Q. What is special about working with a holistic / integral coach?
A. A holistic / integral coach sees you as a whole person, and is with you as you discover that you can experience your life and find your own answers in a variety of ways. You may discover this by hearing your own words, using thinking or imagination exercises, or noticing how you feel in your body or your feelings as you move through a session. You may find yourself thinking or feeling about things in ways you’ve not noticed before.
Q. What if I want you to tell me what I need to do?
A. Your coach knows that your answers for yourself are better than the answers others can give you. Your coach has learned that we humans resist being told what to do, even if we believe we should do what another person is telling us to do. We are better able to make changes in our lives when we choose to make changes, and when we decide what changes we would like to make.
Q. How am I supposed to know what my answers are?
A. As you talk, and your coach listens and asks powerful questions, you are free to discover things you did not realize you knew. As you try out imagination and thinking exercises, you have the opportunity to see things in a different light. You can find what feels right to you. You can discover your own answers.
Q. What about privacy?
A. Sessions with coaching clients are treated as confidential. (The exceptions to this are the same as with any healthcare or mental health provider when a client expresses a threat to self or others.) Group coaching participants will sign a privacy agreement, promising to keep each other’s session confidential.
Q. How do I know if I need to see a coach or a mental health professional?
A. There are several answers to this question.
Mental Health Professional
If you are at risk of harming yourself or another person, CALL 911 NOW, or go to your nearest emergency medical facility and ask for help.
If you have a diagnosed mental illness that is not currently managed, or you have mood issues with thoughts of hurting yourself, or problems that are keeping you from functioning in your daily life, you will want to check in with a mental health professional first.
Coach
If you feel like you have a few things you’d like to work on to help your life go more smoothly, or you’re looking at changing a behavior or making a decision, you might find that coaching suits you. You know your own needs. It is perfectly acceptable to see both a coach and a mental health professional.
Both
If you choose to see both, be sure to discuss this with your mental health provider.
Q. Do you ask questions about problems or personal things?
A. You will direct the conversation with your coach. Your coach will listen carefully to what you say, and will respond with questions that are related to what you say. You will choose the direction of the conversation.
Q. How long will I continue seeing a coach?
A. This is completely up to you. You may have one decision you want to make, or one habit you want to change, or one room you want to clear out, or one person you want to get along with. You may be satisfied with one conversation with a coach, or you may decide this is something you’d like to do on a regular basis.
Q. How long do coaching sessions last?
A. If you are part of a small group coaching session, there will be 3 or 4 or 5 participants who each have 10-12 minutes of focused attention. The coach will lead the opening and closing of the group. A group might last a little more or less than an hour. If you have an individual session, you may choose to have a 30 minute session, or you may opt for 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish.
Q. Where do we meet?
A. Most sessions will be by phone or zoom. There are some situations where there may be in-person meetings. In person meetings will include mask wearing and distancing out of consideration for persons who are unable to protect their health.
Q. How much does this cost?
A. Participation in a group coaching session is $25 per session.
Private coaching sessions are $45 for a 30 minute session, or $85 session for a 45-60 minute session.
You may also choose to pay $250 for three 45-60 minute sessions in 4 weeks.
(With the 45-60 minute sessions, if you know at the start of the session that you want to stop in 45 minutes, you may state that at the beginning of any session.)
You may pay by Venmo, PayPal, or major credit card. In-person clients may also pay by cash or check.
Q. How will I know if I want to be a coaching client?
A. You may schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching session by phone or zoom to discover if this is for you.
Q. Why should I choose Grateful Joy Coaching?
A. If you prefer a holistic / integral approach, you may enjoy this type of coaching. https://gratefuljoycoaching.com/what-is-integral-coaching/
Q. What are your coaching credentials?
A. Completion of the holistic/integral coaching program with Wisdom of the Whole Coaching Academy, coaching with clients during and after training, and current preparation to test to become a Board Certified Nurse Coach.