Frequently Asked Questions

Do you only do career coaching?

I mostly describe myself as a career coach, but I offer life coaching as well. The way I work, it’s really the same thing, because we’re the same person whether we’re at work or somewhere else.

When I work with a client, we don’t just focus on your job or external circumstances. Instead, we uncover your “true nature”—who you are at your core; what the unique gifts are in that; and in what ways your current challenges are inviting you to grow, expand, or express who you are more freely.

I’m certified as an integral coach, meaning I’m trained to see the whole person—with all the incredible strengths and beautiful vulnerabilities that come with being human—so I can help you access the unique qualities that are yours and yours alone, and that allow you to navigate difficult challenges and make meaningful contributions.

How do I know you’re the right coach for me?

To find out more about my impact as a coach and how I’ve helped others, click here.

We’re likely a good fit if at least a few of the following are true:

  • You want to learn more about yourself—what your gifts are and what makes you tick
  • You want to talk about more than your job
  • You’re open to new ways of doing things
  • You know time is limited and want to focus on what matters most
  • You want to make the world a better place
  • You’re creative (or want to be)
  • You’re sensitive (even if you don’t want to be)
  • You love animals and/or being outside in nature
  • You have a spiritual side (even if it’s ill-defined or has nothing to do with religion)
  • You want to feel more confident in yourself and your work
  • You want to feel like you and your contributions matter

What happens in coaching sessions?

Coaching generally has three tracks:

  1. We go through a 5-Step Process I’ve developed over twelve years of coaching to help you find your calling. I’ll offer activities designed to help you clarify your Power, Passion, and Purpose, then brainstorm and explore. We’ll discuss what you discover from each activity in the following session to take your learnings a step deeper.
  2. We work through any questions, problems, or challenges that arise. Obstacles don’t just get in the way—they show us the way, by pointing to a forgotten aspect of our true nature. As challenges arise, we’ll work through them together, listening for what they can teach us.
  3. We help you develop new skills that allow for new possibilities, like how to understand what your body is trying to tell you.

How does coaching work?

Format: Zoom or in-person (in my home office or in our backyard meadow next to the creek in Decatur, GA)

First session: 75 minutes, $225 (includes an Enneagram test)

All subsequent sessions: 50 minutes
1 session: $175/session ($175)
2 sessions: $165/session ($330)
3 sessions: $155/session ($465)

Frequency: weekly or biweekly (you choose)
More information on how coaching works can be found here.

How long does it take?

Coaching is an organic process and depends a lot on what you bring to the engagement, so it’s different for everyone. Most clients seeking their calling take 6-8 sessions to go through the self-discovery phase of the process, then another 6-12 sessions to brainstorm and explore.

Some clients get what they need early on and feel good continuing on their own; others prefer to have support throughout more of the process.

If you’re coming for something other than finding your calling, we can discuss timelines in a free consultation.

How much does it cost?

The first session, which is 75 minutes long and includes an Enneagram Assessment, is $225.
All subsequent sessions are 50 minutes long, and the price depends on how many you buy at once.

1 session: $175/session ($175)
2 sessions: $165/session ($330)
3 sessions: $155/session ($465)

See the question about how long it takes to get an estimated number of sessions needed.

How much time will it require?

Action steps are customized for you and your capacity. Often we can take advantage of things you’re already doing just by having you pay attention a little differently while you’re doing them. You can do a lot with just a few minutes a day and one longer (30-60 minute) period each week.

What if I’m not sure I want to leave my job?

Career coaching isn’t about finding the perfect job . It’s about clarifying what’s essential to you so that you might find it. Many of my clients have mixed feelings about their jobs when we start working together. Once they clarify what they want and need, the decision to stay or go becomes easier. Sometimes they can tweak their current role to give them what they want. Other times it’s clear they need to look elsewhere to find what they’re looking for.

How is coaching different from therapy?

Coaching and therapy overlap in many areas and are distinct in others. Both involve quite a bit of introspection and self-discovery.

In general, therapy deals more with the past and its impact on the present, whereas coaching deals more with the present and its impact on the future. (That said, some therapists focus on the future as well, and the past will sometimes come up in coaching conversations.)

Therapists are trained to deal with past trauma and/or overwhelming emotions and sensations, whereas coaches are not. Therapists can also give diagnoses and be covered by insurance (insurance will not cover coaching).

Coaching is more focused on developing new skills, qualities, or clarity about what you want. Coaches are more likely to offer resources and activities in between sessions to further growth and understanding.

To oversimplify (there is definitely crossover), therapists primarily heal, whereas coaches primarily guide.

“I now have a better sense of direction and purpose. I’m more confident in my decisions and now feel like an active participant in my life rather than simply watching things go by.”

 

– Donald D.

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