Frequently ASked Questions
Who should seek life coaching?
The type of life coaching I offer is best-suited to people who feel that they are functioning fairly well, but who seek to make their lives better.
How is coaching different from therapy?
One of the best analogies I've heard compares a life coach to a personal trainer. If you have a broken leg or suspect a serious medical condition, you would go to a doctor. But if you wanted to improve your fitness level, you would hire a personal trainer. By the same token, if you feel that you have more in-depth psychological issues you would like to address, you should seek out a therapist first to deal with those before engaging a life coach.
During the course of our work together, deeper issues may come up. In that case, I would refer you to a trained mental health professional to address those before we continued our coaching work together.
do you specialize in any particular types of clients?
I welcome all kinds of clients, but in particular I like working with people who feel that they are unfulfilled in their career choices and would like to strike out on a new path. I also specialize in working with members of the LGBTQ community. As a gay man, I am familiar with the unique issues that our community faces, and I offer a safe space in which to discuss them.
If after our initial consultation I feel that you would be better-suited to a coach with a different specialty, I would be happy to refer you to a qualified peer.
How long will it take?
Every person is different, so there is no set time for how long the process will take. It all depends on what you're looking to accomplish and the progress we make together. My aim is not to prolong the coaching relationship, but rather to give you the tools and the confidence to strike out on your own.
I don't Live In Your area. can I still hire you as a coach?
Yes, of course! I welcome clients from all over the world. We can arrange sessions via phone and/or video calling, whichever you feel most comfortable with.
What if I live locally? do you have an office where we can meet?
The majority of individual life coaching is done remotely, via phone and/or video calling. While this may seem counter-intuitive, it does offer advantages for both the client and the coach. The client can feel more relaxed in the comfort of his or her own home environment, which can encourage greater openness and sharing. From my perspective as a coach, I can focus on not only what you're saying, but on any subtle shifts in tone that can lead to deeper insights.
If you would feel more comfortable meeting in person (in the greater Providence RI area), we can certainly arrange that. Please contact me to discuss.