Nope, it’s not a typo.

Q: Are you a ‘Type A’ life coach? Will you try to get me to be like you?
A: I used to call myself ‘Type A-’ because I was hellbent on looking as close to Type A as possible, but I was aware of my deficits. After learning about masking [LINK to masking post], working with several coaches myself, and admitting that being someone other than my authentic self is exhausting, I can say that I don’t want you to be anything but who you ARE. 

Q: Are you ICF accredited?
A: I thought about becoming “certified” but in reality, the cost of those programs are prohibitive, and if I’m being honest, exclusionary. I adhere to the ICF Values and Ethics (because that’s the right thing to do), but part of why I don’t belong to any coaching system is that I have an extensive background in many modalities, and I didn’t want to limit my use of tools to a specific proprietary system. Additionally, there is no mention of trauma-informed practice in most programs and for me, that is key to collaborating with folks authentically.

Q: Do I have to have a therapist to work with you?
A: I strongly recommend having a therapist or a Support Team when you work with me. I am not a therapist, cannot diagnose, and am not responsible for your therapeutic process. If you have done a lot of personal growth work prior to working with me, and feel confident that you are able to process anything that comes up when we work together, that’s up to you to determine. At the very least a solid Support Team of 3-5 people ensures that you can share with other people in your community, in case something comes up outside of our time together.

Q: Do you have a coach? Have you ever been coached?
A: I have been in therapeutic relationships since I was 11. In addition to emotional work, I have engaged several coaches over the years to help me with projects, career changes, writing, and personal growth. I attend workshops and conferences to keep up my personal education around techniques and community support. 

Q: When will I be done with coaching?
A: This is a personal choice. Some people want to change their habits and need ongoing support. Other people like having a coach in their pocket to check in with every once in a while. When we enter into a coaching relationship, you are engaging me to work alongside you and to offer insights, perspective, support and encouragement. You determine the amount of time and frequency that suits you.

Q: What’s the difference between a therapist and a coach?
A: Therapists and psychologists take rigorous licensure exams, can diagnose, and must register with their local state, and can only work in registered states. Their work is usually focused on the past, recurring patterns, trauma, emotional issues, etc. Coaches are less regulated, and usually focus on current challenges and goal-setting. If I notice that the nature of the challenges presented are beyond my professional scope, I will recommend you bring it to a therapist.

Q: What is Trauma-Informed Practice?
A: Trauma-Informed Practice is “a strengths-based approach, which seeks to understand and respond to the impact of trauma on people’s lives. The approach emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone and aims to empower individuals to re-establish control of their lives.” (From Plymouth.gov.uk) 

In my experience, being trauma-informed allows me to understand that many factors affect our beliefs, mindsets, behaviors, and actions. With that perspective I can look deeper at your challenges and limitations, and offer insights that you might not have considered. We tend to be very harsh with ourselves and self-compassion can be in short supply. My coaching techniques encompass perspective-taking, where we look at obstacles in a new light and see if we can reframe to integrate, rather than avoid.