Coaching

Alrighty…coaching. The truth is, in the United States, anyone can call themselves a coach. Personally, I decided the International Coaching Federation’s credentials were the best fit for me because:
(1) they supported the rigorous education and practice requirements I would expect;
(2) it provided a legitimacy about my commitment to excellence in coaching; and
(3) it provided accountability to my clients.

As an ICF coach, I am a professional with advanced education and first-hand training in implementing ICF’s coaching competencies that set the standard for coaching world-wide. I also adhere to strict ethical guidelines as part of ICF’s mission to protect and serve coaching consumers.

At issue is when people assume coaching is synonymous with therapy or counseling. It’s not. And it’s most definitely NOT a replacement for sound medical advice from a professional…in fact, a coach worth their salt will recommend these resources if something about their client indicates as much as concern.

The greatest difference for me, as a coach, is I do not tell my client what to do or how to do it. I do not spend my client’s time digging through the past, especially their emotional experiences. That is not my purpose for my client.

No one is broken. The reason I wake up each day is to feel more productive and less cathartic. My coaching purpose is supporting my client in reaching their goals using results-oriented strategies based in applied neuroscience research and project management theory. My work is client-focused, customized, and flexible. I collaborate with the person as they are. In essence, we each invest in a partnership, as coach and client, built on a solid foundation of mutual trust, transparency, safety, and respect.

Coaching sessions may feel uncomfortable at times. The session work is intended to provoke-thought, keep us curious, tap into creativity, iterate perspectives, and afford the clarity and perspective found only through self-awareness, self-discovery, self-forgiveness, and self-love. Both client and coach collaborate in a shared growth-mindset to inspire and reach the client’s maximum potential.