Who is Coaching for?
Coaching is for anyone interested in changing their current reality. It’s about us working together to help you reach your goals and achieve your dreams.
I take the guesswork out and provide a comprehensive research-based approach to help you get the desired results. Coaching is for anyone who wants to be somewhere different from where they currently are. Either in their career or life. Coaching is about change — no one gets a coach to stay the same. Whether the topic is personal, goal-oriented, for example, health, emotional wellness, work-related, involving matters such as starting a small business, team conflict, coaching can help you find a path forward. I offer a free consultation to determine if your if coaching is right for your needs.
What is Coaching and how is it different to Counseling, Consulting and Mentoring?
Life Coaching is different from therapy, counseling, consulting, or giving advice or opinions. The coaching process addresses specific personal projects, business successes, general conditions, and transitions in the client’s personal life, relationships, or profession by examining what is going on right now, discovering what your obstacles or challenges might be, and choosing a course of action to make your life be what you want it to be.
Coaching is fundamentally forward-looking and deals with high functioning people. The goal of coaching, at least the kind I provide, is to support you to find the answer to your question from within yourself. The coach is not there to “tell” you what to do but rather to help you figure out what’s right for you. I view coaching then as a partnership built on mutual trust and honesty that allows the coach to offer challenge while at the same time, being supportive.
Coaching vs. Counseling
It is important to me that you have clarity about the difference between coaching and other types of professional services such as therapy or counseling, consulting, and mentoring. Coaching focuses on where you are presently and where you are headed, with a goal of helping you gain clarity about your vision, eliminate obstacles to your success, accelerate the pace of personal growth and achieve results that empower you to live your best life – professionally and personally.
We can focus on any area of your life: Relationships, Finances, Spiritual Life, Work, and Business, or Physical Health and Environments. While coaching is forward-focused, counseling tends to deal more with past issues in which you may find yourself stuck and struggling. We may occasionally discuss something that has occurred in the past, for the purpose of clarifying the present, but your coaching will not focus on resolving the past. A simple rule of thumb to know whether you should be coaching or counseling: If your past is an issue, counseling is your best option. If your past is simply a fact (regardless of whether the circumstances were difficult or negative), you are probably ready for coaching. If it appears that there is an issue for which you may need counseling, I will suggest it. With the support of a counselor or therapist, some individuals choose to engage in coaching and counseling simultaneously, but with a focus on different areas of life for each service.
Coaching vs. Consulting
A coach focuses on helping you walk your unique path to success. As the client, you are responsible for the results you receive as a result of coaching. I help you discover how to become more of who you need to be to achieve those results and identify what you may need to do differently. A consultant takes responsibility for a specific project, acting as a specialist*, providing specific deliverables and knowledge. I believe in your ability to fully experience your potential and will provide a safe, consistent space for you to develop your potential.
* If my professional experience (in the areas of marketing, public relations, entrepreneurship and publishing) is of benefit to you personally and professionally, I will gladly share what I know
Coaching vs. Mentoring
As a coach, I focus on developing people in general and the development of your unique path in particular. A mentor guides you towards a specific path of development. I am more interested in helping you onto the unique and divinely-ordained path that is meant for you – which may be quite different than the path I have taken, even though the purpose of our paths may be very similar. My job as your coach is not to tell you what to do but rather to help you uncover the answers that lie within you. Consider me a catalyst for your success.
What is the difference between Personal and Executive Coaching?
The terms executive coaching and personal coaching are somewhat interchangeable. The type of coaching personal, career, executive, spiritual or otherwise will serve as a guide for our sessions. The reality is, how we show up at work is connected to how we show up at home and other areas of our life. As a coach, I work with my clients to solve problems they face in pursuit of their personal and professional goals. I specifically work with clients on getting inspired, finding clarity and committing to their goals. Together we identify their strengths and areas of growth in an effort to maximize their potential and achieve the desired results.
How are the sessions structured? Initial Coaching Period
The benefits of coaching build over time. In order to make this experience as valuable as possible, I have created a minimum coaching period of three months with all of my clients. I recommend six to twelve months to establish longer-term support as you make major transitions and changes in your personal and professional life.
After the initial period, you may extend as long and as often as you like. My clients often stay with me long past our initial coaching period. Since I limit my private coaching practice to a small number of inspiring clients, most of whom continue coaching for an extended period, my practice is full and there is a waiting list for new clients.
