The International Coaching Federation (ICF), which is the world’s leading global organization of professionally trained coaches, defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”  Click here (https://meredithkimmel.com/post-1/) to read the blog post.

An ICF Credentialed Coach is a coach who has successfully completed a coach-training program that has been approved by the ICF.  Upon successful completion of the coach-training program, the candidate must complete a minimum number of paid coaching hours, work with a mentor coach, and pass the Coach Knowledge Assessment before applying to the ICF for a credential.  Click here (https://meredithkimmel.com/who-is-a-credentialed-coach/) to read more.

My ideal client is someone who is willing to work and make the commitment to transform.  The actual one-on-one coaching sessions are only part of the process.  There is plenty of work to be done in between the sessions.  I could easily take your money and you can keep showing up for sessions, but if no progress is being made it is a waste of time for you and a potential ethical issue for me.  My mission is to guide you to create the strategies so that you can live a happy, successful, and rich life.  If this is what you want, then let’s get to work.

There are many differences among coaching, consulting, and therapy.  Coaching is the process of moving you forward.  The Coach has the belief that the Client is the subject matter expert in themselves and that they have the answers within them. The Coach and Client work in partnership with each other.  There is no hierarchy.  The Coach’s job is to ask the probing questions to give the Client time to think.  The Coach also, with the Client’s permission, offers observations and reflections to get the Client to see things from other points of view.  The Coach does not offer advice, as a Consultant or a Therapist may. 

A Consultant gives advice and makes recommendations.  A Consultant is seen as the authority. 

In Therapy, you will look back into the past and resolve problems from the past that affect your life today.  The Therapist may also be seen as an authority and offer advice.

Coaching is an investment in yourself.  A Coach allows you the time and space to think and come up with answers on your own to make the changes you want to make to move you forward in your life.  The coach has no attachment to your outcome and therefore can come to each session from a place of pure curiosity.  This allows the Coach to listen to what you are saying and reflect back observations and comments to allow you to see things from different perspectives.  A Coach is a partner on your journey with you and doesn’t pretend to be an authority figure and will not tell you what to do.  A Coach will challenge you, and a Coach will keep you accountable. 

Just like the Coaching Sessions (see below), the Coaching Process has a beginning, middle, and end.  Based on the coaching package you choose; we will develop a few overarching goals that you want to work on.  Of course, these are fluid and subject to change.  All of my clients who started coaching in February and March 2020 changed their goals due to Covid. 

The actual one-on-one coaching sessions are only part of the process.  There is plenty of work to be done in between the sessions.  At the end of each session, we will design action steps (homework) for you to do in between session to move you forward towards your goals.

Coaching has an expiration date, and it is not meant to go on forever.  The strategies we design are meant to be learned by you, become part of you, and are carried over into other areas of your life.  Sure, you can renew your packages.  Many of my mentor coaches talk about how they have been working with the same clients for 20 or 30 years, but not consecutively, and only when new learning needs to occur, or new skills need to be developed.  

A Coaching session is a 55-minute session that takes place either in person, by phone, or virtually.  The session structure has a beginning, middle, and end.  We begin the session with a session agreement and decide what topic to focus on, we decide on actionable and measurable goals that can be achieved during the session. Once the session agreement is made, we get into the meat of the session where the curiosity, exploration, and thinking occurs.  The end of the session is claiming the learning and designing action steps to take in between the sessions.

I offer in person sessions.  I offer sessions via Zoom.  I also offer telephone calls via a bridge teleconference line. Coaching sessions are conducted based on the client’s preference.

You will receive a welcome letter via email from me, which includes the Coaching Agreement, a client intake sheet, and a few worksheets to fill out so that we have a very productive coaching engagement.

I make every effort get you scheduled within two weeks of signing the Coaching Agreement.

I currently do not use assessments.  I use the worksheets provided in the welcome letter.  I ask that they be returned to me prior to our first session, so that I can review them before we begin.

There are a wide variety of topics that people bring to coaching.  Life transformations and changes cover many different areas.  I have coached people who have gotten promotions, left jobs, experienced the loss of a loved one, gotten divorced, moved to a new location, had children, and so much more.

Since Coaching is not a medical entity it is not covered by health insurance.

Per My Coaching Agreement:

This coaching relationship, as well as all information (documented or verbal) that the Client shares with the Coach as part of this relationship, is bound by the principles of confidentiality set forth in the ICF Code of Ethics. However, please be aware that the Coach-Client relationship is not considered a legally confidential relationship (like the medical and legal professions) and thus communications are not subject to the protection of any legally recognized privilege. The Coach agrees not to disclose any information pertaining to the Client without the Client’s written consent. The Coach will not disclose the Client’s name as a reference without the Client’s consent.  All coaching session conversations are confidential to the extent allowed by the law. If Client shares that he/she is engaged in illegal activity, or intends to harm themselves or others, Coach reserves the right to disclose that information to the appropriate authorities.  

Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) was in the Coach’s possession prior to its being furnished by the Client; (b) is generally known to the public or in the Client’s industry; (c) is obtained by the Coach from a third party, without breach of any obligation to the Client; (d) is independently developed by the Coach without use of or reference to the Client’s confidential information; or (e) the Coach is required by statute, lawfully issued subpoena, or by court order to disclose; (f) is disclosed to the Coach and as a result of such disclosure the Coach reasonably believes there to be an imminent or likely risk of danger or harm to the Client or others; and (g) involves illegal activity. The Client also acknowledges his or her continuing obligation to raise any confidentiality questions or concerns with the Coach in a timely manner. 

Per My Coaching Agreement:

The refund policy in effect for the term of this Agreement is as follows: There is no refund policy for coaching sessions. However, client may cancel at any time, given two weeks written notice.  Any balance due shall not be collected.

Per My Coaching Agreement:

Client agrees that it is the Client’s responsibility to notify the Coach at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled calls/meetings. Coach reserves the right to bill Client for a missed meeting and will in good faith try to reschedule the missed meeting. This excludes personal and/or medical emergencies.

If by any reason the Client wishes to cancel an appointment without rescheduling, it will be considered as a billable coaching session as well.

If the Coach needs to change an appointment, she will always reschedule and make sure Client receives the monthly appointments that have been agreed upon.

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