Women's Life Coach - Discover Your Power, Live Your Truth

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. While most coaches went through a coaching training of sorts, I bring an additional 15+ years of experience working with women of all ages as a climbing guide and nurse-midwife, which allows me to have invaluable and rare insights into the life of a woman at all stages of her life and in various circumstance: and this is a benefit of coaching with me at Ziji Life. Through this life experience, I bring to my coaching even more tools to work with, uncommon perspectives, and the ability to offer uniquely effective, high quality programs that can serve a woman wherever she is at: whether she wants to coach on the phone, go on a vision quest, have a coaching retreat in the mountains, or participate in one of my unique teen programs, for example.

I also have experience with teens and young women (17-24) that many coaches don't have. Some coaches even believe teens are too young to have formed their values yet and therefore don't want to work with them!

In addition to my excellent training through the well-respected Coaches Training Institute and my current practice as a life coach, I worked at Outward Bound over 8 years leading 7 to 30-day expeditions in the US and abroad, as well as guiding all-women's expeditions and courses for both adolescents and adults. I also worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse-Midwife for 8 years and helped women through their life transitions as adolescents, young adults, motherhood, mid-life, and menopause, gaining important insight into their lives and the unique challenges they face as they move through these stages of life. Young women in particular undergo many changes in their bodies and in discovering who they are, and as their healthcare provider, I gained insights on a deep level about their needs.

I have learned that while I have a very special gift for connecting with my clients no matter what their age, few coaches are skilled at connecting with young women in the way I can. I earn their trust, build rapport, and have a great time working with them! I have as my personal mission to empower them to discover their power and live their truth.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. My job doesn't feel like work. I am able to spend my life energy doing something I find important and worthwhile and honored to be able to do. I love working with my clientele and seeing them create the lives they have always wanted to live. For me, this life is too precious to settle for "good enough." There is nothing more rewarding than being a part of the process for another human to live their greatest life and bring their gifts to the world. It is an honor and a passion to be a part of the journey.

I also appreciate how working with clients constantly contributes to my own growth. Coaching people to live a wildly fulfilling life hold me accountable to doing that myself, and I am blessed to work with amazing people every day.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. 1) What is the difference between life coaching and therapy or counseling?

Generally speaking, in counseling and therapy, the therapist is regarded as the expert and the focus is on “fixing” problems by exploring the client’s feelings and past experiences and "why." In contrast, in the life coaching relationship, the coach partners with clients to focus on their present circumstances, actions, skills, attitudes, and strengths to help them move forward in their lives. Coaching is most appropriate for people who are otherwise currently mentally healthy.

Life coaching is not psychotherapy. If your past is keeping you stuck or complicating your life and you want to spend more time working through the past, counseling is a better option than coaching. If I suspect any potential mental health concerns in my clients (eating disorders, cutting/self-mutilation, serious personality disorders or depression/anxiety, etc.), I will inform the parent/guardian and provide appropriate referrals and/or resources.

2) What is the difference between coaching and mentoring?

There are similarities between coaching and mentoring. In general, mentors guide their mentees towards a defined path, whereas coaches guide their clients on their own path, which is unique and different from their own. As a coach, I help clients tap into their own inner wisdom to discover their own answers and solutions. In my work with girls, I am often viewed as a mentor or role model.

3) What is the difference between coaching and consulting?

In general, consultants are responsible for providing deliverables and specialized knowledge related to specific projects. In contrast, in the coaching relationship, the client is ultimately responsible for achieving their own results, with the guidance of his/her coach. When coaching girl advocates, I share my knowledge and professional experience when it is beneficial to my clients.

4) Do you coach adults?

Yes! In fact, I thoroughly enjoy working with women at all stages of life, especially those in transition: into/out of college, enter/change careers, navigate relationships, and many more life challenges that come up. I also love working with the mothers of teens as I've mentioned earlier.

5) How can coaching be effective over the phone/Skype?

Most coaches work via telephone/Skype for several reasons:
*convenience for the client: it can happen anywhere, as long as you are by a phone or computer with internet
*no time wasted with driving/commuting
*many people are more comfortable when they are not having to worry about being watched or what they look like.
*there is an amazing amount one can pick up from truly listening when not distracted by visuals
*if a person really wants to see the coach during the session, we can video skype!
*these methods allow me to not limit my services and assistance to a geographical region, as we can work across miles and timezones! I have had clients locally, as well as across the country and internationally.

6) How are sessions scheduled?

There is an initial "Discovery Session" that is 90 minutes long, where we build a foundation and I get to learn more about my client in details and help set the course of the coaching relationship.

After the initial session, we meet for 2 hours a month, either in 3 40-minute sessions or 2 1-hour sessions. For teens, 3 sessions a month seem to work better to allow for checking in more frequently. There is a minimum 3 month contract, after which we can then schedule on a month-to-month basis.

7) What about confidentiality in working with minors and their parents?

Sessions with adult clients are fully confidential. When working with minors, I design this agreement at the very beginning with the parents and teen client. Without exception, any indication of harming oneself or others is immediately communicated to the parents/guardian and I will provide referral resources. Beyond those extenuating circumstances, I find coaching teens is most productive when there is full confidentiality between me and the teen, with the client giving their parents updates as they feel comfortable. Most teens are actually quite open with sharing their coaching experiences on their own. If parents/guardians would like me to share with them, this can only be done if I have cooperation from my teen client, as I want to earn their full trust, and this would happen as a scheduled coaching session.

8) Is there any support between sessions?

Yes, there is unlimited email support for all clients, and various packages allow for additional short phone call support between sessions as well (15-minute phone calls). In addition, there are usually "homework" assignments/action plans for clients between sessions.

9) Do you do in-person sessions at all?

I do offer in-person sessions at a higher rate for the Discovery Session, as well as for local clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and Ashland, Oregon. Because I travel a lot (to help teens all over!), regular in-person sessions are challenging.

I do also offer workshops, retreats, and public speaking engagements throughout the year.