Coaching FAQs What is Personal Coaching anyway? Personal Life Coaching is for people who want to make changes in their lives. Coaching offers you aspects of consulting and mentoring, but its emphasis is on personal discovery and support for creating a more meaningful life. A coach helps you get in touch with what drives you and what your strengths are, then helps you put your goals into action to design a life based on your values. Personal coaching has only been around for about 20 years. Thomas Leonard, who founded Coach University, is generally credited with establishing personal coaching as a profession. Coaches have long been popular among corporate executives, but in the last several years having a coach for one's personal life has grown hugely. Coaching has received a lot of media attention in publications like Time, Newsweek, USA Today, Fortune, Money, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, to name just a few. Why has coaching become so popular? A convergence of events in our culture make coaching very appealing: There have always been "coaches" -- a family member or friend, an admired elder you could turn to when you needed direction, encouragement or sound feedback. But with social mobility and lack of community, those connections are more difficult to maintain, so people are turning to professional life coaches. In today's world, many people have a wide array of options about the kind of work they want, or where and how they want to live. The growing number of self-employed people are drawn to coaching for the structure and connection it provides. The workplace Is putting unprecedented demands on employees. Many people feel their lives are out of balance; they are seeking more meaningful work and relationships. Life has become far more complicated and less predictable than it was in the past. Having a personal coach provides people not just with structure, but also with support and resources as they sort out their lives. The growing interest in self-discovery and adult development leads many people to personal life coaching. It appeals to people who are lifelong learners and who value personal growth. How is Coaching Different from Therapy? Unlike a therapist, who can be valuable in helping you be aware of why you are the way you are, a Personal Life Coach empowers you to see where you are today with new clarity, helps you set value-based goals for where you want to go tomorrow, and encourages and supports you as you take the steps to get there. In counseling the therapist is the expert, helping people who are undergoing extreme stress or seeking healing from past life experience. In coaching you are your own expert; your coach is your supportive guide. Therapy is done face-to-face and generally limited to the hourly session. Though some coaches meet with clients in person, coaching is usually done by telephone for convenience, with brief check-ins by e-mail, fax and phone included in the fee. How Do I Work with a coach? Working with a life coach is easy. Like most coaches, I work with clients over the phone so that we have flexibility. We can also meet in person when it is geographically possible. We begin with an initial complimentary session. We then make an appointment to set an hour-long session to set the groundwork for our future collaboration. The agenda is yours, my role is to help you clarify and prioritize your goals and help you create the life you want to live. Most coaches work on a monthly retainer basis and offer a variety of services, holding individual sessions with clients two, three or four times a month, usually for 30 or 45 minutes. There is also e-mail and phone contact between sessions. Like many coaches, I also offer group coaching. How Long Do I Work with a coach? As long as coaching is working for you. Most coaches, recognizing that change is a process that takes time, ask clients to commit for three or six months. Many people who work longer space out sessions more or check-in only when change and challenges present themselves. How Do I get started? Call toll free 866-810-9308, or 978-255-1296, or email me at alex@lifeclaritycoach.com. I can answer your questions and set up a free complimentary session.   Home |  Meet Alex |  My Philosophy |  Services & Fees |  Resources