Life and Leadership Coaching
I am a Leadership and Life Coach who works with individuals all over the world via video conference. With over 10 years of working with individuals to help them improve their daily lives, I bring a unique combination of skills to every coaching relationship. I work alongside clients to help them unleash their potential and strive to make the positive changes in their lives that they desire. What this means exactly is unique to each individual and may be work-related, personal, or a combination of both. I am excited to be on this journey with you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Counseling vs. Coaching
What exactly is the difference between therapy and coaching?
As someone who has a background in both, I can tell you that there is a fine but distinct line between them. Therapy is used to identify, diagnose, and treat the symptoms and root causes of presenting mental health concerns that are getting in the way of one’s ability to function in life. Many times therapy may include significant and deep discussion around one’s past experiences, patterns, and traumas. Therapists use specific and unique strategies to help clients work through their mental health concerns and adapt successful coping skills.
On the other hand, coaching is about helping healthy and well-adjusted clients reach their full potential or improve in one or more aspects of their lives. In coaching, we work under the assumption that our clients are the experts of their own lives and that each one is creative, resourceful, and whole. In a coaching relationship, the coach is not a leader, teacher, or expert. Instead, the coach collaborates with the client to help the client define goals, create a clear vision, and hold himself or herself accountable. Coaching is very much a partnership in which the client steers the ship.
Can anyone be a coach?
Technically, yes! Which is why I feel it is important to understand the differences between both therapy and coaching and the educational background needed for both. Therapists need very specific educational degrees and experience in order to become licensed. For example, I first obtained my bachelor's degree in psychology and then went on to complete my masters degree in counseling. After graduating with my degrees, I then needed to complete over 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience and successfully pass an exam in order to become licensed in the state of Texas. In order to maintain that license, I must continue to receive relevant educational hours directly related to therapy.
On the other hand, there is no required education or licenses needed to become a coach. Technically, anyone can call themselves a coach and even claim certain specialties. While some coaches do choose to pursue some training or education, this is not a requirement. For example, even though I chose to go through a specific leadership coach training program at Rice University, I technically didn’t need to do that.
So, as you are looking for and considering a coach, I encourage you to find someone who has obtained some specific training in coaching. Even better, find yourself a professional mental health practitioner who put in the time and work to obtain a formal degree in counseling and then went on to pursue specific training in coaching.