FAQs
What is Coaching?
Coaching is a collaborative partnership established to help you achieve life goals and development outcomes that are meaningful to you. It is a thought-provoking process, in which you become aware of behaviors and thought patterns that are keeping you stuck and learn to make new choices more in line with your true needs and values. Coaching is based on the premise that only you can change your life and works best when you are ready to take an active role in that process.
How is Coaching different from Mental Health Counseling?
I am a huge advocate of psychotherapy/mental health counseling and believe most people can greatly benefit from it. Similarly, I believe that coaching can be extremely helpful for most people. Below are some of the differences:
Therapy is concerned with the present consequences of the past, which involves investigating the origins of a client’s limiting beliefs, and “why” things are happening. As a coach, I do help my clients become aware of limiting beliefs, but we remain in the present and focus on how these beliefs prevent you from achieving your current objectives.
Coaching is always “action-focused” and aimed at clients who do not have clinically significant mental health problems. For coaching to be effective, you have to be accountable to set and achieve goals for yourself. People with significant trauma or resistance to change are more suited for therapy before they are ready for coaching.
Coaching may involve challenging you and moving you out of your comfort zone, which is not typical in therapy.
What is the Anthropedia Foundation?
Anthropedia (https://anthropedia.org) is a nonprofit organization that promotes well-being by creating resources and programs that teach people ways to cultivate healthy lifestyles, psychological resilience, character development, and self-awareness. Its scientific advisory board includes experts from the fields of integrative medicine, behavioral science, psychology, psychiatry, education, personality development, public health, and other disciplines.
Is what we discuss confidential?
Yes, absolutely. Your ability to trust me and be honest with me is extremely important for our relationship to be effective. I follow a Coaching Code of Ethics that includes confidentiality of things you share with me. Exceptions include prior permission, court orders, and if a client appears to be a harm to themselves or others. More details can be found in my Master Services Agreement, which you will receive once we decide to work together.
Where are you located? Do you offer virtual sessions?
I am based out of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, within the Central Time Zone. I am available for both virtual and face-to-face sessions.