I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have the benefit of working with some wonderful coaches and mentors. For many years I thought that going it alone was the only route because, “I could handle it.” Well, handling it is not the same as thriving, and thriving is so much more fun!
The first step toward working with a coach can be the most intimidating. Maybe part of you feels guilt, shame or confusion in asking for help. Maybe you are so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start. That’s okay. I offer a judgement-free zone, a safe place for you to sort out whatever it is that is causing you distress. It’s interesting to me that many people don’t consider a life coach when their life feels upside down or confused, or if they want to learn a new life skills. Athletes have coaches throughout their career, both for skill development and mindset. Executives also engage with coaches, to improve their business “game”. So why is coaching so taboo in the area of life performance?
I believe it is possible for people to feel good about themselves; to feel whole and enjoy satisfying relationships. It is incredibly exciting to witness a client make the shifts in their beliefs and actions, and meet their goals.
As your coach, I can help you to:
- Manage daily stress so you can think more clearly
- Identify your “why”, your aspiration, in any life area
- Create new ways of thinking to bring new possibilities into every area of your life
- Overcome fears and doubts
- Build resilience
- Discover the power of clear language so you can experience more satisfying relationships whether personal or at work
- Prepare for big life moments, such as job interviews
- Implement new, healthier habits
Let’s Be Honest & Up-Front: There Is No “Quick-Fix”
What, no quick fix?! For most of us, it has taken hours, days, weeks, months and maybe even years to create the intricate issues we want to address. So it stands to reason that it will take some time to work through them. Remember to be patient with yourself and the process.
Okay Then, How Much Time?
I can’t say for certain, however, with perseverance, commitment, a willingness to do things differently and taking action, you will get to where you need to be.
Thinking and doing differently is critical to the process of change and transformation. Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them”. I figure he’s a pretty good coach and mentor.
It’s important to know, too, that even when you have achieved the desired goals, there will be tests to your new way of thinking and doing. This is natural, this is life! However, with your new emotional flexibility and resilience, you will be in a much better position to manage these tests.
What Does Working with Karen Look Like?
In supporting people through the transition they desire change in, Karen brings Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), a scientifically validated modality, to her clients. EFT is one of the most studied forms of Energy Psychology (EP) and it brings in the best of many other modalities, including Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP.) To get a visual of EFT, think acupuncture without with needles.
The goal when starting out together, is for you to experience an improved level of being and feeling well on a day to day basis. When we are depleted physically, emotionally, spiritually or mentally, it is a challenge to resolve issues and make great decisions.
In EP, the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical systems are explored to help you understand the relationship between thoughts, feeling and behaviors. Why is this important? Awareness and acceptance must be in place before sustainable change can occur. Emotion drives behaviour (and you thought it was your thoughts that created your behavior….) and when we have unresolved emotions, our actions likely get in the way of what we say we want. In EFT, we tap on specific energy points in the upper torso while leveraging the power of language, to regulate our emotions; to discharge stored emotional energy. When the emotional intensity around a memory or situation resolves, we are available for flexible thinking, creativity, and possibility.
In between sessions, there will be discovery opportunities (aka, homework) because nothing works if you don’t use it consistently.