WHY

We all want something more out of life; call it goals, ambitions, fulfilling our dreams, inner peace or just being happy. For a variety of reasons, we get stuck and some things are out of our control.

Life coaching introduces an outside influence & perspective that you can use to make a change.  We can’t see ourselves without a tool that is outside of us, a mirror.

Friends & family might not be the best mirror or advisor.  Maybe they don’t say what they should because they don’t want to hurt your feelings or maybe they have their own idea about the kind of person you should or shouldn’t be.  Maybe they have their own responsibilities and can’t fully commit to your situation.

This professional relationship presents the formal structure of expectations, accountability and specialization (academic, professional & existential conviction) not available in a casual relationship.  In other words, talking to a coach means a new method to get a new outcome.  

There are short term and long term outcomes. You might have a breakthrough or epiphany in a session but then later fall back into old routines.  So the primary goal might be to get the wheel (behavior or belief) out of the rut (a neural pathway or habitual behavior). The secondary goal might be filling in or redirecting the rut so the wheel doesn’t roll back in.

WHAT

Life Jutsu coaching is a co-creative process that I like to call zen-gnosis.  The “gnosis” is what I draw upon from the years of accumulating knowledge of systems and human behavior. This also includes what you report as the expert on yourself and your circumstances.  The “zen” is the intuitive process, or art of putting together a new path to get you to success. 

Since every client is unique, each session will be unique.   The stages of a session, the tools, pace and level of questions I use will all be based on the client. 

While there are basic steps every session will follow, there is no magic formula for success.   An org chart and daily planner might help an adult start a business but it might not help a kid with ADHD talk about trauma.  Some people need to analyze and brainstorm; others need to visualize and feel.  

Coaching is not Therapy

Mental health is on a spectrum just like our physical health. There is a difference in how you deal with bronchitis, the flu, a stubbed toe or fatigue. A life coach does not diagnose or prescribe meds or behavioral therapy but can receive a client with a diagnosis and can help them reach a goal that their therapist has prescribed.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that can diagnose a mental disorder and prescribe medication.

A psychologist can also diagnose a mental disorder but prescribes treatments.

A therapist is an umbrella term and generally deals with behavioral modification and probing social history.

A diagnosis is based on a specific set of symptoms, each symptom can be on a spectrum of degrees. There are black and white sets of symptoms but many of us are in a grey area. Everyone has felt anxious, depressed or traumatized at one point, the difference is if these feelings affect your survival or your success. If the symptoms are profound or consistent then a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapists will be appropriate. If the symptoms are circumstantial or momentary then a life coach may be appropriate. If you are seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist it would be helpful to let them know you are seeking a life coach and provide them with my contact information.