F.A.Q.
Is coaching like therapy?
Coaching is therapeutic and therapy-like. It provides effective support for individuals grappling with life's common challenges such as navigating transitions, relationships, parenting, career, decision points, and relationship with self. Coaching supports individuals with setting and achieving personal goals, overcoming obstacles, and ultimately, living a more fulfilling life.
Coaching is not suitable for those struggling with psychiatric clinical diagnoses such as clinical depression, clinical anxiety, ADHD, addiction, PTSD, trauma, and similar conditions. In these cases, therapy is highly recommended, as it offers specialized interventions and support tailored to address these complex mental health issues.
What makes coaching special?
Coaching is uniquely effective because it is present/future focused with an emphasis on insight plus action. By contrast, many other therapeutic models are past/present focused with an emphasis on insight only. Merely gaining insight, without taking action, can lead to frustration and disillusionment with the process. According to author Marie Forleo, “Insight without action is worthless. Taking action is the only path to change.” In coaching, we bring insight and action together to spark meaningful change that resonates with your core values and aspirations.
“Therapy mines the past to improve the present while coaching tweaks the present toward a brighter future.” David Morelli, Coach.
What about big emotions?
In coaching, there exists a safe space to explore and liberate big emotions. Bottling up and holding in emotions makes us feel stuck and pulls from our energy bank. But, what if we could reclaim that energy and use it for things that bring us joy? In coaching, we courageously welcome, validate, and honor all emotions. This enables these emotions to flow through and beyond us, ultimately leaving us feeling lighter.
Will I learn specific tools?
Absolutely! I wholeheartedly believe in empowering my clients with tools and knowledge. Once you acquire these tools, you own them forever. Depending on individual needs, I teach my clients: self-compassion, effective habit strategies, boundary-setting techniques, the art of articulating needs and desires, cultivating gratitude, mindfulness practices, the power of shifting perspectives, tapping into inner strength, fostering self-confidence, unraveling false narratives, choosing curiosity, embracing authenticity, dismantling limiting beliefs, and tapping into both external and internal wisdom.
What are appropriate coaching topics?
Coaching is most effective when you come to a session with an idea of what you’d like support with. Here are a few examples of coaching topics…
I want to start taking better care of my physical health.
I have a big, exciting personal goal but I’m not sure how to get started.
I am feeling a lot of resentment toward someone I love.
I want more joy in my life.
I am feeling overwhelmed with life’s demands.
I have recently divorced and need support with getting my life in order.
My kids are grown and I am feeling a lack of purpose and direction.
I give to others at the expense of my own well-being and happiness.
I am struggling with self-doubt and feelings of not being good enough.
I am at an important decision point, but not clear which way to go.
How long will it take to get results?
Coaching is a process of internal change, growth, and transformation. The timeline for results depends on your readiness and the breadth of your goals. Every session elicits insight followed by action, so some changes will happen in a single session while other bigger topics will take longer. I recommend that you commit to coaching for a minimum of three months with sessions every other week. While some people find that they are ready to wrap up after three months, others will choose to keep coaching in their lives long-term.
What is the difference between coaching and mentoring?
Mentoring involves a more experienced individual guiding a less experienced individual based on expertise and experience, often focusing on career development and skill-building. A mentor provides direction, guidance, and advice to a mentee. Coaching, however, focuses on facilitating self-discovery, goal achievement, and personal growth through skillful questioning, support, and accountability. Coaching is collaborative and power is granted to the relationship, not the coach. A coach will challenge their client to stretch further or see things differently, but they won’t advise. In coaching, we believe that you are the expert on you and that you are intrinsically resourceful.