Creative Alternatives Coaching

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Know specifically what you want to accomplish, and be able to list what you've already tried that hasn't worked.

It's also very useful to know your learning style and your Meyers-Briggs personality profile, if you've run into those tools before.

Have a timeline in mind and ask whether it's reasonable. Be open minded about feedback and observations that your coach makes regarding how you are thinking about your goals and obstacles.

Let me know up front what you expect and need from a coach, and what is especially difficult for you. Tell me too what you know will get in your way, so that we can see if there is a way around the immovable obstacles.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I would wish that everyone knew that coaching is both an art and a science, and that some people are naturally skilled at it, some can learn to be good technicians at it, but that no one can coach everyone. That's just not realistic or honest.

Nor is it accurate to say that any counselor can do coaching. Counselors are great at analyzing problems and helping clients find insights, but they aren't typically trained to design solutions for clients that promote action taking.

And not everyone is ready to be a good coaching client. Clients need to be motivated to change, and dedicated to the process. Coaching is very action oriented and only succeeds when the client holds herself accountable to do the tasks she has committed to on a daily basis.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. What can you do to help me achieve my goals?
How long will it take to reach my goals?

How long have you worked with people like me who are trying to transform their life?

What causes people to fail when trying to reach goals like mine?

What is your educational background? What schools did you graduate from?

What kind of training and credential do you have as a coach? Where did you get it?

Do you have personal experience with solving problems like mine or gaining achievements like the sort I want to achieve?

How will you know when I'm done, or do you try to keep me as a client forever?

How much do you charge?

When can I start?

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I've always been one to whom friends and colleagues turn when they've felt confused, insecure or needed help in devising a solution to a problem. My practical, no-nonsense, can-do attitude helps them see the positive possibilities in the situation they are dealing with, without wasting unnecessary time in rehashing old stories, worn out excuses, or in self-judgment and blaming external factors.

My approach is one of empowering you to access pr grow your own inner strengths, so that you can envision your best life and engage in the activities that will take you there.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Most clients contract with me for 3 months / 3 sessions a month to start. This gives us a good foundation on which to ensure that problems are fully understood, and appropriate solution action plans are co-created. Depending on the progress made, some clients step back to 3 months / 2 sessions a month to ensure continued forward movement at a more leisurely pace.

Many clients continue beyond the first three months to complete a project or goal.

Three month contracts are paid in full in advance, but work out to be less expensive than the by the hour rate.

It is also possible to start with a minimal 1 month commitment if you aren't certain that coaching is what you need at this time.