I get asked that a lot…

If you’ve got a question about what the heck life coaching is anyway, you’re not the only one. These are some of the most commonly asked questions about life coaching in general and my practice. If you can’t find an answer here, contact me so I can fill you in.

Tell me more about this whole “life coaching” thing, would you?

What is life coaching?

Life coaching sounds a little crazy, out there, self-centered, weird. I know.

But really, I like to think of it this way: life is hard. If you’re a human being, you’ve experienced your share of joy and challenges. Therapy is useful – it’s good to know where our patterns of behavior and emotional reaction come from.

To a point.

After we’ve taken a look at that stuff, what next? How can we move forward?

Life coaching!

Through life coaching, you can learn how to stop holding onto old patterns that keep you stuck and learn new tools for living a joyful, more peaceful life.

Life coaching focuses on the present and your strengths and goes from there.

How is life coaching different than therapy?

Therapy is primarily focused on digging around in your past and your emotions. It can help you get some clarity on why you have the challenges you do based on your childhood and what your parents were and were not able to give you.

It also likes to keep on giving you a diagnosis.

Diagnoses are not necessarily bad, but sometimes we truly do outgrow them.

Life coaching is focused on the here and now, regardless of what happened in the past. There are no diagnoses, just today and what you want out of your life.

Once you’ve exhausted therapy, where do you want to go?

I help people learn new ways of seeing the world that are not usually covered in therapy, including using your intuition to make decisions, using your body as a compass, listening to your inner wisdom, and laughing ourselves silly.

Am I right for life coaching?

Maybe yes, maybe no. But probably yes.

We can decide that together in a free 30-minute call, which you can schedule here. My previous experience as a therapist can help me determine whether you would benefit from life coaching, therapy, both, or just a long weekend in the Bahamas.

Can't you think of a better term than "life coaching"?

No. But I really wish I could. If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.

Give it to me straight: what exactly will I get as a life coaching client?

How are sessions structured?

I’m not big on structure, and I like to let the conversations flow. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t guide conversation as needed. I use a combination of my intuition, experience, and information from each client to figure out what to do next.

As a client, you will get homework at the end of each session, which we will talk about in the following session. Homework can range from simply noticing patterns in your life to writing letters to being ordered to chill out and have more fun.

If you’re curious about how I work, schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me!

Do we meet in person, via phone, or Zoom?

All of my sessions are conducted via phone. I have found over the years that this is how I work best, and it allows me to connect with people all over the world, without the hassle of having to find my best angle on Skype.

Will my life will be perfect as a result of your coaching?

No. And I prefer it that way.

Perfection is boring. And useless. My job is to get you comfortable with your imperfection so that you can begin to realize its value as a teacher.

You will however, feel more peaceful and able to find gold and meaning in all the difficult stuff. Which sounds kinda nice, don’t you think?

How are you different than other life coaches?

There are a lot of life coaches out there. Some are not so great, but many really are.

My strengths as a life coach are my own personal experiences, my strong intuition, my background in mental health, and my sense of humor.

I am also different than most coaches in that I offer e-mail support between calls. I do this because it is something I wanted when I hired a coach and because life happens. I also do this because I really love and invest in my clients!

It seems like a big financial investment.

That’s not a question, but I get it.

I’ve been a client. I’ve hired coaches for a little money and a lot of money. And what I have learned over the years is that when I pay more for something, I value it more. I show up and do the work.

I’m looking for clients who are really invested in and ready for change. And who get the value of my work.

One of my clients recently explained his decision to invest in coaching this way: “When I first heard of life coaching several years ago, I thought it was absurd new age BS. But once I saw all the areas of my life that coaching with Gail strengthens, I don’t think twice about the investment – it’s less than the monthly cost I was already spending on trying unsuccessfully to deal with things in my life (anxiety, addictions, insecurity, etc.). In that sense, I now see coaching with Gail as a wise “preventative measure” for my overall wellbeing.”

What else do I need to know?

How will my life change as a result of life coaching?

I can’t offer guarantees about any changes in your life as a result of coaching. This is because it really does depend on what you put into it.

That said, my past clients have left our time together with a greater understanding of themselves, what they need to be happy, and how to listen and trust their intuition in making decisions. As a result of developing these skills, they very often feel less stuck in their lives.

You can read more about what they have to say in the testimonials section of my Work with Me page

How does payment work?

Once you’ve decided to purchase coaching services, I will send you a link so that you can make an online payment. Next, I’ll send you a client agreement and questionnaire for you to complete before our first session, which you can schedule online.

If you are purchasing a single 50-minute session, full payment is due in advance of the call.

If you are purchasing a six-month coaching package, you can choose from two payment options: a one-time payment in full (prior to the first session), or a payment plan. (The first payment is due before the first call.)

What if I have to miss a session?

If you need to reschedule, I ask for 24-hour notice in order to avoid losing that session.

I also understand that life happens, though, and offer each client the option of rescheduling once (per package) within 24 hours due to illness, changes in schedules, etc.

If I need to cancel with less than 24 hours notice, I will comp you a free session (in addition to rescheduling our original session as soon as possible).

Do you have a refund policy?

I do not offer refunds for my coaching services, but have not found this to be an issue in the past. The free 30-minute consultation can really help you get a feel for my coaching and then invest in yourself if it is a fit.

Throughout my time with clients, I also routinely solicit and obtain feedback as to how the coaching process is going and address any challenges or needs as they arise. This helps keep both of us happy and ensure that the coaching relationship is beneficial.

E-courses are refundable within 7 days of purchase.

Any final words?

It’s me, so of course I do!

I love coaching. I love my clients. I love bearing witness to the challenges and changes they are experiences in their lives.

Because I love my clients so much, I give my all during my sessions and also in between sessions, when I answer emails (which is a rare service for a coach to offer) and have been known to send the occasional video message here and there.

I’m just really passionate about helping people learn to love themselves unconditionally.

If you’re interested in learning more about my services, schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Still got a question?

SEND ME A MESSAGE USING THE CONTACT FORM AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP!

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