WHAT IS EVIDENCE BASED COACHING?
Evidence based coaching is grounded in current research techniques paired with professional wisdom whereby a coach utilizes these tools to offer either:
Organic Coaching Sessions - These types of sessions involve the coach and the client working one-on-one either in person (if the client resides in the Vancouver Lower Mainland, BC – region) or virtually over zoom, phone etc. The agenda, goals and needs are determined by the client at the beginning, during the intake process, as well as the beginning of each session. The coach facilitates sessions in a non-directive manner supporting the client by listening, inquiring, and reflecting as the client creates a path to their own solutions.
Coaching Programs – Through a coaching program the coach has a chosen topic and/or topics with a pre-determined agenda that they guide clients through. These programs are designed to concentrate on needs and promote certain results useful for their coaching audience. This approach may be offered to individuals or in a group setting.
ACCREDITED COACH TRAINING
I completed my training through the Youth Coaching Institute - (YCI) which is an International Coaching Federation - (ICF) certified program.
Why does certification matter?
Nowadays, anyone can call themselves a life coach because there is no universal, governing body for the life coaching profession. Which, can be worrisome. However, the ICF is considered the Gold Standard for accrediting coach training programs. This ensures accredited programs and trainees are held to a high standard in areas such as:
codes of professional ethics
core values & core competencies
continuing education/professional development
coach mentorship & oversight
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SPECIALIZED COACH TRAINING
I had the honor and privilege of earning my certificate through the live, online-interactive program offered by the Youth Coaching Institute - also a social responsibility initiative.
As a result of this training I apply evidence-based coaching, integrated with behavioral science, as an empowerment tool to support youth and emerging adults. My training and skills also emphasize:
research informed practice,
trauma-informed practice,
cultural awareness,
cultural sensitivity, and
social responsibility.
Not only was I able to gain skills to be an effective life coach, but I gained specific knowledge and techniques to support adolescents and young adults!
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BENEFITS & RESULTS
Benefits
My training, skills and coaching interventions focus to enhance clients:
self-efficacy, self-determination, `
proactive skill building;
meaning, purpose & goal-orientation
Results
Studies show that evidence-based coaching enhances
goal setting,
goal striving,
goal attainment,
self-awareness,
self-regulation,
mental health,
resilience,
well-being,
and hope.
(Green, Oades, & Grant 2006; Green, Grant, & Rynsaardt 2007)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS COACHING?
Life Coaching is different from mentoring and sports coaching in that it is non-directive. It emphasizes a clients autonomy, voice and choice through a person-centered, strength-based, and collaborative approach. Coaching is a support service to help functional clients achieve meaningful goals and provides the structural support clients need to maximize their personal and professional potential.
WHAT'S BEST FOR MY TEEN? THERAPY OR COACHING?
This will depend on your teens specific needs and goals. Oftentimes, clients can benefit from both as they focus on different goals. *See the following for a better distinction of the two:
Therapy supports clients struggling with dysfunction related to psychological issues, concerns or symptoms that interfere with daily routines. Oftentimes they need help coping, alleviating pain and or distress related to trauma, disorders or illness. They are seeking a mental health professional with a goal to get back to/or as close to a state of normal functioning.
Coaching clients are considered to be functional with daily tasks and are considered psychologically normal and are able to cope well enough. Coaching clients are ready, willing, and able to be coached to better themselves, grow, and achieve higher goals in order to improve things like performance, relationships, and overall life satisfaction. Coaching clients are seeking an accountability partner to facilitate their growth to the next level.
WHAT DOES A SESSION LOOK LIKE?
THERAPY APPROACH VS COACHING APPROACH
When clients go to therapy they can focus on the past, present and/or future and may vary between being problem or solution focused, and could* be strength-based. The therapist is viewed as the expert to support their clients in processing what’s wrong and offer advice, opinions or solutions to help resolve problem focus areas. Therapy involves psychological testing, diagnosis and treatment.
Coaching focusses on the present as well as the future, is strength based, solution focused, and action oriented. Coaches do not offer advice, opinions or solutions. A coaches role is to facilitate their clients autonomy, progress, resourcefulness and growth in order to help their clients build on their competencies and to develop their own solutions. There is no testing, diagnosing or treating involved.
HOW DOES THE COACHING PROCESS WORK?
I recommend each client and their parent or guardian (if applicable) have a free 30 Minute Discovery Call with me to see if we are a good fit and to answer any questions. The discovery call will help us decide what type of coaching and the number of sessions that would be appropriate for the client.
From here the client will have an intake session to address client-focused coaching areas and for the client to set goals that matter to them.
Following this, clients will begin their 1:1 organic coaching sessions - ** Click to see Details**
DOES COACHING WORK FOR ADOLESCENTS?
Short answer: Yes!
Adolescents are in a stage of development where their social cognition is developing rapidly making it much easier for them to become more sensitive to others’ judgements about them. As they are developing their identity during this time they become more self-conscious and are dealing with heightened emotions, and hormone surges related to biological changes that are still new and at times difficult to process. Impulsivity and risk-taking is common through this stage in life and brings a healthy willingness for these individuals to separate from family to create their own path.
Considering this natural occurrence, adolescents are in a developmentally vulnerable stage. Having a non-judgmental adult who is impartial that a teen can reach out to, provides a positive support to guide them in making proactive steps towards a healthy independence.