Coaching FAQs
Q.: What is life coaching?
A.: Coaching is a professional service. Life coaching, also known as personal coaching, lifeskills coaching, self-care coaching, and personal development coaching, is a partnering relationship in which the coach assists the client to enhance his/her personal and professional life.
Clients retain a coach in order to:
- Make a change,
- Reach a goal,
- Improve their quality of life, or
- Solve a problem.
Q.: How can coaching benefit me?
A.: Personal coaching provides a structure that enables you to identify your passion, clarify your vision, and take active steps toward achieving your dreams. Coaching wil provide:
- The tools you need to change.
- Objective outside input.
- A supportive ear.
- Accountability.
Q.: How is coaching different from therapy?
A.: Coaching is for motivated people who want to get more out of their lives. It focuses on a person’s strengths, and assists him or her to set and reach important life goals.
Psychotherapy is a healthcare service for people with diagnosable mental disorders. People experiencing severe emotional distress or marked functional impairment in one or more areas of their lives would benefit more from psychotherapy.
Coaching uses many of the same skills and techniques as psychotherapy, but coaching is not a treatment nor a substitute for treatment for mental disorders. For more on how coaching differs from other professions, see The Role of the Coach.
Q.: How does spirituality fit into counseling?
A.: This depends entirely on the needs and desires of the client. By the way, this is true for any and all topics in coaching: The client sets the agenda and chooses the issues he or she wants to work on. Some clients, whether or not they view spirituality as a vital part of their lives, prefer not to discuss spiritual matters with me. Other clients want to explore spirituality and learn how to nourish their inner spirits, and come to me because they know I have a keen interest in this area. I respect the wishes of both.
It is important to note that being spiritual and being religious are two very different things. Spirituality has to do with connecting with the meaning, purpose, and beauty of life, and transcends religion. I can help clients get in touch with their spirits regardless of their particular religious faith, even when their religious beliefs are quite different from my own. Just make your preferences in this or any other personal area known when we begin coaching, and I will be happy to follow them.
Q.: How long does coaching take?
A.: That depends on your needs. Some clients seek coaching for a highly specific short-term goal. In this case you may achieve your goal in only a few sessions.
Other clients want to achieve dreams that have a number of components, or desire assistance in a series of goals. Depending on the number and complexity of your goals, you may hire a coach for three months, six months, a year, two years, or more. Basically, coaching lasts as long as you continue to receive benefit from it and have unmet goals.
I have built into my coaching periodic reviews so you are able to evaluate your progress and choose whether to continue working with me. The majority of clients hire a coach for weekly sessions for anywhere from six months to a year
Q.: How much does coaching cost?
A.: Coaching is an investment in your future. I am currently offering a special discount for new clients. My standard rate is $75.00 per one half-hour session, $300 per month. The special discount for new clients is one-third off, or $50.00 for one session or $200 for the first month. Coaching fees are paid prior to receiving services.
I ask for a one-month commitment at a time. At the end of each month you can evaluate your progress and decide whether you want to continue working with me.
Q.: Does coaching focus on work or personal issues?
A.: Coaching is helpful for either personal or professional issues, or both. It all depends on the needs of the client. The happy, successful life is a balanced life. Achieving success in only one or two areas is not the goal of life coaching. Ask yourself, “Where am I needing an extra boost?” That is an appropriate issue for life coaching.
Q.: How do I get started?
A.: Getting started is easy. All you need to do is to make three choices:
- The goal(s) you want to achieve,
- The number of sessions per month you want to schedule, and
- The method of payment you prefer.
You don’t have to make these decisions before your first session. We can discuss all of these choices and their options in the free, no obligation coaching session. The purpose of the initial coaching session is in part to help you determine whether we can work together effectively as a team. I’ll help you see whether you have a dream you want to achieve and whether coaching can help. Then I’ll explain all the options.
When we agree to work together, I will send out a Coaching Agreement for you to read, sign, and return. Then we’ll get started on accomplishing the goals you have selected on the schedule you have chosen.
Q.: How can I get more information?
A.: I would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have, or explain the coaching process in more detail. The free coaching session I offer provides an opportunity for you to get your questions answered in a relaxed, no obligation, phone call. Use the Convenient Contact Me from to set up a time for our call. Note that Memphis is in the U.S. Central time zone.