What is Coaching?
Coaching is focused on goal accomplishment, decision making and moving forward in one's life. Coaching is different from counseling in several important ways although I do believe that the line is often a blurry one. In most cases people who seek coaching are looking to do some specific thing and believe a coach can help them achieve this goal quicker and more effectively. Coaching clients are by and large emotionally and psychologically healthy and seek a coach to achieve tangible results.
As a Coach I will...
Help you Set and Reach a Specific Goal or Make a Decision
Act as a Change Agent
Help you Identify Self Defeating Patterns and Behaviors
Teach and Mentor
Be a Resource for Information
Provide Systems for Strength, Skill, and Talent Identification
Inspire and Encourage
Hold You Accountable
Be a Sounding Board for Decisions
How is Coaching Different From Counseling
Counseling is for people who are experiencing emotional and psychological stress. It begins with a focus on what you are dissatisfied with in your present life and then looking into your past for patterns and belief systems. Many times this involves a process of healing old wounds and then moving forward into more successful behaviors and attitudes. Often the person is having difficulty in several key areas - work and relationships being the most common. The focus of counseling and psychotherapy is healing and growth. It has an internal focus. In other words, as a therapist I seek to help my counseling clients feel better about themselves through helping them change their self limiting behaviors and beliefs. I help them to look at themselves internally by asking them to take personal responsibility for their choices. I help boost their self esteem and self confidence through validating their strengths. From there we focus on developing new behaviors which in turn help to create happier more successful lives.
Where is that Blurry Line?
The blurry line comes in with a coaching client who initially comes in for specific coaching toward a goal and then within the work we do together it becomes clear that some behavior, belief or attitude that is of a psychological nature is holding them back. We then address this block or pattern before the person can attain their goal. For a psychotherapy client coaching begins to happen when he or she has dealt with old beliefs and patterns and is now focused on goal attainment. In this way the two often overlap. In some cases I will refer the person to another therapist depending on the issue - I will let you know if I feel your specific need is outside my range of expertise.
In Person or on the Telephone?
Coaching is a relatively new form of personal guidance and from it's inception has used the telephone as its main means of communication. The typical coach works with clients via this method. I feel, however that coaching works well either in person or using the telephone. Therefore, if you live in or near Denver I suggest that you meet with me in person. If you live elsewhere or because of time constraints prefer the telephone I am glad to meet with you via this method, either way, coaching is a powerful tool to move you toward your goals.
What Does it Cost?
For telephone coaching the fee is $350 per month for weekly telephone consultation. The monthly package includes four 45 minute telephone sessions and unlimited emails.
For in person coaching my fee is $90 per session. My sessions run from one to one and a half hours depending on the goals we are working on.
I will do one time coaching sessions for people who have a decision to make or as a sounding board for goal setting. For more complex goals I ask for a one month commitment to begin the coaching relationship and I bill in advance. Most coaching clients need from three to nine months to complete the goal that they have set depending on the complexity and time available for them to complete it.
How Can I Get Started?
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f you would like to get started meeting a goal or changing your life then call me today for a free half hour introductory coaching session.