I actually don’t know that you should and this section won’t focus on that. My goal is to educate you about the coaching process, what you can gain from it, and some pitfalls to avoid. If anything is left unanswered, connect with me. You can try out coaching at no cost and learn if it’s right for you.

I work with people 1-on-1 with a fully customized approach based on the client’s goals. It starts with a conversation to learn about goals and check our fit. I ask lots of questions and make observations to help you open perspectives, awareness, and action. If you’d like to work with me more we’ll set up a Discovery session to deeply define your vision and create a plan to move toward it. Each time we meet, you will bring a topic to explore. When you have reached your initial goals, we can update them and pursue the next round, or we can complete our engagement. You can always come back later with different goals, and many people do!

If what you’ve seen so far, or if the statements below feel accurate, we may be a good fit:

You are a professional who leads people or processes not because you are hungry for power, but because you believe in bringing out the best in all things. You are loyal and committed, even to the point where you sometimes feel taken advantage of. You know things can be better but sometimes life seems to flip-flop between too many obstacles in the way and too many possibilities to choose from. You’re a fierce protector and advocate for your tribe. You try hard to see other perspectives but still have strong perspectives of your own. You strive to live by a set of core values, even if you can’t list them all out. You can walk into a room and sense that something is weird even if you can’t pinpoint what. When you are engaged in something, you are laser-focused on it, as if driven by an invisible force. How accurate was that for you?

Coaching and therapy are distinct practices with different goals. According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching is “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.”

Where therapy is typically aimed at diagnosing and treating disorders and healing past trauma, coaching is meant to move you from where you are to where you want to be. There are some similarities in the process, however a skilled coach will quickly identify if a topic or theme may fall outside the scope of coaching, and vice versa.

You deserve to get the most value from your investment. Bottom line advice: look for a coach who you resonate strongly with and who helps you toward your goals. There are extremely skilled master certified coaches with decades of experience who won’t be your “style” and there are coaches with very little formal training who just have a knack for it. Most coaches will offer you a session at no cost to let you experience their coaching and check chemistry.

There are over 500 coach training programs worldwide. Unfortunately, some of them offer certification for just a fee. For added confidence, look for coaches who have completed an ICF accredited training program or who hold an ICF certification (ACC, PCC, or MCC). While a certification doesn’t guarantee a coach’s skill or fit, it does indicate a level of proficiency with coaching ethics and core competencies.

Take a deep breath. Reaching out to new people can sometimes be nerve wracking, and that’s the best possible next step. If you’ve read this far, let’s have a conversation about what support looks like for you.

If coaching sounds intriguing but you’re looking for something different, there are thousands of coaches listed in the International Coaching Federation Directory (click here)