What is coaching?
Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative way that helps them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaches see the client as the expert in his or her life and work. Coaches believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach's responsibility is to:
- Discover, clarify and align with what the client wants to achieve
- Act as a mirror for the client
- Encourage the client's self-discovery
- Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
- Hold the client responsible and accountable
This process helps clients dramatically improve their outlook on work and life while improving their skills and unlocking their potential. Life and Business Coaching is action-oriented and future-focused.
What does it mean to be certified and credentialed?
For all intents and purposes, Professional Coaching is still a fairly new practice and is still, for the most part unregulated, unlike therapy. As such, anyone can self-proclaim as a coach. The International Coach Federation (ICF) is trying to remedy this by becoming the most recognized coaching organization, providing training, certification, and credentials for professional coaches that agree to work under specific professional standards and ethics when working with a client.
To be classified as a Certified Coach (through the ICF) the coach must have 125 hours of coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching and a performance evaluation, with at least 60 hours of coaching specific education.
To hold a credential, a Coach must be Certified through the ICF. They not only demonstrate knowledge and skill but also a commitment to high professional standards and a strong code of ethics. It also signifies that a coach with a credential has completed and documented a minimum of 100 paid hours with clients (in addition to the 125 for the Certification). Kat is both a Certified and Credentialed Coach through the ICF.
How is coaching different than therapy?
Coaching and therapy are quite different. Therapy is intended to help people recover from emotional or other psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety and provide a diagnosis. Coaching, on the other hand, is intended to help normal, healthy individuals achieve personal goals such as increased happiness, productivity, improved work-life balance. to name a few.
In coaching, the coach and client collaborate to discover solutions. The coach always views the client as the expert on their own life. In therapy, the therapist is often viewed as the expert. Also, another slight difference is that a coach will want communication between sessions to discuss wins, successes and maybe some blocks to provide more accountability. Typically a therapist only communicates between sessions for difficulties or crisis only.
To be considered a therapist, one must hold a Master's degree and a Mental Health License in the State in which they practice. I (Kat) am not a therapist. My husband has earned a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in California.
Do coaching and therapy ever work together?
I have found that my best clients, those who have the most success, often are seeing a therapist in addition to coaching with me. They are able to gain support with healing old wounds in therapy and moving forward with personal growth and goals with me.
What makes you so unique and different from other life coaches and consultants?
I know from personal experience exactly what it took to move from the impossible and unrealistic to creating my ideal life by my own design. You may feel suffocated by a dead-end job, a boring existence or being generally unsatisfied. I understand those who often feel stuck and lost, unable to move forward.
In the past, I have been held back from getting the most out of life, having to start over or being unsure of where and how to start. Your dream feels as if it is getting farther away from you every day. Unlike other consultants and coaches, I identify with your current situation and help you create strategies and personalized solutions perfectly customized for you and your needs. I do not believe in one-size-fits-all cookie cutter approaches, only what is right for you and your success. I have a passion for Life Design and creating effective systems to support your action.
With my own experience, I have had my own coaches (for most of my life) help me to become the person I am today. I currently work with my own therapist and coach.
To be certain we are a good fit, you can take my services for a test run with a complimentary 30-minute exploratory session. During this session, I can also assist you in choosing the right coaching package for your needs.
What are your areas of expertise?
I am most passionate coaching creatives and entrepreneurs.
I specialize in the following areas:
- Life Design
- Small Business Design and Strategy
- Work/Life Fusion (or Balance)
- Identifying and organizing priorities
- Identification of dreams and goals
- Personal Growth
- Purpose discovery
- Values alignment
- Productivity and becoming more effective
- Location Independence
- Networking for business growth
- Creative Vision coaching
- Entrepreneurial coaching
- Work-at-home professionals
- Artists and creative professionals
- Couples coaching
Do you work with couples?
Yes, I do coach couples, especially when the primary client is an entrepreneur and the partner is not. I stumbled on my knack and skill in coaching couples when a few of my entrepreneur clients were struggling with the business taking over their homes, relationships, and mental focus. A few had asked me if it was okay to have their partners join our sessions. When you have a partner in your life it is very important that your life goals and business goals align and it's even better if they also align with your partner's goals as well. You don't want the business to be a source of frustration or become the enemy.
Do you coach groups?
The only group coaching I provide is through the Group Mentorship Program which is held in a group environment. You will not receive extensive one-on-one attention within this program. The Group Mentorship Program is designed as a supplemental service in addition to my private and couples coaching, as continued accountability and support after the majority of the work has been done with private coaching (after the typical 6 months).
How long does coaching take? When can I expect to see results?
Unlike a lot of Coaches, I don't offer long-term agreements. My clients are generally able to see and gain results fairly quickly. I prefer to help provide clients with the tools they need to move forward, even after the coaching has concluded. My clients typically see me no longer than 9 months for private one on one coaching.
What are your coaching rates?
I have several coaching offers available with varying degrees of support. We will discuss your coaching needs and which offer is best for you during the free Exploratory Session. Depending on which offer is chosen, my rates range from about $150 to $250 an hour with a Semi-Annual Agreement.