coaching faq's
What is Certification and Why does it matter?
While I started coaching in 2017, I decided having a certification would provide me with more structure, tools, and a consistent framework to use with clients that would ensure success. I chose the Jay Shetty Certification School to attend their intensive 6 month program, written and delivered by Jay Shetty, with over 100 hours of online content, supervision, practice clients, and a final exam passing grade required to receive the certification. It was the most incredible experience and I'm forever grateful for the experience, support, and knowledge the program provided. Being certified by a school like the Jay Shetty Certification School, which is accredited by the Association for Coaching, means that we are held to a higher standard for providing results, interacting within our Code of Ethics, and demonstrating the instructed coaching techniques in order to do no harm to our clients.
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What science backs your coaching framework?
I integrate various scientific theoretical models that continue to prove effective in empowering clients to facilitate their growth. Some of these models include: the Jay Shetty ABC framework, positive psychology, reflection, narrative coaching, as well as skills informed by DBT (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness). These skills are instrumental in supporting clients in managing challenging emotions, improving communication, and cultivating a sense of balance and self-acceptance. By integrating these models into my coaching practice, I provide clients with practical tools to navigate difficulties, regulate their emotions, and enhance their overall well-being. My coaching approach adapts to suit the specific needs of each of my clients in order to meet them where they are right now while effectively preparing them to crush their goals.
Why are you a coach / mentor?
My purpose is to positively impact as many people as I can with skills and lessons I learned later than I would have liked. The best way I can think of to make an impact is in parenting. If the children are our future, then by providing them support and tools to grow up secure in themselves, positive of their future, capable of adulting, having healthy boundaries for themselves and others, knowing who they are, and being unafraid to fail in order to learn I can make an impact in one generation that will cascade through many future generations. To me, parents/caregivers are the key to starting the avalanche of healing ourselves, and the world.
How do you approach coaching?
As a coach, my perspective centers around the belief that clients are whole, complete, and capable of achieving their goals. I strive to maintain objectivity and avoid projecting my own experiences or biases onto the client. It is crucial to create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients feel supported and empowered to explore their own insights and solutions. By adopting this perspective, I can effectively guide clients in finding their own paths to success, rather than giving advice that is only from my perspective and experiences. Each person has a right to share their story, their truth, and to be believed, validated, and supported in their healing.
What's the Coaching Process Like?
Tell me about yourself (Phase 1)
The coaching process begins with building rapport and establishing trust with the client, ensuring they feel comfortable sharing their truths, their doubts, struggles and wins. I delve into the client's reasons for seeking out coaching, gaining a deeper understanding of what they seek to achieve.
How do you view yourself and others? (Phase 2)
I help clients uncover and safely view their inner self. They identify and challenge the beliefs and thought patterns that hinder their parenting, any unregulated emotional concerns that recur, and become aware of the story they tell themselves. This phase often requires some pushing on my part, but only for the clients growth, and they remain in control of how deep we go or if any areas are off limits. This is my client's journey to define and my role to respectfully extend their comfort zone in order to grow.
Letting Go and Building Up (Phase 3)
Clients consolidate their newfound insights and rewrite their stories in order to work towards sustaining positive change, rewiring their responses, and practicing newly built habits. Regular reflection and evaluation help track progress and adjust the coaching strategies or direction as needed.
What Coaching Techniques do you use?
I adapt and utilize a range of techniques, tools, and frameworks to support my clients progress. Open-ended questions form the backbone of my coaching approach, fostering deep exploration and self-reflection. Reflective exercises provide clients with an opportunity to gain clarity and insights into their experiences. Mirroring and echoing techniques allow me to actively listen and validate the client's thoughts and feelings, ensuring we stay on the same page. The Wheel of Life and a values assessment help clients gain a holistic understanding of what matters most to them and where they feel the most struggle. This paves the way for change-making that is aligned with their values, priorities and desired outcomes. Additionally, I utilize goal-setting techniques such as SMART goals to assist clients in formulating clear and achievable objectives. These tools, when used in combination, create a proven pathway for the client to use for continual growth long after coaching sessions have completed.
My science backed approach, along with the perspective, purpose, process and tools I utilize with clients work to enlighten clients with clarity, connect them to themselves on a deeper level, and strengthen the bonds with external relationships (children, spouse/partners, family, friends, even co-workers). Since perspective is reality, a shift in perspective means a whole new reality - one where my clients are the creators of their world and truly can move from chaos to calm in a meaningful, positive, and sustainable way.
What coaching is NOT:
Coaching is NOT therapy - although similar, coaching is not equipped to handle clinical mental health issues. Therapy is based on identifying a diagnosis for your mental health symptoms and then evaluating the efficacy of a treatment plan for progress. While some mental health topics may come up in sessions, coaching is not qualified to provide clinical therapy - referrals will be provided in the case where these issues come up and more intensive and credentialed therapy is needed.
Confidentiality in Coaching
Coaching is confidential and while I may utilize stories or examples to help clients I will not reveal enough information to make associations and will not report on who my clients are or what we discuss without your express authorization. All bets are off if you are at risk of harming yourself, someone else, or if I am legally bound to release information and then only to the proper authorities and only what is required. There is NO legal relationship protecting our conversations and all actions you embark on you agree to do of your own volition - I will not be held legally or financially responsible for the actions you decide to take as a result of our coaching.
How long is coaching supposed to last?
Coaching can be specific to one situation in your life and have a natural beginning and end, or it can be an ongoing relationship that helps you reshape things in your life that could use a different perspective. It is completely up to you how long you want to come to coaching, and I would not encourage you to come if you don't feel you are getting the value and change you need from it. So far, it's never been an issue, though.