The process is flexible and customized to you—your values, your personality, your goals—but here’s what it often looks like:

• We’ll create a custom contract that outlines an initial package of sessions. (I usually recommend 6–10 sessions to start, depending on objectives, and then we can evaluate.)
• Appointments are typically 1 hour, but I also offer 90-minute and 2-hour sessions based on client needs.
• I generally recommend we meet 2–3 times per month, but we will create a schedule that works for you.

There are many ways coaching overlaps or intersects with counseling (therapy) or consulting, but here are some important distinctions:

• In a coaching relationship, we are equal partners. We each bring our expertise, but there is no hierarchy—we’re doing this work together. My job is to empower and support you as you find solutions and create a plan that is right for you.
• My style of coaching is strength based rather than diagnostic. It assumes you are a whole person with the power to realize your goals—not a problem to be identified or solved.
• Coaching is present and future focused. We’ll glance at the past but not dwell there (as traditional psychotherapy might). We reflect, but the process is solution and action oriented.
• Coaching encompasses growth and learning. Thus, the work we do along the way is just as (if not more) important as precise outcomes. We address challenges and measure progress, but we are less focused on specific “deliverables” than a consultant might be.

My office is in Edmonds, WA. I prefer face-to-face meetings—particularly at the outset of our partnership. I’ve found this enables us to build trust and establish rapport faster, and I also believe it helps us both commit to the process. This is an investment in you, and it’s important to set aside time—and space—to do this work. That said, I am entirely open to phone or Skype meetings, particularly once we’ve established a strong working relationship.

In general, I do not rely on assessment tools because they tend to be more diagnostic in nature and the labels they create are not always productive. I may at times direct you to a specific assessment tool related to a certain question or goal. If you have an assessment you’d like to discuss, you are welcome to bring it in—they can be great conversation starters!

Again, this is something we’ll determine together, but I will say that clients who engage in active learning outside our sessions tend to see better results. (Know that I’ll be doing work outside of our sessions too.) Often that work takes the form of journaling, reading or documenting action steps. I may also send home reflection questions that will help sustain our work and maximize our time together.

Throughout the winding path of my career, I have obtained a wide array of credentials and experiences that support me in my work. They include:

• International Coaching Federation (ICF) – Associate Certified Coach
• Bachelor of Arts (Communication / Advertising)
• Juris Doctor (Law Degree)
• Dispute Resolution Certification (Negotiation / Mediation)
• Graduate Coursework in Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Sciences and Art Therapy
• Professional Training in Grief Support and Creative Expression

In short, no, I do not guarantee any specific results. The outcomes you experience depend mostly on your commitment, your curiosity and your ability to see new possibilities. What I do guarantee is that the process—while organic—will provide you with specific goals and that together we will identify ways to measure your progress toward them. I also guarantee that the work we do will be customized to you, based upon your strengths, challenges and learning style. We will evaluate our approach along the way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your investment.

I am fully committed to protecting your privacy. As an ICF-certified coach, I am—happily and proudly—bound by a strict code of ethics, and I maintain the highest levels of confidentiality with all client and sponsor information unless release is required by law. Read the ICF Code of Ethics