Getting Started

The general principles of coaching has been used for centuries most notably within the athletic and sport community to enhance an athlete or professional’s performance in reaching optimal results quickly. Not a professional athlete? Let’s bring the same coaching philosophy into our every day lives. We all aspire to live a better more deliberate life. That’s the easy part. But HOW do we go from point A to point Z? How do you go from a just OK place to an “I’m doing awesome” place.

My coaching goal: Your success

My coaching style is proactive, imaginative and solution focused. Active vs. passive. Encouraging without pressuring. I am fairly directive given I am your accountability partner (but yes, I will hold your hand along the way!).

My coaching approach: YOU driven.

Why? Because I am not the expert on YOU. YOU are. I am the expert on how to help you meet yourself and see yourself as capable, competent and empowered. I am an expert on helping you get out of YOUR way. I ask the questions but you identify your own answers in order to feel independent – my goal is to coach you to be your own coach moving forward.

As your Coach

I partner with you in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires you to maximize your personal and professional potential. It is an interactive process that helps you improve your life performance and achieve extraordinary results. This partnership is built on accountability and responsibility with you. Setting goals, having a vision for oneself is key but just as imperative is the ability to take small baby-steps and be “in action” toward attaining goals. As a result of professional coaching, you set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use your natural strengths. Isn’t that the partnership you want.

Who can benefit from Coaching?

This is probably the most asked question, with the simplest answer – everyone can benefit from working with a Coach. Whether you are a CEO of a company, CEO of your family or retired from your (first) career looking to create another, the truth is that everyone benefits from coaching. Most of us struggle with identifying who we really are, what our strengths are, and/or how to make our lives more meaningful. Most of us have lived in our bodies so long we have lost objective perspective on who we are, what we have within to make our vision possible. The possibilities are limitless.

How Does Coaching Work?

Respecting that lives are busy, coaching is offered virtually on a one-on-one basis which enables clients to make the most productive use out of the hours in their day. Clients receive coaching calls at a time that fits with their schedule and in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office. For those clients who are more comfortable working “face-to-face”, I see clients at my Pasadena office and most of our teen groups are also held there. My office is conveniently located near the 210 and 134 freeways adjacent to Old Town Pasadena. Lastly, get the ultimate health and wellness advantage by taking coaching outdoors. We literally walk and talk (please read more information by clicking the Walk and Talk page under “Services”).

What does a coaching session look like?

Each coaching session helps you gain the momentum and empowering motivation needed to launch you forward toward accomplishing your personal goals. You set the agenda for the call/session and there will be times when homework (yes homework) is given to propel your thought process to a higher or deeper level, depending on what we are targeting. However, together we will:

• Develop a collaborative partnership
• Set goals, establish strategies and achieve success
• Use tools and strengths you already possess but need to learn how to access
• And celebrating each amazing action step you take, no matter how big or small

What is the typical length of time you see a client?

Unlike the process of therapy, Coaching typically is short term. I ask for new clients to enter into a 3 month commitment, usually that equates to 12 sessions, in order for you to be able to have room to step back and experience the process that has started and feel the shifts you are starting to make. However you are in charge of the decision making around your coaching plan. Each client is on their own individual journey. The goal of a good coach is to help you identify the strengths you already possess and provide you with some additional tools that you can add to your own personal tool kit as you move forward.

Side Effects of Coaching:

• You may have a vision greater than your fears
• You may experience that with change comes opportunity (where you used to see problems)
• Decisions may become easier to make
• You may feel like the person you always wanted to hang out with
• You may receive tools so that you can learn to coach yourself
• You may feel a lift in your energy and creativity
• You may discover your own answers
• You may begin to choose how you want to feel
• You may end up doing what you love
• You may have an easier time letting negativity go
• You may find what it is that you really want
• You may face your fears
• You may get new insights and realizations
• You may change your perspective (about you
• get unstuck

Is coaching the same as Mental Health Services?

Often I get asked, “You are a mental health therapist, aren’t you going to provide psychotherapy?" The short answer is NO. It is important to note that coaching is not therapy, nor does it replace therapy if therapy is necessary. Although I am a licensed mental health professional, I will not be providing psychotherapy. We will not be engaged in this model of work. I will not provide you with a mental health diagnosis nor work with you from that frame of reference. I do believe in the art of psychotherapy and believe that working from that frame of reference definitely has its purpose with those who are needing more in-depth healing. Some of you may need to do that work as a pre-requisite before being able to move into coaching. I do utilize my many years of clinical work and skills in working with the underlying emotional motivators that often lend itself to what may keep you stuck and not moving forward. As your coach, I will help you explore your options, and guide you to make decisions based on what resonates with you directly. If I feel you need a deeper level of work, I will bring that into discussion for us to look at and can provide you with a number of qualified referrals.

Be the change you want to be ~ see yourself as competent, capable and empowered to create your Chapter 2.

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