FAQs
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The first meeting is unique in that it sets the foundation for the coaching relationship, and tends to involve more talking from the Coach than is experienced in a normal session. This is to ensure that the unique nature of the coaching alliance between you and your Coach is established appropriately, and any questions can be answered to ensure you are comfortable in beginning the coaching process. This document provides you with what you can expect from your Coach, and outlines some generic background information on professional coaching. It also covers the ethical standards that your Coach will operate within. You will receive two pre-program exercises with this document. The first, called Participant Profile, provides the foundation for our work together, and will begin to develop in you the kind of thinking required to maximize the coaching process. Please take some time to complete it and bring it to our initial session. The second is the Primary Focus form. Please take some time to consider five areas that you want held as your main focus during the program. What outcomes will make the process an unmitigated success for you? Our sessions are an 1 hr in duration. The areas we need to cover in the initial session are: Outline of the etiquette factors of our meetings time, note taking, cell phones, etc. Discuss confidentiality & answering of any questions Discuss the objectives and boundaries of the coaching engagement Exploration of the Primary Focus Exercise Before your first session: Please read this document in its entirety. It outlines the Ethics and Standards your Coach works within, the terms and conditions of business coaching, a guide to how your Coach operates, and a brief introduction to the core principles of coaching. A Brief Introduction to Coaching There are some definite guidelines on what is and is not coaching. Coaching is about many things. However, principally it is about change. It is about developing emotional intelligence and conscious awareness. In business, coaching is a leadership behavior that lies at the opposite end of the spectrum to command and control, and in effect addresses the whole person, not just the role and business issues. Coaching has many benefits, far too many to mention within this document. Each participant in the coaching alliance creates and holds the agenda, making every alliance uniquely designed to serve only the success of the participant. The process is diverse and expansive. It can cover a breadth of issues, such as dealing with the immediate obstacles that are preventing growth, personal communication and impact as well as building the vision and plan against a lifes dream and goal. In summary, coaching is about the marriage of a persons potential with performance. The context is to allow people to learn rather than teach them. Coaching is not appropriate for the following: - -People with dependencies such as drugs and alcohol -Therapy for people who have suffered abuse -A shoulder to cry on -People who are abusing others -People who are experiencing mental illness -Counseling Therapists in some of the above fields deal with events that have happened in the past. Coaching is specifically about the present and the future. Whilst reference to past events is normal practice within a coaching relationship to apply background and context, a Coach, unless declaring otherwise, is NOT qualified to deal with any past emotional trauma or turmoil that is preventing the participant from moving forward. How to get the most out of your Coach: Be open and honest with yourself and your Coach. We all have careers that demand our time and can readily absorb our conscious thinking. However, this coaching time is yours, working purely on you and what it is that YOU want to achieve. If you are struggling to prioritize your needs above those of the business or other people, then we already have a lot of work to do in getting you from doing to thinking, efficient to effective. Make time and space for your coaching if you are feeling stressed or disorganized for the meeting you will get less from it. Your Coach will help you set targets for each session and may set you additional challenges. You will get the most out of this process if you make the time to study and follow through on what you agreed to do between sessions. Immediately tell your Coach if they could be more effective in some way and/or if you have a problem with the coaching process. Consider allowing fifteen minutes after the coaching session to write down and record anything that occurred to you, and plan the time to follow through on commitments made to yourself. Keeping notes during the sessions will assist in recording your conscious thoughts and improve your awareness of any shifts in your thinking during the sessions. We strongly recommend that you invest in a journal to keep notes from the sessions. There will be things that you want to come back to at some point, and it will serve as a reference point for any learning and growth you experience. Habitually writing your thoughts is an excellent way to focus your mind, exercise your will, and gain clarity on who you want to become and what you want to achieve. Your coach will discuss this with you during the coaching sessions. Ethics & Standards The following outlines the code of conduct applicable to all Coaches. Your Coach will conduct themselves with dignity, honesty, integrity and responsibility. Participants are assured that anything they discuss with their Coach will remain confidential, unless required by law, or the participant gives permission in writing. Coaches will not be judgmental or give unwelcome advice. Coaches will be clear about the boundary between coaching and other therapies, such as counseling (see previous information). Terms & Conditions of Business Coaching Meetings will start at the scheduled time, even if the participant is delayed. Cancellation of a session for any reason other than emergencies will result in the surrender of the session. Your development should be your priority. You are encouraged to call or email your Coach between sessions if you are stuck, confused, challenged or just want to share your successes! Please respect your Coachs time and be willing to keep interim calls to 5-10 minutes. Thank you. Your coach will set your personal assignments to complete between sessions to help you in your growth. The coaching relationship is for a minimum 12 sessions unless otherwise stated/ agreed this ensures your best chances of making major steps forward in your awareness and goals. Your confidentiality is vital, and your coach will never discuss or impart information about you to anyone else. Your coach is required to keep a record of the number of hours that they coach. Unless you request otherwise, your name will be entered on that log. This is only ever seen by the professional standards committee member checking your coachs suitability for professional registration. Thank you in advance for your support of professional standards in coaching. Your coach will never use information given by you during a coaching session for his or her own benefit. Your coach will often give you their perspective on your situation, and may help to provide a selection of approaches to any one situation. Please note that participants are responsible and accountable for any action that is or isnt taken based on a summing up of the discussion. The coach accepts no liabilities for the consequences of action or inaction on the part of a participant. Your Coach is not qualified to give specific legal or financial advice. Please be aware that this is a coaching relationship, designed to support you in finding your own options and that any suggestions given are based on helping you to make your own decisions and should not be taken as authoritative or as advice. Whether the subject matter is business, financial, health, or any other, please always seek advi
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Rick Ruperto PhD is a graduate from Cornerstone University in Clinical Christian Counseling (Magna Cum Laude), in Louisiana. He earned his Master of Arts (Summa Cum Laude) majoring in Clinical Christian Counseling and a minor in Christian Education. He is the founder and former CEO of TC-4 Counseling Services and an Academic Supervisor for Alive at the Center Ministries (a 2012 acquired sister company), the counseling and training arm of TC-4. Alive at the Center Ministries is a 15 year old CAI (Certified Academic Institution, NCCA) purchased by TC-4. Alive at the Center have supervised students from all over the world that are seeking professional Christian Counseling Credentials (from Certification CTC to Licensed Pastoral Counselors LPC, to Masters and Ph.D programs). Rick Ruperto was in residency with the American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorder (ACACD) through Exodus Treatment Center in Miami. Under the tutelage of world-renowned addiction specialist Jay Holder (MD, DC, PhD, CAP), Rick is board eligible as a Diplomate of the ADACD. Rick is also Board Certified with the NCCA (National Christian Counselors Association) in the areas of Substance Abuse and Addition, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Crisis and Abuse Therapy, Integrated and Marriage and Family Therapy, Domestic Violence, Death and Grief Therapy, Sexual Therapy, and Group Therapy. Rick has also completed the requirements of the Florida Supreme Court family mediation certification course offered by Nova Southeastern University. Rick is also a member of The John Maxwell Team as an independent Certified Coach, Teacher, and Speaker.