Q.What is coaching exactly?

Coaching is a method of support designed to help people think and act in a way that moves them wholeheartedly towards the life they want most for themselves.  It draws upon techniques from a variety of disciplines to help people consciously learn what is best for them and what will allow them to lead their best life, while also holding them accountable to taking action towards bringing their goals into fruition.  As your coach I am not the expert in your life, you are.  But I ask the best questions going around, I will support you to uncover things about yourself and what you are capable of that you have never previously known and I will not let you hide from what you really want.  If you are working with me, I am ALL IN.  As your coach I bring all of myself to our sessions, so while we are technically working together in a coaching series, it’s not uncommon to see tiny snippets of me as a counsellor, strategist, energy practitioner, mentor, business advisor or facilitator shine through too, if it is what you’ve identified that you need most to help you move forward. Again, ALL IN. I can’t help it.

Coaching provides the time and space for you to TRULY invest in yourself, in your dreams and in what your heart wants away from all of the roles you have in your life and any expectations you feel the world (or anyone in it) has placed on you.  If coaching were a cake, it would be made of part motivation, part reflection, part education, part accountability, part healing and a lot of action!

Finally, coaching is designed to support you to build more personal confidence and a more loving and supportive relationship with yourself, too. What you come to know, achieve, heal and uncover in a coaching series will be with you for life – because you have put in the conscious and consistent work to achieve it on your own terms.

Q.How is coaching different to counselling?

Coaching is similar to counselling in that it involves talking about where you are at in your life, but while counselling involves looking back into the past history of your life to reflect, uncover and understand why something is happening in the present, coaching focuses on the present and looks only towards the future.  Counselling can also have a strong focus on healing past emotional traumas, where coaching has a focus on setting truly inspiring goals and working towards your vision for the future.

Coaching is also far more action-orientated than counselling, which is why a lot of people who have previously worked with counsellors come to coaching in the first place.  It is not uncommon for people to reach a point of healing where they are sick of analysing and looking back towards their past, and they instead want to uncover and invest in who they are becoming and the possibilities that lie in their future.

Q.And how is this coaching different to sports coaching?

Coaching is similar to sports coaching in that as your coach I will challenge you and hold you accountable (as well as cheer you on from the sidelines like nothing else!), but unlike sports coaching which has a BIG emphasis on winning or losing, life coaching is not a competitive process.  Every step towards your goal is a ‘win’ and all movement is about growing and learning.  It’s YOUR journey that we’re interested in.

Q.Do I have to live in Melbourne to work with you?

No, not at all!  I work with people who live all over Australia and internationally. Previously I have worked with clients in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, South Africa, China, Italy, Lithuania and so very many more parts of the world.  I love working with people in their pocket of the globe and because we can have sessions together on Zoom, you can work with me from whichever location suits you best.  I am invited to speak at a lot of events around Australia and internationally, so I will also always let you know if I am going to be close to your hometown so that if you want to have a session in-person while I am there, we can!

Q.I have never worked with a Coach before, does that matter?

No, it does not matter one bit.  Some of my clients have worked with one or more coaches before, and many others choose to work with me as their first ever coach. A number of my clients each year are also coaches themselves!  Even if you have worked with a coach before, you may find that my way of supporting you is quite different to theirs.  All great coaches have their own unique style, skillset and personality that shines through their work, just like all people have their own unique personalities too.

Q.Do you do coaching sessions over the phone?

Yes.  If your internet connection is playing up, we can definitely connect through an audio-only call or phone instead.

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Q.Where would in-person sessions take place?

I hold very limited in-person sessions in a variety of different settings, most commonly in Melbourne’s Western suburbs.  There are lots of wonderful cafes, outdoor spaces and lounge spaces available (the coffee is always on me!).

Q.Is it true that you also train people to be life coaches?

Yes.  I am a Senior Trainer at the Beautiful You Coaching Academy, where I train amazing people from all over the world to become phenomenal life coaches alongside Julie Parker and a wonderful team of Assistant trainers.  The Beautiful You Coaching Academy provides and International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited course and in honesty, it is the only coaching organisation that I’ve ever felt comfortable to associate with.

Before you ask, no, Julie is not related to me.  We both married non-related, Parker men who coincidentally share a deep love of the Richmond Football Club here in Australia.

I love witnessing the people I have trained create their own beautiful and thriving coaching businesses and equally, meeting new people who are considering becoming a coach and supporting other people in this way!

If you are ever considering becoming a Life Coach, please don’t hesitate to contact me here and let me know so that I can arrange a time for us to connect. The world needs more heart-fuelled, passionate and amazing coaches, so I’ll always make time to connect with people who are considering coaching training programs as a way of supporting them to decide what’s best for them. You’re so welcome to pick my brains about my own experience, too!

Q.How do I know for sure that coaching is right for me?

If you are feeling at all unsure about whether or not coaching is the best thing to support you right now, please feel free to contact me directly here so we can arrange a time to chat about it.  If coaching is not the right fit for you then I am sure that there will be plenty of websites, resources and services that I can point you in the direction of instead.

As a general rule, coaching is great for you if:

+  You are really longing for positive change within yourself or your life

+  You are feeling ready to create change and take positive action

+  You are open to discovering new things about yourself

+  You are ready to be open and honest about what you want for yourself – both in how you want to feel and what you want for your life

Coaching is potentially not the best thing for you right now if:

+  You are looking for someone to simply tell you what to do

+  It feels important to talk more about the past than the future

+  You are not feeling ready to speak honestly and openly about what you truly want for yourself in this moment

+  You don’t feel willing to actively work towards what you want

Q.I work full time. Could we connect during my lunch break?

Sure! I offer regular session times in the middle of the day.

Q.I’m experiencing financial difficulty at the moment.  Do you offer payment plans?

Yes.  A vast array of payment plans are available to you and I also offer both Heart Fund and Bushfire Recovery grants through the Heart Sparks Heart Fund. Payment plans are one very important part of my commitment to social justice and equity. You can read more about my commitment here.

Q.Is it still okay for me to hire you as a speaker through my work if I am personally working with you as my coach at the same time?

Absolutely.  It is always a privilege to support the work and events of my clients when those things align!  Please know though that any event-related conversation will always take place OUTSIDE of your coaching sessions though.  Your coaching sessions are just for you.

Click here to head back to my life coaching packages.