Wow! Tons of questions out there, please keep them coming in! You can write your questions to MyLifeAtTheTop@gmail.com or call me at 541-921-7281 I am on Pacific Time Zone.

Okay so lets answer a few frequently asked questions!

What is life coaching?

To answer this I would like to tell you 2 things: What life coaching is and what life coaching isn't.

Life coaching is:

• A practice of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods that will help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals in such a way that the client is in total control of the process.
• Focuses on effecting change in a client's current and future behavior.
  
• Coaches are "sounding boards" and "motivators".
• Clients are looking for a coach "to really listen to them and give honest feedback." The top three issues in which clients seek help are time management, career and business.

Life coaching is not:

• Targeted at psychological illness and coaches are neither therapists nor consultants.
• Does not focus on examining nor diagnosing the past.
  
• Does not delve into diagnosing mental illness or dysfunction.
  
• Clients are not looking for coaches to fix them.

How do I start the life coaching process?

You can take my coachablity quiz or contact me via email or phone to schedule an appointment for a Discovery session, which is the initial, structured session that forms the foundation of our work to follow (during the Discovery session we will explore values, focus areas and goals). Then we can decide what kind of schedule would work best for you.

How much does life coaching cost?

Prices for life coaching services and programs range from $40 to $450 per month, depending on how many sessions and how long they are. Typically people receive life coaching for 2 hours a month, divided up into either (4) 30 minute sessions per month or (3) 45 minute sessions per month or (2) 60 minute sessions. However, my services are flexible and can accommodate the wishes and needs of my clients. Some discounts may apply, as well.

All life coaching rates include updates and spot coaching via email between sessions. (Clients have found spot coaching to be a potent way to stay on track and remain motivated and connected with me.) Fees are always paid upfront on a monthly basis. Payment can be made by credit card or pay pal. Life coaching can pay for itself in increased productivity and quality of life.

How long does personal life coaching take?

I request that clients make a three month commitment to the coaching to give it a full chance to demonstrate its effectiveness. This is not a financial commitment but a psychological one. Therefore, the coaching might last only three months or it may continue on for a year or more. You will know when it is time to end.

What makes personal life coaching so convenient?

Life coaching can be conducted on the phone in the convenience of your home or office. Some local folks might opt to do it in person (my office is located in Dallas, Oregon). People have full and busy lives and some might not like not to deal with traffic or weather conditions; coaching on the phone is a viable option for them. Location is truly no obstacle.

How is life coaching different from counseling and psychotherapy?

Life coaching deals with the present and future. It does not examine the past but instead creates your future. The life coaching I provide is therapeutic, but it is not therapy. Counseling and psychotherapy usually deal with problems and healing from things that happened in the past.

I understand people and the dynamics of change. I am warm, wise and non-judgmental; I have good intuition and insight. And you benefit when I bring my skills and wisdom to the coaching table. When I coach, and the client is truly involved, personal growth happens.

How is personal life coaching different from consulting?
As a personal life coach, I help you find your own answers. People are more likely to take action if it is something they themselves have come up with and not been told to do. A consultant is an expert who dispenses advice and has all the answers. I do not give advice per se but do problem-solving and brainstorming with you.

Does life coaching focus on work or personal issues?
The life coaching that I provide is very holistic in that the person's entire life is considered grist for the coaching mill. Different parts of people's lives that might be worked on are: career, health/wellness, money, spiritual development, home, family, friends, fun/recreation, etc. Coaching helps you bring balance and satisfaction to all of the various parts of your life.

How do the words partner, collaborate, and alliance help define life coaching?
As a personal life coach trained in the co-active model, I view each and every client as creative, resourceful and whole. What this means is that you are capable of setting and reaching goals and finding your own answers. Count on me to ask the questions! Our coaching relationship is a designed alliance and you get to "design the coach" based on your own personality style and needs. Your dreams comprise the big agenda and you set the agenda for each coaching call. As your partner, I will always see and point out your greatness and potential, even when you lose sight of it.

Is personal life coaching just about action and doing?
Not at all. Life coaching is about growing and learning, too. It's about being all you can be, to coin a phrase. It's about evolving and becoming … and enjoying the process. That being said, it certainly involves planning, action and accountability (reporting back to me via email or in our next session). When I coach, I get people moving where they want to go based on their own agenda and what is important to them.