Information about Coaching

Business and organizational leaders, managers, professionals and individuals engage coaches to advance their careers and enhance their personal lives. But what actually is coaching? The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires a person to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.

Coaching is a “thinking partnership” based on a two-way conversation. A coach helps you identify and set goals that are meaningful for you in your life and the changes you want to make

A coach will work with you to develop a plan for how you can achieve these goals over time and reach your potential.

Coaching focuses on the future. A coach will support you to use your own strengths and capabilities to get from where you are now to where you want to be in the future.

A coach will support you to learn new skills and/or strengthen the skills you already have.

Coaching is different from training, counselling, or mentorship. A coach will not give you advice or work with you to heal things from the past. Your coach is there to listen and ask powerful questions that will support you to uncover your own insights and answers.

Coaching is a process; coaches are trained to work with anyone but will not necessarily be an expert in your chosen field of work.

Coaching involves awareness and action. In each session, you will come up with the actions to take between sessions that will move you forward and what will best support you to keep going.

Coaching focuses on visioning, success, the present and moving toward the future. Therapy emphasizes psychopathology, emotions and the past to understand the present, and it works more with developing skills for managing emotions or past issues than does coaching.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the leading global organization for coaches and coaching. ICF is dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals. Anyone can call themselves a coach but ICF-credentialed coaches are professionals who have met stringent education and experience requirements, and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the coaching competencies that set the standard in the profession.

I’m simplifying this answer - but essentially I am aware that trauma is part of many peoples lives. I will provide a confidential space that cultivates safety, trust and compassion. One of many resources I look to on this important issue is the Trauma-Informed - The Trauma Tootlkit