Coaching FAQs

A life coach is a trained professional who assists individuals in navigating life; supporting you through challenges and transitions in all aspects of life. They provide you with encouragement, motivation and impart skills in communication, emotional intelligence, daily functioning and organization. They assist with life visioning, goal planning and follow through. They help you overcome things like procrastination, disorganization and other areas where you may be getting in your own way. 

While therapy focuses on healing past experiences or mental health challenges, life coaches center on the present and helping you create the future you desire. They provide support, strategies and skills that strengthen mental resilience, foster good habits and promote action-oriented goal setting.  Many people benefit from working with both therapists and coaches.  

This is my opinion and observation as a life coach with 20+ years in the field. It is generally best to work with two separate professionals.  One for therapy and one for coaching, when both are needed.  One person becoming involved in both roles runs the risk of becoming too involved with their client.  An enmeshment can occur causing objectivity and effectiveness to become compromised.  

When choosing a life coach, seek someone with substantial experience navigating the complexities of life challenges and changes. A coach with decades of experience, ideally 10-20 years, brings a deep understanding of diverse client challenges, enabling them to offer tailored strategies and insights. Their practical expertise can help you achieve clarity and results more effectively. My 20 years of extensive observation and practice have honed my ability to deeply understand human behavior, emotions, and motivations, which allows for a wealth of insight and intuitive guidance to be available to you. 

While life coaching does not require formal licensing, credentials like other professions, there are many programs available to gain coaching certifications.  They are not all reputable and highly recognized. You will want to be sure that you ask about their training and do your research on the program they have taken.  Always inquire about how much experience they have during your first chat.  I hold a BSW (Bachelor of Social Work degree) this is a generalist counseling degree obtained through the University of South Florida. Obtaining this degree involves significantly more extensive academic and practical training than a coaching certificate. 

The BSW program teaches systems theory, which views you (your body and psyche) as part of the interconnected systems of family, work, and community that shape your life. They have been trained keenly in understanding how these systems interconnect and how the challenges in one area may effect another area or system.  It is a model that builds from the strengths you possess to overcome challenges.  Through psychosocial assessment, we evaluate your physical, emotional, social and environmental challenges as it relates to your circumstances and your goals. The assessment is done in a combination of questions asked in the pre-discovery call form and a guided process during the discovery call as you share your concerns. This assessment process reveals areas of strengths to capitalize on,  challenges to overcome and provides the foundation for planning and setting your goals. 

Transitions and improvements in relationships often involve communicating new needs or boundaries with family, colleagues, or others. I provide tools to kindly and firmly express yourself clearly, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships, ensuring your voice is heard and you are able have your needs met. 

Goal-setting is central to coaching.  A life coach helps you define clear, meaningful goals for your next chapter, breaking them into actionable steps. This process keeps you focused and motivated as you work to improve your life and navigate change. 

Anyone wishing to energize their life in a positive way and move forward will benefit from having a life coach.  As human beings we need support, encouragement, positive feedback and a reflection back from the world around us.  Many people are lacking this type of connection with real human beings in our increasingly digital world, which slows our progress. For anyone facing uncertainty or life transitions such as the addition of a new family member, empty nest, retirement, age related change, changes in health, death of a loved one, relationship issues, challenges with children, family members, friends, co-workers, etc. a life coaching relationship can become essential. It is beneficial for anyone, including me. I am glad to share that I engage a business coach and it has been a worthy investment that I really enjoy. 

Coaches provide a confidential, supportive space to process emotions like fear, excitement, grief, pain, or uncertainty. They provide you with emotional regulation and other emotional  intelligence skills, and/or assist you in applying them.  A vital role of the coach is to facilitate celebration of your strengths, progress and achievements, thus balancing challenging emotions. They encourage you to nurture yourself, manage stress, build resilience, and maintain a positive outlook. They are your partner in navigating life. 

Yes! Coaches help you explore your values, passions, and strengths to rediscover or redefine your sense of purpose and direction. 

It is important to realize that the relationship you develop with a life coach is a partnership where the sole focus is you, your goals and life direction. Therefore the amount of time it takes for you to see results will vary from person to person. It depends on where you are and what you want to accomplish.  What is true for all of my clients is that they begin to feel better during our discovery call. During the first session, after the discovery call, goals for our work together are clarified and action steps are defined. From this point forward we move strategically toward your goals and desired personal outcomes and you should see measurable results weekly.  I have worked with people for as little as 4 session and as much as weekly session for 6 months or more.  What I will say confidently is that even if all you do is one discovery call, you will be better for it. 

This is a standard practice among coaches.  It is a vetting process and "get to know you" process for both parties. It is one way coaches show their investment in their work and you.  We need to be sure it is a good fit before we proceed. Schedule a call with me, no pressure, no obligation (if you ever feel either of these during an initial call-run to find another coach!)