If you stop coaching and decide later to come back, we will do our best to accommodate your request by giving you “preferred client” status on the list. The waiting period varies and we’ll be glad to discuss it further with you should the need arise. Your coaching timeslot is a “reservation” on my calendar, a committed time period that I dedicate to you and your goals
How We Will Meet
We will meet by telephone each month based on the number of sessions you select. I am also available as often as you need me for email coaching between sessions. You may find it helpful to email me your coaching call agenda for the call prior to our session. This will give you time to clarify what you most want to focus on.
Do you offer Virtual or Zoom Coaching?
Do you offer Virtual or Zoom Coaching?
Absolutely! I serve the majority of my clients via Doxy.me or Zoom. Doxy.me is a secure HIPAA compliant site. Please see below for additional information.We would work together to decide whether video, telephone, or a combination works best for your needs.
How to Check-in as a Patient with DOXY.ME
Updated over a week ago
To meet with your provider on doxy.me, first, you need to use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser. A webcam and microphone are also required.
Your provider should have given you their personalized room link. It should look like doxy.me/YourDrsName.
To check-in:
- Type your provider’s room address into your web address bar (e.g., https://doxy.me/room-name).
2. Enter your name and click Check-In.
3. You are now in your provider’s waiting room. Wait for your provider to start the call.
Checking in using Chrome
What about Confidentiality?
It is essential to our coaching relationship that you can be open and share honestly. Our conversations are entirely confidential unless the release of information is otherwise authorized or requested by you or required by law. As an ICF Coach, I am bound to the International Coaching Federation Guidelines listed below.
ETHICAL STANDARD 4
The ICF Code of Ethics is based on the ICF Core Values and the actions that flow from them. All values are equally important and support one another. These values are aspirational and should be used as a way to understand and interpret the standards. All ICF Professionals are expected to showcase and propagate these Values in all their interactions.
The following ethical standards are applied to the professional activities of ICF Professionals:
Section I – Responsibility to clients
As an ICF Professional, I:
- Explain and ensure that, before or at the initial meeting, my coaching client(s) and Sponsor(s) understand the nature and potential value of coaching, the nature and limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements, and any other terms of the coaching agreement.
- Create an agreement/contract regarding the roles, responsibilities, and rights of all parties involved with my Client(s) and Sponsor(s) before the commencement of services.
- Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all parties as agreed upon. I am aware of and agree to comply with all applicable laws that pertain to personal data and communications.
- Have a clear understanding of how information is exchanged among all parties involved during all coaching interactions.
- Have a clear understanding with both Clients and Sponsors or interested parties about the conditions under which information will not be kept confidential (e.g., illegal activity, if required by law, according to a valid court order or subpoena; imminent or likely risk of danger to self or others; etc.). I reasonably believe one of the above circumstances is applicable; I may need to inform appropriate authorities.
- When working as an Internal Coach, I manage conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest with my coaching Clients and Sponsor(s) through coaching agreement(s) and ongoing dialogue. This should include addressing organizational roles, responsibilities, relationships, records, confidentiality, and other reporting requirements.
- Maintain, store and dispose of any records, including electronic files and communications, created during my professional interactions in a manner that promotes confidentiality, security, and privacy and complies with any applicable laws and agreements. Furthermore, I seek to use emerging and growing technological developments that are being used in coaching services (technology-assisted coaching services) and be aware of how various ethical standards apply to them.
- Remain alert to indications that there might be a shift in the value received from the coaching relationship. If so, make a change in the relationship or encourage the Client(s)/Sponsor(s) to seek another coach, seek another professional, or use a different resource.
- Respect all parties’ right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point during the coaching process subject to the provisions of the agreement.
- I am sensitive to the implications of having multiple contacts and relationships with the same Client(s) and Sponsor(s) at the same time to avoid conflict of interest situations.
- I am aware of and actively manage any power or status difference between the Client and me that may be caused by cultural, relational, psychological, or contextual issues.
- Disclose to my Clients the potential receipt of compensation and other benefits I mayreceive for referring my Clients to third parties.
- Assure consistent quality of coaching regardless of the amount or form of agreedcompensation in any relationship.
THERE IS VIRTUE IN WORK AND THERE IS VIRTUE IN REST. USE BOTH AND OVERLOOK NEITHER.
ALAN COHEN
