Frequently Asked Questions

How does coaching work?
Coaching is, first and foremost, a designed relationship where we agree that you are the expert in your own life and I’m the expert in the coaching process. Coaching relationships are generally centered around accomplishing a set of goals or strategies that are handled one at a time in an order and at a pace that fits your learning style. I’ll guide as little or as much as you like but the choice of what to cover is always yours. Generally speaking, you’ll meet with me for 60 minutes every 1 to 2 weeks. You’ll get the most out of coaching when you are fully engaged in your sessions and when you complete tasks you determine are relevant between sessions. A lot of the progress you’ll make through coaching will come from putting what you learn in your sessions into immediate practice in your real-life situations. These small steps are the key to making life-long changes.

How long does a coaching relationship last?
Coaching relationships can last for anywhere between 3 months and several years. Most people work with me for at least 6 months. Transformational Travel Coaching series are sometimes shorter than 3 months though. It all depends on what your goals are.

How can coaching help me?
Coaching can help you by giving you the space and freedom to look deeply into who you are and how you see your world. You can discover what habits and tendencies are working for you and which are working against you. I’ll partner with you to help you achieve clarity, focus on solutions, and reach your goals. We’ll work together to create a custom plan for you based on the Your Connection to Joy model. As with anything worth doing, it works if you do.

How long are individual coaching sessions?
Sessions are 60 minutes long and scheduled at your convenience. Prior to scheduling these sessions though, I offer 60-minute Discovery Sessions to see if coaching is for you and if we are a good fit. You can schedule your Discovery Session here.

Why should I work with you and not another coach?
I love this question! I appreciate people who take the time to find a great fit with their coach. This forms a powerful relationship that allows the client to achieve goals more quickly and create sustainable results.
As your coach, I will challenge you to consider how you approach things and what options you have when making decisions. We’ll laugh all along the way too. Just because we are changing your life, it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun doing so. I encourage you to book a Discovery Session to see if we are a good fit.

Does it mean there is something wrong with me if I hire a coach?
No.
(Honestly, I’m tempted to just leave it at that but here’s more.)
It’s just the opposite, actually. You choose to work with a coach because you understand that you can learn and grow throughout your life. You know that you have control over how you approach situations and, ultimately, who you become. Coaching is one of the best ways to meet short-term goals and change mindsets as well as create sustainable long-term change. You didn’t ask but I’ll tell you anyway, yes, I have my own coach and I always will. I plan to grow throughout my life for both my own benefit and my clients’ benefit.

What’s with the alphabet soup after your name?
Well hello, Eagle Eye! So you’ve noticed my name in the footer. The short answer is, the alphabet soup means that I take coaching seriously and have dedicated myself to coach-specific training and ongoing education to ensure that I am offering you the highest quality coaching possible. If you are interested in learning more, head over to my about page and click through each of the credential badges at the bottom to see what they mean. In addition to the designations I’ve listed after my name, I can also claim CTDS but adding 4 more letters seemed a bit excessive. I mean, where would it end?! As you can see, I’m proud of the work I’ve done but I don’t take myself too seriously.

Can you train me to be a coach?
No, that’s not something that I am trained to do and you deserve an accredited program to teach you how to be a great coach and serve your clients admirably.  I can, however, point you to the people who can train you well.  Please visit the International Coaching Federation website to find a list of accredited coach training programs.  That said, I can coach you as you work through your coach training program. I coach many other coaches.  Just as therapists have therapists, coaches have coaches, including yours truly. 

Are coaching services tax-deductible? 
Generally speaking, they are not.  However, some job-seeking expenses are tax-deductible.  Please view the IRS guidelines HERE. 

Do you accept health insurance? 
No, I do not. Therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, and other medical professionals who diagnose and treat mental and physical health conditions are able to accept health insurance. Coaches don’t diagnose or treat these conditions and, therefore, are unable to accept health insurance to cover the costs of sessions. However, some people choose to work with a coach at the same time they are working with a therapist. The two fields complement one another but neither is a substitute for the other.