What is a Life Coach?
Just as a sports coach assists an athlete with how to overcome obstacles, remain focused, and improve their ability, a life coach is objective, confidential, and skilled at listening. He or she provides honest feedback as a guide or mentor. The client in life coaching takes an active responsibility for his or her own growth and change. The life coach points them in the direction of wholeness.
Most coaches do the majority of their work over the telephone supplementing with e-mail due to today’s hectic schedules and busy traffic.
To learn more, watch the video below.
A Life Coach is Not a:
- Counselor: There is no diagnosis and/or treatment of mental, emotional, or addictive conditions.
- Therapist: If issues such as abuse are suspected and revealed a coach may refer clients to a professional in addition or in lieu of coaching.
- Teacher: The client may learn new information but that is not the sole purpose of coaching.
- Pastor: However, Biblical insights will be shared.
- Rescuer: But they do provide structure, encouragement and support.
- Lawyer: No legal advice will be given, nor should any sessions be viewed as such.
Disclaimer: Laura is not presenting herself as a legal expert or professional counselor. No promises regarding the outcome of relationships is given or implied. All decisions about relationships and marriage belong to the clients.
How to Begin:
Laura will send a brief pre-coach questionnaire which must be completed by all parties participating. She will assess the situation to determine if the client’s goals fall within her scope of expertise. Then a signed contract must be faxed or e-mailed.
A complimentary 15-20 minute initiation process is included in the first 1 hour session (making the first call 75-80 minutes). This time is used for the client to share objectives and ask questions, plus Laura will share an explanation of the policies and procedures of coaching and methods of making payment will be discussed. (Paypal is the norm)
Types of Life Coaching:
- Couples
- Marriage: For couples facing difficulty in a marriage or relationship Laura offers insight on how to work through the issues.
- Stepfamilies: Laura’s most popular coaching sessions are with couples who are attempting to navigate the difficulties associated with stepfamily living.
- Pre-Divorce: Laura draws from her twenty-fine years of divorce recovery expertise to assist couples in understanding the emotionally charged multifaceted issues associated with separation and divorce. Laura will not determine whether a couple should or should not divorce, nor will she provide a denominational viewpoint. Her job is to clearly explain the end result of divorce and to guide the couple through significant decisions.
- Women: For the woman who wants to go deeper in her Christian walk, or facing a life change, Laura offers insight, encouragement and hope
Disclaimer:
Life coaching sessions may not be used in a court of law. During a divorce professional counseling and legal advice is advised for both parties as well as attending a divorce recovery support group.
Should a couple desire to consider marital restoration, Laura will provide information and where to obtain assistance.
Consent and Contract:
An individual or couple becomes a client after they and their coach agree that coaching can be helpful and the match between them is good. Clients then sign a consent form and they pay for their first session.
Appointments:
Weekly or bi-weekly appointments are common. Duration of an appointment is 60 minutes. 24 hour notice is required for cancellation or the advance paid fee is forfeited by the client. Likewise, if Laura breaks an appointment with less than 24 hour notice she will provide a free 60 minute session or remit the advance fee.
Fees are determined at an hourly rate, based on coaching needs.
Termination:
Under normal conditions the decision to end the coaching will be mutually decided between coach and client. Laura does not offer individual coaching for males.
Website Disclaimer:
Laura Petherbridge is a life coach, speaker and an author; she is not presenting herself as a professional therapist. She provides no diagnosis, therapy, counseling, treatment or mental care services. No promises regarding the outcome of life or relationships is given or implied. All decisions belong to the client. Those who visit her site, attend her events, or use her services, to the fullest extent permitted by law, release, indemnify, and hold harmless Laura Petherbridge, from any and all claims, obligations, demands, damages, judgments, costs, expense or liabilities of any nature, which may have or may ever have against her, arising out of the programs and services provided by Laura Petherbridge, including, without limitation, all liability with respect to injury, disability, death or loss of damage to personal property.