to help you achieve your own personal breakthroughs and transform your life, and, in the process, the lives of those around you.
The coaching agenda is purely yours – it is not driven by an employer, doctor, insurance company, a diagnosis, or any external influence. A coach works with you to clarify your own goals in life, develop an achievable, specific plan, and take consistent action to achieve the results you desire.
A coach helps you grow by analyzing your current situation, identifying limiting beliefs and other potential challenges and obstacles you face and devising a custom plan of action designed to help you achieve specific outcomes in your life.
Is this therapy?
No. Coaching is different from therapy in many ways.
Unlike therapy, which typically delves into your past and how it shaped your current patterns, coaching is action-oriented, strengths-based, and results-focused.
A coach will not diagnose you, and you do not require a mental health diagnosis to seek coaching. Although some people will seek a coach when they are struggling, stuck, depressed, or facing serious challenges in life, others (or the same people at different times) use coaching to achieve breakthroughs, aim higher, or make the key relationships in their life deeper, more meaningful, and more satisfying.
You are the client – not an insurance company or any other institution – so you set the agenda. We will work together to identify the limiting beliefs that might be holding you back, the resources that you bring to the situation, and specific, achievable action steps you can take to obtain the results you want.
How will we meet? How many times?
I conduct sessions online and can therefore provide services to clients anywhere. I can work with you via FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom, depending on what is easiest for you. If you do not have access to a computer or are in an area with poor internet service, we can also conduct sessions by phone.
How often and how many times we meet will depend on the nature of your situation and goals. Some clients can achieve remarkable breakthroughs in 6 to 8 sessions. Others might take longer, for any of a number of reasons. Every situation is unique, and every person works at her or his own pace. When there are children or partners involved, change can also be slower to achieve – though I take particular joy in helping a family break through patterns that do not serve and build a happier, healthier, more satisfying environment for everyone.
Typically I meet with clients weekly, although this will be a decision we make together and will depend on your situation and goals. Sessions usually last 60 minutes. With some clients, short check-in calls during the week in between coaching sessions can be helpful to help enhance accountability and maintain momentum toward action. Longer sessions, 90 to 120 minutes, can sometimes be helpful, especially early on in the coaching relationship, or when meeting with couples or parents and children together.
We will discuss the frequency and duration of our meetings early on, when we develop your action plan.
In between sessions, you will have typically have “homework” to help you take concrete action toward the results you want. Because the goals are yours, and the results are driven by your own deepest desires, the responsibility for taking action is on you. I will help you develop specific, achievable, realistic, time-limited steps you can take between sessions to make sure that you build consistent, persistent momentum toward the change you want to achieve.
Will my insurance pay for it?
No. I do not take insurance. Coaching is an investment in your own goals and results – an investment in yourself and your own future. Because you are paying for it, your sense of ownership of the process and the results you achieve will be that much greater.
I currently accept payment via PayPal, including credit cards and electronic checks. Payment in advance is preferred. Discounts are available for prepaid coaching packages of 6, 8, or 12 sessions. If you do not have a PayPal account, we can discuss alternative arrangements in our first session.
How do we get started?
Call or email me! Your initial consultation will be free. We will explore your goals, strengths, and aspirations, and explore how we can work together to develop an action plan that will be just right for you.