Q: What is a Coach?
A: "A COACH is your partner in achieving your personal goals, your champion during turnaround, your trainer in communication and life skills, your sounding board when making choices, your motivator when strong actions are called for, your unconditional support when you take a hit, your mentor in personal development, your co-designer when developing an extraordinary project, your beacon during stormy times, your wake-up call if you don't hear your own, and most importantly: your partner in living the life you know you're ready for, personally and professionally." Thomas Leonard, founder of Coach U

Q: How does coaching work?
A: Collaboration
Coaching is a collaborative process, between you and I, working together on your challenges and goals. The synergy of the coaching process allows you to achieve much more, in a shorter period of time, than you would alone. Those achievements may include more awareness, better communication skills and a willingness to be yourself and many more.
Empowerment and Support
Through the coaching process you have the choice to:
  Make powerful choices
  Expand awareness
  Practice proven tools and skills that will move you forward
  See yourself differently
Coaching fosters a context of awareness that allows you to create solution-based strategies that strengthen your personal power. It is based on the premises that you are whole and complete, with the answers, solutions, and possibilities within yourself. Based on this premise, you take full responsibility for your choices, attitudes and behaviors. With collaboration and support, the Coach becomes a partner in your process to access your unlimited natural reservoir of talent and potential.
Structure
The coaching structure and environment with regular interactions and accountability is designed to assist you in optimizing your focus, decision making, and follow through on action.

Q: What is the difference between coaching and therapy or counseling?
A: Therapy or counseling often focuses on the past, processing the "why" of what and how you feel. It is often about fixing a broken person. Coaching looks at a person as being whole yet may be stuck. Coaching is about forward movement. It allows you to look at the "how" and "what" instead of the "why".

Q: What are some of the reasons to work with a coach?
A:

• Your life is changing quickly, and you want to maintain a healthy perspective while dealing with life's changes and surprises.
• You are starting or expanding a new project or a new business.
• You desire to improve communication with others and take your relationship to the deeper level of fulfillment.
• You want to find your true passion.
• You are considering changing careers.
• You want to be innovative and explore new ideas, techniques, and outlets for your creative energy.
• You feel you need more time or energy to get everything done and you're ready to find out what emotional fears are standing in your way.
• You are ready to identify and take action on realistic strategies to accomplish what matters most to you.
• You want more results for the amount of work you put in.
• You are ready to make your dreams come true.
• And these reasons are just a few.

Q: Is coaching really done over the phone?
A: Yes, I mostly coach over the phone. I found that my clients prefer it. It is efficient and effective for both client and coach.

Q: How often are the sessions and how long do they last?
A: In general, weekly sessions last anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes.

Q: Will there be homework?
A: Homework is a tool that allows the opportunity for deeper understanding, awareness and practice to obtain your goals. Since you are in the drivers seat of this relationship, the decision is yours.

Q: How long will I be working with a coach?
A: I request a commitment of 12 sessions to honor the process of change. In my practice I have found that most of my clients stay between 4 to 8 month. It is a personal preference so there is no right or wrong length of time to work with me.

Q: How much do you charge for coaching?
A: I provide several options to fit clients' needs, and charge according. We can talk about the rate at your complementary 30-minute session.

Q: Do you guarantee results?
A: I can't guarantee that you will reach your goal, because that depends on your own motivation and willingness to do the work. If there is a challenge, I am open to talk about it and find a resolution that works for both of us.

Q: What if I need a little help in between sessions?
A: I offer unlimited email contact for questions, frustrations or wins that come up between sessions. It is my commitment to respond within 24 hours.

Q: Do you offer a free session?
A: I offer a 30-minute free coaching session for two reasons. First, to assess if coaching is the best next step for you. Coaching asks for a high degree of awareness and willingness. Second, so we can determine if we are a good match and feel that we would work well together.

Q: What is the method of payment?
A: Interac money transfers and personal cheques.

Do You Have Any Other Questions?
Email: LifeCoachBarb@rttinc.com