ON COACHING

Coaching is a relatively new field. Its rapid growth points to an incredible need for people to create lives that are more meaningful, balanced and holistic. The theoretical roots of coaching as a discipline stem from the fields of sports psychology, solution focused therapy, goal setting theory, education, positive psychology, organizational development, and goal setting theory.  Post-modern philosophies, such as social constructionism have influenced the way that humans think about the nature of reality and our capacity to create a preferred future (Orem, Binkert, & Clancy, 2007).

Given the breadth of philosophy and research available, coaches have begun to move away from relying purely on intuition to guide clients and now utilize a variety of evidence based coaching technique that has proven effectiveness for clients.

My training utilizes evidence-based perspective rooted in the sciences of applied positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, goal-setting theory, solution focused coaching, and applied meaning.

COaching Vs Therapy

• Coaches: work with the future /Therapists: work with the past

• Coaching is all about creating the future/Therapy wants to heal the past

• Coaches: work with the conscious mind /Therapists: work with the unconscious mind

• Coaching is a co-equal partnership/Therapy puts the therapist in the position of power as the expert

• Coaching is used by people who are baseline functioning and want to flourish/Therapy is used by people who are having a really hard time functioning

• Coaching is discovery oriented, based on human potential theory/Therapy is based on the medical model of diagnosing illness and disease

• Coaching helps clients design lives/ Therapy resolves emotional issues

• Coaching focuses on self-exploration, self-knowledge, and self-management and moving forward/ Therapy seeks the past to heal emotional wounds

• Coaching wants to get clients to the highest point of life satisfaction/Therapy wants to take clients from dysfunctional to baseline functional

• Coaching works with blocks (mental or physical) that need to be removed/ Therapy looks for personal dysfunction and pathology

• Coaching focuses on present and future/ Therapy focuses on the past and present

• Coaching expands a client’s potential/Therapy cures hurts

• Coaching meets the client where they are and helps them move forward/Therapy examines unfinished business from all stages of life

• Coaching focuses on solving problems in the here and now in order to reach a specific goal/Therapy looks at the historical roots of past problems

• Coaching brings power, control, and joy to the now/Therapy wants to ease the past

• Coaching asks “What’s next?”/ Therapy asks “Why?”

• Coaching focuses on what is possible/Therapy focuses on the problem

Terms of Coaching

Coaching is a process. Many people create change for themselves in a short amount of time, but to refine and sustain the changes can take several months.   

Fees: My coaching retainer is $ 75.00 per hour for scheduled appointments.

Our sessions take place via phone or in person if you’re available locally. During phone sessions, you place the call to me at the appointed time. My coaching number is 303-517-5488. We have up to 60 minutes available for your scheduled appointments. Sometimes you will be better served by a shorter call, and sometimes we will take the full amount of time. It is about the value of the session to you, not the length of time.

Changes: If you need to re-schedule our time, let me know the day before if possible. Unless there is an emergency, if you have not given me reasonable notice, and do not show/call in for your appointment, we will not make up that session.

Problems: If I ever say or do anything that upsets you or doesn't feel right please tell me about it during the check-in at the end of our session or via e-mail at amber.giauque@gmail.com.

My commitment

As your coach I cannot guarantee results. I can tell you that you will create different results just by having the courage to experiment with your approaches to the various aspects of life. During the time we spend together in our coaching, I will devote my time, thought and energy to you exclusively. In between our sessions, I may not be readily available as I will be attending to others, including myself. I will do my best to return your call or email within 24 hours Monday through Thursday. I will maintain confidentiality regarding information you choose to share with me. I am not trained to provide psychotherapy. If any issues come up for you that should be handled by a licensed therapist or physician, we can stop coaching while you attend to these. Or, if coaching and therapy can co-exist for you (you can still move forward toward your goals), we can continue to work together while you also work with other professionals.