The ones you ask out loud and the ones you were just thinking ;-)

What exactly is Life Coaching?

Life coaching is a conversation designed to assist the client to align their thinking and behaviour with their desired outcomes, to get really clear about what those outcomes are and why they're important, and to remove any mental obstacles to achieving those outcomes. A Life Coach doesn't solve your problems, rather a Life Coach helps you to modify the thinking that created the problems, making you better able to notice possible solutions and carry them out.

Do I really need a Life Coach?

This question is just like asking "do I need a personal trainer". You can do some reading and research and get yourself fit, or you can make it easier by getting individual help from an expert. If you allow yourself that help and find the right person, it can seriously speed up your results and make it a lot easier. Of course it also has the advantage of having a human connection where you receive instant feedback.

Isn't Life Coaching a bit "out there?"

There are many styles of Life Coaching, some a bit more woo woo than others. It's best to talk to a few coaches and find someone who you feel comfortable with. Many approaches are based in solid science, proven methods and common sense, including mine.

What is your coaching style?

I'm not a rah rah kind of coach, nor a fluffy kind of coach, nor do I focus on the surface stuff. I look for the deeper issues. I call it Transformational Life Coaching, and I will employ any models or tools which I think will benefit the client. I like logical reasoning behind things, and I hope you'll find me quite down to earth. I want you to feel completely supported, understood and listened to. That doesn't mean I will let you off the hook where I feel you need to be challenged, however. I'll be working to open your mind to ways of thinking that better serve you. I will share insights with you where I feel it's appropriate, and I like to see the funny side of things.

Will the benefits of Life Coaching wear off or will they last?

The goal of my coaching is to facilitate lasting change at a deep level. In order to do this I need to challenge you to push past your comfort zone in the way you think about things and identify and mess up any old strategies or beliefs which are holding you back. The more you approach coaching with an open mind and a willingness and commitment to change, the better the results you will get. There is no certificate to say that you've passed and all your future thinking will be completely sane and constructive, you'll have to continue working at it, but I'm confident you'll experience lasting change if you want to.  (Some people actually don't want to – they're quite attached to their problems, but I can help you with that too).

How is coaching different from mentoring, therapy or counselling?

Patients seeking counselling or therapy may have a problem arising from a specific incident, condition or trauma. Some people are not suitable for coaching because their immediate needs are different and may require medical or more specialized attention.

Mentoring tends to be more focussed on a specific area of expertise where the client benefits from the specific knowledge and experience of the mentor in a particular area. Mentoring for specific career or skill areas can be highly beneficial.

Life Coaching can be about the "doing", i.e. helping the client create specific goals, identify specific tasks and commit to them, but Transformational Life Coaching goes deeper than this. It's about the "being", that is guiding you to be the person you want and need to be to achieve what you really want out of life.

Is your coaching available in my location?

I coach mostly by Skype, sometimes by phone, all over the world. If we are able to communicate effectively in English, get connected by phone or Skype and find a mutually suitable time, it can go ahead. I am in Melbourne Australia, and work while my children are at school. I use this meeting planner to compare time zones: click here for time zone meeting planner

What can I expect from the coaching process?

You can expect no judgement, complete confidentiality and my full and undivided attention. I want you to feel listened to, respected and understood. As your coach I enter the sessions with the assumption that you are whole and able. I am "on your side", though that does not mean I will buy into any stories you may be telling yourself which are not serving and empowering you. I will be looking for your strengths and your true capabilities and for ways of bringing those things into your service.

Do you operate by a code of ethics?

Yes, I undertake to abide by the ethical standards set out by the International Coach Federation.

How do I get started?

Click on the Set an Appointment button on the right towards the top, to choose a time for your free consultation, or us the Contact tab at the top of the page to send an email.  We'll arrange a time to have a chat and I'll answer any questions you may have. If you decide you would like to go ahead and work with me, you select which package you would like and we'll arrange a suitable time for your coaching sessions. You'll then receive a questionnaire to get things started.