FAQ About Coaching

What issues can coaching help address?
What benefits can I expect from a coaching partnership?
What is the coach’s responsibility?
What is my responsibility as the client?
How are coaching sessions conducted?
What are some examples of “powerful questioning?”
How do I know you’re a good coach?
What kind of time commitment can I expect?
How is coaching different from therapy or counseling?
How much do you charge?

What issues can coaching help address?
There are coaches for just about every aspect of life you can imagine: career, financial, spiritual, executive, team, leadership, relationship, image, speaking… the list goes on and on. The key is identifying the right type of coach for your needs. Coaches DO NOT treat clinical disorders such as anxiety, depression, addiction and phobias.

People engage a coach because they are seeking:

• more intentional work/life balance
• to live in closer alignment with their values
• to process through or plan for a life transition
• more fulfilling relationships with family/friends/co-workers
• to identify and maximize leadership qualities
• to increase efficiency/effectiveness at work
• to create an action plan
• to follow a goal or dream (personal or professional)
• improved communication using empowering language
• a supportive thought-partner to help process through challenges at work and home
• to gain clarity on life purpose and direction

What benefits can I expect from a coaching partnership?
The benefits will be directly proportional to the commitment and intention you put into the relationship. Fully engaging in the process can lead to:

• getting “unstuck”
• creation of an action plan
• identification of strengths
• closer alignment between values and choices
• living with more intention and greater consciousness
• increased self-confidence and self-esteem
• greater clarity about goals and how to move forward
• fewer self-imposed obstacles
• enhanced productivity and effectiveness
• moving towards greater life balance
• greater sense of wholeness and purpose
• supportive and positive relationships
• increased energy and focus
• heightened self-awareness
• enhanced leadership abilities
• increased ability to trust and take risks

What is the coach’s responsibility?
In every interaction I have with you, I will act with integrity, honesty and sincerity. I will listen carefully and be fully present. I will access my intuition and seek the best way to support your needs. I will gently probe as well as ask direct questions, and I will seek your permission if I want to offer a suggestion. I will provide you with support, encouragement and a safe space to take risks. All communication is confidential. I abide by the ethical standards set forth by the International Coach Federation. If you need assistance I cannot provide, I will refer you to a variety of resources.

What is my responsibility as the client?
You are ready to be committed to a process of deep inquiry and forward action. You come to the partnership with an open heart, a curious spirit and a willingness to be honest with yourself and with me. You are open to new possibilities and ways of seeing yourself and those around you. You set the agenda and tell me what you need for each session. You determine your goals and priorities. You define success for yourself. You keep your commitments and are fully present for each session.

How are coaching sessions conducted?
This depends on distance and preference and is agreed upon at the start of the coaching relationship. Most often, sessions are conducted over the phone. This allows for optimal flexibility and convenience for both coach and client. E-mail support can be available in between phone sessions. If possible, it is desirable to meet in person for the first session. Other options include online live chat or video phone through Skype or another service. Most coaches have clients from around the country (and even the world!), so distance is not an issue.

Your first coaching session (after an introductory session or complimentary consultation, if applicable) will include a review of a personal assessment that you complete prior to our meeting. This document provides a starting point for us, outlining your values, goals, environment, relationships and aspirations. Click here to download a PDF of a sample assessment form. From there, we determine the best place to start.

What are some examples of “powerful questioning?”
You’ll notice that a coaching conversation is very different than one you might have with a best friend, partner or co-worker. Instead of offering advice or personally relating to your statements, I’ll ask you what coaches call “powerful questions.” These are open-ended, often begin with “what,” “how” or “when,” and are an invitation for deeper reflection and exploration. Here are a few examples:

• What are you committed to?
• What did you learn?
• What’s next?
• How will you know?
• When will you take action?
• What are your choices?
• What’s true?

How do I know you’re a good coach?
You can talk to me! I am happy to have a phone or e-mail conversation and answer your questions, or you can schedule a complimentary consultation or 30-minute coaching session to see if we “click.” You can also read what some of my clients have said about their experience with me.

It’s recommended that you talk to a few coaches (most offer free or specially priced introductory sessions) and see who feels right, who you click with. Someone who is a good coach for your best friend or sister may not be a good coach for you. Your coach needs to be someone you trust and who makes you feel safe, as well as challenged and motivated. For more information about choosing a coach, visit “Guidelines for Selecting a Coach” at invitechange.com.

My training is through inviteCHANGE, a highly rated, ICF-accredited academy located in Edmonds, WA. I work with my own coach, and I am an active member of the Puget Sound Coaches Association and International Coach Federation.

What kind of time commitment can I expect?
A typical session is 30 minutes, with three to four sessions per month. Because coaching is not a “quick fix,” I highly recommend a minimum three-month agreement, for a total of 12 sessions. At the conclusion of the agreement, we will discuss if we want to continue or if our work together is done. On average, many clients are with the same coach for 18 months, with some having much longer, ongoing relationships. I do offer a variety of options to fit your schedule and budget.

In addition, know that the weekly sessions are meant to be the touchstone for the personal process work you do throughout the week. This includes implementing your action plan, journaling, reading, revisiting your goals and value statements… as you begin to integrate new behaviors and thought patterns into your life, they will become second nature. But in the beginning, be prepared for fairly significant mental, emotional and even physical energy to be expended on behalf of your personal commitment to growth and change.

“How is coaching different from therapy or counseling?
The shortest answer is that coaching accepts where you are now and focuses on looking forward to where you want to be in the future. Most of the questions a coach asks start with “What.” Therapy and counseling focus on your history and analysis of how you got to your present state. Most questions a therapist asks start with “Why.” Review this PDF from Coachville.com for additional information.

How much do you charge?
Making a meaningful, transformative investment in yourself requires both time and money. You may choose from a variety of coaching options, and my rates are competitive with industry standards for my certification level and experience. Your investment will be mutually agreed upon before any coaching begins (excluding complimentary introductory session) and payable in advance of each month’s sessions. I am pleased to offer the online convenience of PayPal for my clients. Expectations will be clearly outlined in our agreement.

“Coaching Services & Investment” information sheet; includes rates and services available from June – December 2009.

Now is a good time to enter into a coaching partnership; contact me to start the conversation!

Curious? E-mail me for more information. I’m happy to answer your questions about coaching, or offer you a complimentary, nothing-to-lose, everything-to-gain introductory coaching session.