What is Life Coaching?
Life coaching is a professional practice focused on helping individuals identify and achieve personal and professional goals. It involves a collaborative relationship between the coach and the client, where the coach uses various techniques and strategies to support and guide the client in making meaningful changes and improvements in their life.
How does the coaching process work?
As the client, you own the agenda for each session and have accountability towards taking the steps to achieve your goals. My role is to guide and support you. I am committed to providing a judgement-free space where you can feel free to explore your thoughts and beliefs.
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My approach is centred on finding solutions so while we may briefly delve into understanding the 'whys,' our focus will swiftly shift to 'what can we do about it?'. Your autonomy is paramount; I won't prescribe actions but will instead guide you with thought-provoking questions, sparking new perspectives and possibilities. When you hit roadblocks, I'm here to brainstorm solutions and ensure you stay committed to your goals.
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Expect a nurturing, affirming journey that leaves you with clarity, confidence in your capabilities, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
How is coaching different to a counsellor, a consulting, a mentor, and a psychotherapist?
A coach’s main role is to help you take action to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be; we are solution focussed and holistic in our approach, dealing in the mind, body, and spirit.
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A counsellor can conduct personality and capability tests to help determine what career is a good fit for you; a coach will explore your needs and values in life and help you explore and design your own next steps.
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A consultant is usually a person in your own field who provides short-term engagements to solve a particular issue for you, but a coach will ask you a lot of questions to help you come up with your own answers, working in partnership with you rather than doing it for you.
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A mentor, like a consultant is usually a person in your own field however builds a long-term relationship with a focus on the holistic personal and professional growth of the mentee, often acting as a role model, sharing their experiences, insights, and wisdom; where a coach will work with a client to achieve specific goals through a structured process, using questioning and feedback to facilitate self-discovery and skill improvement.
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A psychotherapist will address major emotional issues and help clients find context based on their past however a coach will look for the source of problems like therapists might, but we don’t deal in introspection and are solutions and future focussed.
Why can’t my friends or family coach me?
While they can offer valuable support and advice, their emotional attachments, and investments in you can cloud their judgement and as such they typically lack the objectivity that a coach can provide. Professional coaches provide a non-judgemental environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism. We are specially trained in active listening, asking powerful questions and developing strategies tailored to your unique situation and we maintain professional boundaries that allow for a more focussed and productive coaching relationship. A coach is not threatened by your success, your success is our only agenda.
How will I know that I’m ready to be coached?
Knowing you are ready to be coached involves a combination of self-awareness, openness to change and readiness to commit to the coaching process.
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If you are dealing with severe emotional trauma or mental health issues, therapy may be more appropriate for you.
However, if you resonate with many of these traits, you are ready to be coached: - You have a strong desire to change or improve areas of your life or want to break free from current patterns keeping you stuck; you have a specific goal or vision of what you want to achieve and are ready to take action towards that even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone; you are emotionally stable and resilient enough to engage in the coaching process without it being overshadowed by unresolved psychological issues; you are willing to learn, receptive to constructive feedback and have the time, energy and financial means to invest in the process.
How will I know that you’re the right coach for me?
Choosing the right coach is a very personal decision but effective coaching relies on clear and open communication and is built on trust and rapport; therefore, the most important factor to consider when speaking to that coach is the sense of connection and alignment you feel.
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My clients describe me as down-to-earth. I’m not the high-energy, high fiving, ‘follow your passion and to hell with the rest’ type of coach. However, I am encouraging, outcomes focussed, and I will genuinely find joy and celebrate in the successes my clients get through our sessions.
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I offer a 15 minute complimentary, no-obligation initial session to new clients where we get a chance to get to know one another. I am committed to working with clients that I feel I am most suited to help.
What standards can I expect you to operate to?
I work within the ethical standards outlined by the International Coaching Federation, meaning that I’m committed to providing a service with a guarantee of confidentiality. At the beginning of our coaching relationship, I provide you with a Coaching Agreement outlining all terms of business.