1. How does the process of Conscious Life Coaching or Parent Coaching work? a) Life Coaching. When you first come to me, we will have an initial in-take session for 60 minutes in order to assess what issues we would be working on. If we decide to move forward, you may decide whether you wish to pay as you go, or wish to purchase a bundle of several sessions. If you have a specific issue you are dealing with and want to clarify your options, talk it over, then that will take up the entire session. From that point forward, you have the option to select different packages based on how long you think you will need to resolve that particular issue. You always have an option to opt for a subscription based coaching. If you don’t have a particular issue you want to deal with, but you have a general sense of something missing, or you want to process different areas of your life one by one, you and I will go through each of these areas of your life and take an inventory of where you stand in those areas. After the session you will have a sense of what area of your life you want to work or it may be several areas. Once we start working together, you should have more clarity, feel more of a sense of purpose and overall feel better, happier. b) Conscious Parent Coaching. The majority of parents love their children very much, yet feel that they are missing a deep bond, or are not sure how to handle difficult situations with their children. We tend to think that it is our child who is difficult and we need to deal with their issues. In reality, children don’t need fixing. Under Conscious Parenting we will work on you as the parent and help you see how your own upbringing is the reason for the way you parent. The more we unwrap your life, the more you will realize all the ways to parent that are more loving and effective. My main goal is for you to develop a deeper bond with your child. Please remember it is not therapy. Coaching focuses on the present and the future. We can work out action plans where the parents and the children will feel more liberated and connected to their family. I am also happy to work with your child as a mentor/coach. With children, my main focus is on encouragement, empowerment and making sure that kids understand themselves and their parents.
- How is coaching done, does it have to be in person?
My general preference is meet face to face, at least at the beginning of the coaching process. This way I can get a sense of the person’s demeanor, body language, facial expressions, etc. This is important in order to find the way to connect with you on a human level. However, our lives have been turned upside down with COVID, therefore, zoom or phone calls work as well. In addition, Conscious Living and Conscious Parenting have taken the world by storm, and clients all over the country and the world are interested in this type of coaching. So if you are not in my geographic area, no worries, we can find the best way for you and I to communicate effectively. If you are nearby, and wish to meet in person, am flexible, we can meet any place we agree on.
- Is it counseling or therapy?
Not at all. Therapy implies that something is wrong that needs fixing. I work with you on human behavior issues, with the purpose of bettering the quality of your life. Therapy generally deals with the past, while coaching focuses on the present and future. There might be times that your journey takes us into the past, but we won’t stay there long. It will, however, help us understand why you are where you are in your life. But overall, I believe, you are responsible for your life, life happens for you, not to you, and you always have a choice as well as all the answers inside of you. I am just here to facilitate. I want to give you the tools you need for a more fulfilled life.
- If I am not in crisis, do I need a coach?
Yes, everybody needs a coach! Have you ever tried to talk about an issue with somebody really close to you, but the conversation took the wrong turn? When you talk to a coach, it’s impartial. The coach is objective, non-judgmental, so you can talk freely about how you feel. It keeps you more objective, more focused on the issue at hand. Nobody’s life is perfect, and there is always room for improvement. You can be content, but still looking for more. It’s human nature. If you wish, we can go through the six human needs, then you will understand why you do what you do, and if some of your practices are not working for you, what you can do to still meet your needs via a different venue. You will become conscious of your triggers and patterns. Once you do, clarity will emerge.
- How do I pay for services?
You can pay Venmo, Zelle or credit card at the beginning of the session. If you sign up for subscription or a monthly commitment, I will process monthly recurring charges on the 1st of each month. I am happy to provide an invoice for services rendered.
- Will I have to do homework?
I will leave that up to you. Everybody has a different way of achieving their goals. Some of you want accountability, so if that’s the case and you find it helpful, there will be progress reports or daily journals you can give to me at the beginning of each session based on our discussion from the previous week. Some of you feel slightly uncomfortable with “homework.” If that is the case we will do reviews of the previous week during our discussions and keep you aware of your actions by giving you exercises for daily practices. The bottom line is you are doing for you. I am only here to help you, so you must want to work on issues we discuss.
- How much coaching will I need?
It is up to you! If you want to deal with a particular issue, a few sessions might be all you need. You might, however, decide during those months that you love having a coach and end up signing up for further commitments or a subscription. Many successful individuals prefer to have an on-going relationship with their coach in order to keep their life in balance, and have somebody to talk to on an as-needed basis.
- Can couples or families go together for coaching?
Yes! Generally one individual signs on for coaching. However, if there are issues to be resolved and an additional family member’s input would be valuable, they are welcome to join in one or more sessions. In Conscious Parent Coaching, I am happy to coach your child in order to empower them.