ACCOUNTABILITY for the client's consistent forward movement toward achieving greater life balance, clarity of purpose, and life fulfillment. AUTHENTICITY as the client honors and lives by their own choices and values. CAPABILITY as the client comes to more fully believe in their ability to handle and express their feelings and desires. CLARITY that supports the client to see new possibilities and create goals that allows them to take new action in their life. COMMUNICATION modeled by the coach that allows the client to feel fully listened to without judgment, in tune with the nuances of the client's voice, emotions, and energy. CONFIDENTIALITY that creates a space for the client to feel a sense of courage and safety, freeing them to take greater risks for the things they most want in their life. CURIOSITY that allows for the discovery of what the client values most, dreams about, aspires to, and is passionate about. ENCOURAGEMENT that inspires the client's motivation to live an integrated whole life. EMPOWERMENT that allows the client to draw on their natural strengths and inner resourcefulness as they step into action toward their desired results and sustainable change. PROFOUND SUPPORT from the coach as the client breaks free of any self-limiting beliefs that keep the client stuck. YOU as the expert in your own life, and the agenda you hold for the present and future desires of your life.

1. The coaching relationship begins with designing the alliance between the coach and the client, a working partnership. A model of mutual responsibility to identify priorities, values, beliefs and desired outcomes for the client. The agenda always belongs to the client. ​​ 2. The coach supports the client's ability to honestly assess all areas of his or her life. Creating awareness and the ability for the client to clearly identify what is working from what is not. 3. The coach then helps the client recognize and enhance personal strengths, values and beliefs in order to set goals inspired by authentic desire and choice. 4. The coach uses observation, powerful questions and deep listening to support the client in generating new ideas and seeing new possibilities and resources in order to identify action, with a commitment to take the next steps. 5. The coach supports and celebrates the client's efforts and courage every step of the way, in both success and failure, always believing in the client... even when the client does not believe in his or her self.

COACHING IS NOT to be considered or construed as any type of consulting, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care or substance abuse treatment. COACHING IS NOT involved in the diagnosis or treatment of any medical or psychological issues, including cognitive or emotional disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). COACHING IS NOT about viewing the Client to be incapable of handling or expressing emotion. The Client’s expression of emotion when allowed without analyzing is actually a valuable part of the coaching process. COACHING IS NOT a relationship whereby the Coach relates to the Client from the position of “authority”, “advisor”, OR “healer”. COACHING IS NOT a substitute for advice or guidance which pertains to the expertise of other qualified professionals including legal, medical, financial, business, and spiritual. It is the Client’s exclusive responsibility to seek such independent professional guidance as needed.

Although many people experience valuable transformation in a short period, coaching is a process and the benefits of coaching build over time. Through years of experience, I have found that a minimum of three to five months is beneficial to maximizing the creation and sustainability of the client’s desired change. The ongoing support and encouragement of the coach helps the client refine and sustain change, making the experience of coaching as valuable as possible.

No one absolutely needs a coach. However, because the world around us continues to change at such a rapid pace, we are often forced into new situations or unforeseen circumstances without any say in the matter. Some of the changes that we face are exciting while others can leave us feeling devastated. Ready or not...change is constant! Becoming aware of any resistance to change may be your first step toward living a more powerful and fulfilling life created through personal choices.

​PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COACHES ARE NOT ALL THE SAME In most U.S. states and other countries, certification and licensure are not yet required. There are many people today who are calling themselves coaches who have not been formally trained in specific coaching skills. Many coaches come to the profession leaving behind other careers. These individuals often bring rich and valuable experience to their coaching, and at the same time may be presented with a difficult transition. For some it may be necessary to "unlearn" old skill sets in order to completely pick up the new and very unique skill sets used in coaching. Without training, a so-called "coach" may actually be transferring skill sets from another profession into their coaching, often impacting the client with a less than adequate or effective "coaching" experience. ​ WHEN YOU CONSIDER HIRING A COACH Understand that a coach is not a competent coach simply because they have other professional credentials or set high fees. Choosing a trained and credentialed coach is extremely important when considering which coach to hire. Be diligent in asking potential coaches if they have been specifically trained in coaching skills and currently hold or are in the process of acquiring a coaching credential. ​WHEN YOU HIRE AN INTERNATIONAL COACHING FEDERATION (ICF) COACH YOU CAN BE ASSURED: 1) The coach has received professional training from a program specifically designed to teach coaching skills. 2) The coach has demonstrated both understanding and proficiency of coaching competencies, and maintains the same high standards of professionalism that committed coaches from all over the world align with. 3) The coach is accountable to a high level of ethics and standards as set forth by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). *Not only should a coach fit your particular needs, but also align with a personality style that is uniquely a fit for you as the client. At your request, Sue is happy to make referrals to other coaches or other professionals if you feel there may be someone or something better suited for you as the client or your situation. The ICF website at CoachingFederation.org offers a Coach Referral Service; this too will help individuals, corporations, and organizations find a coach that best meets their needs.