I have been a natural coach to friends, co-workers, and strangers alike since I was in my twenties.
I went through ICF coach training prior to my master’s program at Arizona State University, thinking it would be a great source of income while I learned to become a therapist.
Professors and other licensed professionals discouraged me from coaching, as the ‘board’ would not take kindly to me trying to do both as a new licensed professional.
I abandoned my dream of coaching and threw myself 1000 percent into becoming a trauma therapist.
In 2008, I was at a professional mindfulness conference in San Diego. While I was sitting there, I realized I missed coaching and a seed was replanted.
I thrive as a cheerleader and love seeing people succeed.
I enjoy seeing all the puzzle pieces scattered and witnessing clients' "aha" moments as we start pulling the pieces together.
Over the last fifteen years, there have been different iterations of what The Guided Change would look like, but the goal has always been to reach larger groups of people to help them:
find balance,
think outside the box,
and create their best life
I seriously started re-entering coaching in the fall of 2019. Then the pandemic happened. I was one of very few therapists that continued seeing clients in person and had a huge waiting list of clients.
I spent the next several years exhausted and helping, more helping, helping some more which lead to being burned out, not prioritizing myself.
Things shifted at the start of 2023, and by the end of 2023, I was fully committed to letting my license go and returning to coaching.
Why I Am Coaching Over Being a Psychotherapist?
· Over the past several years, I had over 40 clients move out of state, and as a licensed professional, my hands were tied – but as a coach, I can see anyone, anywhere.
· We are more alike than different, and my sessions often covered the same topics and skills repeatedly.
· Coaching allows me to reach and guide a broader audience.
· Clients today are more educated on mental health issues; they don’t need diagnosing and being put in a box, they seek solutions and freedom.
· Coaching typically involves shorter-term engagements – most people want to know how to make tweaks and get back to their lives.
· Coaching lets me use innovative and creative techniques that might not fit within traditional therapy, making sessions more engaging and effective.
· It emphasizes empowerment and self-discovery, helping clients find their own solutions and take active steps toward their goals.
· As a coach, I focus on the future and goal-setting, rather than delving deeply into past traumas.
Transitioning to coaching has reinvigorated my passion for helping others. It allows me to connect with clients in a more flexible, creative, and empowering way.
Coaching aligns perfectly with my natural strengths and the evolving needs of my clients. As I continue this journey, I am excited to guide more people towards achieving their goals, finding balance, and creating their best lives.
Comments