What is Co-Active® Coaching?
It’s a coaching method in which the client and coach are active collaborators, two equals working in alliance. It’s based on the premise that the client, who is “naturally creative, resourceful and whole,” sets the agenda and the coach “dances in the moment” around that agenda. Co-Active® coaching is not limited to one segment of a client’s life but seeks to address the client’s life as a whole. A full description is found in the book Co-Active Coaching: New Skills For Coaching People Toward Success In Work And Life by Laura Whitworth, Karent Kimsety-House, Henry Kimsey-House and Phillip Sandahl.
How is coaching different from therapy?
Although therapy may include coach-like techniques and some psychotherapists also work as coaches, therapists are trained to diagnose and help heal emotional problems, while coaches are not. Coaches may suggest that a client consider therapy and may at times work with a client who is also in therapy.
How long is a typical coaching session?
A single session is typically 45 minutes. The initial “discovery session,” in which the client and I design an alliance for working together, is ordinarily two hours. The client prepares for the session by completing a “discovery questionnaire” and submitting it several days before the session.
What can I expect at a coaching session?
Typically, you’ll bring me up to date on what’s transpired since your last meeting, including any “homework” you’ve done, and propose a topic you’d like to be coached on that day.
Are coaching sessions in person or over the phone?
Coaching is frequently over the phone. For clients who live in Columbus, OH, and prefer in-person coaching, I’m able to arrange some in-person sessions, especially for the longer discovery session.
How long does coaching usually last?
The length of the coaching relationship varies according to the nature of the topics and the client’s needs. A minimum commitment of three months is normally recommended to achieve effective change.
When you coach a writer or artist, do you review the creative work itself?
No. I’m not a “book doctor” and certainly not a visual artist. I provide support and cheerleading through the book-writing and creative process, and work with artists of all sorts to defeat those “saboteurs” in your head or your heart, who say you really can’t do this, aren’t good enough, should not be spending your time like this, and so on.
