The "Coach on the Couch" interview

I had my first training in 1991, with a school that ultimately went under due to the tragic death of the founders. I retrained in 2004 and loved the new techniques and deeper understanding of the profession in the intervening decade. Took my career coach training in 2001. I had been a national and international business consultant since 1987, so the transition to corporate business coaching was easy, applying coaching principles to the world I knew so well. I added a small business specialty in 2005, when I realized that many of my clients were entrepreneurs and people considering the entrepreneurial world.

When someone who was sunk in despair about their career, business or overall life, gets enough traction through coaching that they break through to a deep understanding of their personal power over their life [or at least their thoughts] - that is what I live for! My proudest moments: when a Navy spouse got her first A in her new college degree program; when a senior VP decided that his sideline consulting was worth betting his livelihood on, resigned [with a nice package] - and started raking in the cash. The glow on those faces was not something I saw with my eyes, but I saw it very clearly in my heart.

To be the guide but not the director of a new level of awareness and action in a client. I ask the right questions at the right time; I challenge (kindly) wishful thinking and getting-ready-to-leap-off-a-cliff, I reflect the truth of what I see. I also brainstorm, advise and suggest [the ICF defines this as consulting], where that's appropriate for the client. I offer deep transformative work [based on Reiki, visualizations & other inner work] as an integral part of my service. I used to tell clients when I was getting ready to do something that wasn't ICF coaching. Especially with businesspeople, no one cares. Now, for me, it's all coaching.

Challenges are always opportunities. When you go through the fire you always come out changed - stronger, leaner, more focused, less inclined to equivocate or weasel behind "I don't know" when your true heart does in fact know. But let's remember that the greatest gift you can give anyone is to make sure that everything out of your mouth has kindness AND truth in it. This economic crisis features massive unemployment and home-loss. We cannot help anyone until we are willing to speak the truth that there is great pain along with the lessons, and the fire of transformation is very, very hot.

In a place that is unimaginable to my present self. Every year brings new wisdom. I have a present vision, which I am diligently working toward, but I have a light hand on the reins. When life presents me with new options, I listen to my intuition as well as my left brain. I have always ended up somewhere other than I expected, on the 5 year horizon, and always been grateful.