The term "coach" for an instructor or trainer began as slang in 1830 at Oxford University for a tutor who transported a student through an exam. (Etymology)
Life Coaching as a profession is not nearly as rare as it was when I became certified in 2005 through Coach Training Alliance.
Wikipedia reports, "Coaching is a form of development in which a person called a coach supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance." Wikipedia
My specific focus in coaching adults comes from a belief in the importance of each person's unique experience, personality, desire, and value-set. There is truly no single person exactly like you. Anywhere. Coaching does not, and should not, offer a one-size-fits-all solution. We are all different.
Clients typically contact me for an initial consultation to discuss a particular roadblock they're facing in their personal or professional life. As we dial in and begin exploring that single issue we discover more often than not that the issue presented is actually a symptom of something else that most likely is also affecting other areas of life.
If we determine we are a good fit for each other we will typically schedule three 50-minute coaching sessions via telephone or video calls. Clients then either decide to continue diving deeper into what they've discovered or to take what they've learned and spend time applying it to their particular topic.
Coaching shouldn't be about a long-term, continued relationship unless the client determines that support is warranted and helpful. I have had clients return to work on other matters or to review what they initially worked on.
It truly is about you! If we determine we aren't a great fit I will happily refer you to another coach or point out a possible path that might work for your specific need.
Coaching isn't counseling. I am a firm believer and advocate of the role mental and physical healthcare professionals play in our lives. You wouldn't take your pet to a house painter or visit a vet for a car trouble, right?
Your coach is an accountability partner that helps you get from where you are to where you most want to be. If you're working on a specific project, an area where you're feeling stuck, or wanting to strike out into something new that's calling you please feel welcome to contact me to see how coaching might help you.
~ Zane Darner
info@zanedarner.com