This is a great visual of what it means to be stuck in the muck (photo on the left)
With a coaching partnership, your path in life is clearer, brighter, and more enjoyable (photo on the right). Both photos were taken with my iPhone on various walks in my neighborhood.
What does coaching look like?
-it is a partnership between the coach and the client to reach the client’s full potential
-the coach believes the client is capable and whole
-the coach views the client as the expert in the content and encourages the client to take ownership of each session
-it is a process of unpacking the client’s values, needs, goals, obstacles, frustrations, and emotions
-coaching provides support by the coach being 100% present as an active listener, full of genuine curiosity and compassion with skillful questioning without judgement, demands, opinions, and solutions
-empowers the client to problem-solve and think creatively
-helps client to tap into their own resources, their own intuition, and support systems
-challenges the client to reflect and consider situations, relationships, opportunities, struggles, and who they are with the view of growth. This is the “dig deep” process of unpacking what’s really going on.
-may introduces new ideas, perspectives, and resources for the given coaching session
What is transformative coaching?
Coaching that is transformative means that the coaching is not focused on goals or outcomes, but on helping clients change in how they see themselves. This coaching focuses on the “Who” of the client instead of the “How”. It’s about getting to the heart of change.
What coaching is not. . .
-therapy
-consulting
-mentoring
-advising
-being a best-friend
Below is a testimony from my client who explains the difference between therapy and coaching.
In my experience, therapy has helped me to discover the wounds that have held me back. Not only to discover them but also to heal to move past the wounds. For me, therapy came first and it was an essential step in coping with, for example, my postpartum anxiety. I recently found coaching. Coaching to me is a step further in terms of how to move forward in setting goals, achieve them and look into the future with a positive outlook. It also provides me with an objective view of my situation and helps me find a direction where I’m at. In this stage of life, I’m grateful that I found a supportive, compassionate, encouraging coach in Vanessa.
-CM