Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Coaching
What Is Professional Coaching?
Coaching is a professional, collaborative relationship that inspires and supports people to creates the desired outcomes in their lives and work.
Many successful people realize that working harder, smarter and faster doesn’t leave much time for living your life. Identifying, clarifying and effecting the changes that bring about a balanced and satisfying life are not easy. Star athletes, performers and business leaders have long understood the value of working with a trained professional coach who offers support, encouragement, accountability and feedback. Coaching challenges you to make your life and work more meaningful by determining what you really want.
You could call your coach a sounding board that responds. A coach is a highly trained listener who hears what you are saying and supports you to achieve your desired goals. Many of us want better careers, improved finances, stronger relationships, a deeper spiritual connection and alignment with an authentic life. As your coach I can support you in directing your life to achieve the ideals you desire.
When these elements are put in the context of coaching, it’s easy to see the powerful alliance that exists in the client/coach relationship and why more and more people are recognizing the value. Many clients find that having a coach in their “toolbox” increases their personal, professional and leadership growth. Clients have shared: their learning is fast tracked, personal awareness is dramatically heightened, productivity is increased, they are attracting abundance and stellar relationships with ease, and have an enhanced sense of peace and calm.
Why Hire a Coach?
Have you ever wished there was someone out there, someone objective and removed from your daily routine that could support you to sort out the tangles of your life?
Day by day each one of us would like to discover what we really want: out of life: what would make us more joyful, balanced, successful, creative and live a meaningful life. A coach has resources, skills and tools that, when you are personally committed, will support you to progress quickly and smoothly to the life you desire.
How is Coaching Different from Therapy?
Coaching is not therapy. I do not work on “issues” or dig into the past. I leave that work up to you. I assume my clients are whole, competent creative, resourceful and fully functional.
We will look at where you are today and I will support you to remove any obstacles or challenges set personal and professional goals, and take action to actively create the life and work you desire. If for any reason I feel other professional services including therapeutic support are required, I will request you get the help you need.
Is Coaching Tax Deductible?
Your coaching investment may be tax deductible. In the United States, all expenses for continuing education undertaken to maintain and improve business and professional skills are tax deductible. (Treas. Reg. 1-162-5, Coughlin vs. Commissioner, 203F 2d 307). Contact your tax consultant or if you live outside the United States check with your local tax authority.
Do you coach men at Synergy Coaching?
Absolutely! I work with men in various capacities of professional work, leadership, small business career and mentoring . Feel free to peruse my website for testimonials from a few of the men I have worked with over the years.
Why work with an ICF Credentialed Coach?
Credentialing from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is considered the gold standard in the professional coaching industry and is an important factor when considering which coach to hire.
It means the coach:
- Has received initial and ongoing professional training from accredited coach training programs specifically designed to teach coaching skills in alignment with the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics
- Has demonstrated a proficient understanding and use of the coaching competencies and ethics as outlined by the ICF
- Is accountable to the ethics and standards and the ethical conduct review process set forth by the ICF
The ICF is the longest standing consortium of professional coaches and organizations that have joined together under its auspices to shape and govern the profession of coaching. The skills, competencies, ethics and standards are a collective agreement between coaches from all over the world who have made the commitment to maintain the very highest standards you would expect from any other profession.
Since coaching is a newer profession, certification and licensure are not yet required in most states in the U.S. or in other countries.
Many individuals who call themselves coaches have not been formally trained in the coaching process and the specific coaching skills and are transferring skill sets from other professions into their coaching. Often this can result in an inadequate or ineffective coaching experience for clients.
Coaching has its own unique skills it employs and for many coaches, “unlearning” old skill sets from other professions has to occur before they can competently embody the new skill sets used in professional coaching.
If you are considering hiring a coach, be diligent in asking the coach if they have been specifically trained in coaching skills and currently hold or are in the process of acquiring an ICF credential. Don’t be misled to think a coach is a competent coach because they have other professional credentials or set high fees.
Is Coaching Confidential?
Absolutely! Our meetings are private and confidential. Often, clients want to say something private about themselves or share what they want most in life and work, and I want you to know that our meetings are confidential, with a couple of exceptions as defined in the ICF Code of Ethics:
“If any of the following should occur – illegal activity is reported, if required by law, pursuant to valid court order or subpoena; imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others. Where I reasonably believe one of the above circumstances is applicable, I may need to inform appropriate authorities.”
I am a certified professional coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I have signed an agreement to abide by the ICF Code of Ethics.
I personally hold myself to the highest ethical standards in my professional and personal life. In support of my personal passion for ethics in my profession, I have served on the Global ICF Ethics and Standards Committee and (Ethics) Independent Review Board for 16 years and played a key role in the development and updates to the ICF’s Code of Ethics since it’s inception and provide ethics training worldwide in this fast-growing profession.
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