Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why would someone want or need to be "coached?"

A: Here’s a short list of things that coaching can help with:

• Overcoming an obstacle that is preventing you from accomplishing something that’s important to you

• Achieving greater focus and concentration on what matters most to you, by eliminating scattered and distracted thinking

• Gaining confidence and competence in your career or other significant role

• Making solid, realistic plans to achieve an important life or career milestone

• Acquiring a new skill or replacing old habits with newer, better and more productive ones

• Navigating with hope and energy through significant transitions such as the loss of a job, a relationship, or moving into a new stage of life

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Q. What kinds of people would get value from WineFlash Coaching?

A: Coaching can help people with a variety of hopes and in many circumstances. To get an idea of my coaching strong suits, click this link. And, not everyone is a great candidate for coaching. My experience in life, and my training and experience as a coach, tells me that if any of these four things about a person are true, coaching is not a wise investment for them:

• Feeling super-satisfied with all aspects of their lives (Why get coaching if life is really great?)

• Impatient for someone to just tell them the right answer(s) (Try a teacher, mentor or consultant)

• Unable or unwilling to slow life down for an hour once every two weeks to hear themselves think serious thoughts about their life (But let me know when you’re ready to do this!)

• Unable to emotionally move beyond past traumas, disappointments and upsets to adopt the new habits and ways of thinking that are necessary for them to pursue and achieve a more fulfilling future (Try a mental health professional instead of, or along with, coaching)
   

And… if none of those four things are particularly true of you, chances are you are someone who could get value from the coaching I do. 

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Q. What can I expect a coaching meeting with you to be like?

A: Good coaching conversations can be lively and fun; and/or intense at times. Most of all, they should produce “Aha!” moments for you.

 

I provide you with the safe space and the encouragement to fully explore the things you already know and to do so fearlessly, honestly and completely. This means that you can expect me to ask thought-provoking questions, to wait for your answers, and to encourage you to think both more broadly and more deeply. ​Most people I coach are surprised to learn that the answers they seek are already inside their own minds.

When it’s my turn to talk, I'll make observations about what I’m hearing designed to help you consider things I'm noticing might be true about you and that you're not giving yourself credit for. I might offer you alternative frameworks that might help you to better understand yourself, and with your permission, I’ll share insights of my own about you and your circumstances for you to consider, confirm, or guide me into a more accurate insight.

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Q. Isn't coaching like counseling or therapy?

A: While there can be similarities, the differences are significant. Coaches are not recognized as mental health professionals and are not qualified, nor should they attempt, to help a person to heal from past traumas. This frees up coaches to help you to concentrate on their PRESENT and FUTURE – I like to say, helping a person to go from good, to great.

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This doesn’t mean that conversations about things that have happened in the past are off limits in a coaching relationship. In fact, coaching should draw upon victories you have experienced in the past to fully understand the abilities each can draw upon as in striving toward their desired future. But it does mean that if an unresolved issue from the past is preventing a person from moving forward as desired, a coach should suggest the involvement of the appropriate professional rather that play a role he or she is not trained for.

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Q. I'm currently in counseling or therapy... does that mean I shouldn't be coached?

A: You can still work with a coach while you're in counseling or therapy, and sometimes the combination of approaches can be extremely effective. In fact, more and more therapists also have been trained as, and are marketing themselves as coaches. I have worked with people who also were working with a mental health professional, and can report that these people have made tremendous progress. Highly recommended: Let your therapist and coach know about each other.

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Q. I'm interested in getting started. What do I do next?

A: I would be honored to speak with you. We typically begin with a free consultation that can last up to 45 minutes, during which we will both have an opportunity to ask each other questions and more deeply explore whether we’re a good fit for each other.

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Q. What are your office hours?

A: You can click here to see my availability and to schedule a free 45-minute consultation.

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Q. Why should I choose you as a coach?

A: Great question. Let’s face it: you have many options. There might be a better coach out there for you than me. If you’re considering investing in coaching conversations, do some research to find the right coach for you. Above all, find a coach you feel comfortable enough with whom to share your thoughts, dreams, hopes and challenges. Good coaches are non-judgmental and don't insist that you see things their way - and they'll offer you a no-obligation consultation to let you assess whether he or she is right for you.A good coach is never offended to know that you are considering them along with other candidates.

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Q. How can I know you are trustworthy enough for me to share what's going on inside me?

A: As a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) seeking to maintain my credential and earn higher certification levels, I follow the ICF Code of Ethics. This code includes rules on confidentiality, conflict of interests, transparency and integrity. You can view the ICF code here. ICF has an ethics hotline that is available for you in the event you ever believe I have violated the code.

Even more importantly, you should know of the value I place on my own trustworthiness and respect for others. I believe this has been a key ingredient to all the successes I’ve had in life.

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Q. Why did you decide to equip and train yourself to do coaching?

A: It's a two-part answer: one part from my experiences, and the other from my deep beliefs and convictions. Over my entire career, from a young military officer to an information technology leader, I always experienced the most joy when contributing to the success of those around me. I vividly remember coming alongside people who seemed stuck in various stages of hurt, confusion or frustration, from the earliest stages of my career, giving them an ear, and helping to lift them to a better place. I also can point to several people I hired onto my teams whose career success has far surpassed my own accomplishments. I’d like to think I played a role in their success.

  

On to my deep beliefs and convictions. I strive to be guided by a Christian, biblical worldview. I seek to care for every person I encounter the way I see Jesus caring for people in the gospels. I am happy to work with people of any spiritual background and practice though I am not able to bring their practices and teachings into the coaching relationship (I will only introduce specifically Christian content and practices such as Bible study and prayer into the coaching relationship with each clients’ permission.) The God I trust in reaches into people’s lives with healing and encouragement. I want to follow his lead.

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Q. How much does WineFlash Coaching cost and how do you accept payments?

A: Take a look here at the coaching plans I offer, what is included in each, and the financial and time investment required for each. I accept payment via PayPal and Venmo.

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Q. Why do you offer Coaching "packages?" instead of individual sessions?

A: Coaching is designed to faciliate change and transformation by helping people gain new perspectives on themselves, their circumstances, and the new directions they could intentionally pursue. Brain science has shown that for most people, true and lasting change is a process that requires time to re-wire our brains and to practice new ways of living, working and being. It takes time, repetition, and patience.

An ethical Coach does not drag out the process longer than necessary. Whether the focus is business coaching (time is money) or personal fulfilment (people are precious), it’s important to build momentum and make continuous progress. So… the Coaching Plans balance the need for time and patience with the need to get moving and keep moving.

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Q. Why do you think it should take longer to coach senior organizational leaders than for other people?

A: I suggest that meetings for senior leaders may be scheduled less frequently than twice per month because their sphere of influence affects many people, can involve a number of processes and interactions, and it generally takes more time for senior leaders to carry out and measure the success of assignments that arise from coaching. People who are younger in their careers can often apply new learning to their professional situations more quickly, and can see results faster.

There is flexibility in these suggested schedules and I will discuss the best arrangement with every client individually so we are in agreement on the best plan to move forward with coaching.