=================================== TODAY's COACH Your News and Information Source for the Coaching World Volume 2 Issue 4 October 2000 =================================== Text Version - Page 2 of 2 (See http://www.todayscoach.com/TC2-4text.txt for Page 1.) QUIRKY NICHES IN THIS ISSUE: Angel Coach Canine & Equine Coach CEO's Change Coach Course in Miracles Coach Divorce Coach Grief Coach HIV Coach Image Coach Incompatibility Coach Infertility & Adoption Coach Life Story Coach Publishing Coach Ritual Coach Sensuality Coach Warrior Coach ================================================= QUIRKY COACHING NICHES ================================================= Angel Coach Denise Shaw Coryea, M.Ed. Angels love to "wow" us with solving our problems and bringing us what we want in miraculous ways. I teach people to tap into Angelic guidance in only one or two sessions. Clients receive loving, supportive, inspiring messages from their Angels, most often written in their own hand. They also come away with a very clear sense of their Angels' identity and tools that can usher in miracles. As a Reiki master, I "hear" spirits -- a lot of Angels among them. As a self-esteem/stress management instructor of 14 years, I hear people's personal problems -- a lot of problems. Angels started asking me to teach people to regularly use them to solve their personal problems. There is nothing worse to an Angel than being bored and unused. One client said that angels gave her some very specific guidance about her daughter's school choice for next year. "This was guidance I thought was impossible to bring about. But I did what I was told. When I called the school, I was told that a space had opened up the day before and that if she had called a week ago or in the spring, they would have said no way, and that her teachers' last name is Angell." Jennifer "I had never left my dog, Libby, in the 5 years I had her. My Angel, Joshua, assured me that he would take care of her while I was away on holiday, by giving me the image of him holding and cuddling her. Upon my return, I picked her up at the kennel. A staff person said, "Oh, you're Libby's mom. She is such an Angel. I held her every chance I could." Marian ~ ~ ~ You can contact Denise at dcoryea@snet.net. Also, she occasionally offers free teleclasses on angel coaching. Go to http://www.teleclass.com/ for the class schedule. ------------------------------------ Canine & Equine Coach Audrey Farley I have been blessed with the special gift of being able to interact and communicate intuitively with the animal world, in particular, dogs and horses. It is my belief that the "four leggeds" are messengers and teachers to humankind and if we "tune in" to our relationship with them we can learn a lot about ourselves and the things that make our lives joyful and meaningful such as unconditional love, loyalty, honesty, simplicity, and acceptance, to name a few. My gift has led me to a unique coaching niche for owners of dogs and horses. My coaching supports both the four-legged and the two-legged client. When owners are having challenges with their pet's behavior or their relationship with that pet, I help them to understand the problem, what to do about it, and what can be learned from it. Many times, both the pet and owner are trying desperately to get through to each other, but a lack of understanding prevents this. I help to create a bridge to connect the two. Once that understanding is achieved, communication opens up, and owners are often surprised to discover that their pet has a special gift to give them; an awareness, a new perspective; a healing; a strength! This special type of coaching can be as practical as training a problem "barker," or as personal as discovering what area of your own life your four-legged friend is trying to get you to take action on! I have over 30 years of experience training dogs and horses. My horse resume includes riding instruction, training, and competition in both English and Western disciplines with a large number of different breeds. I currently give private riding instruction and dog obedience classes. I have successfully coached owners over the phone from all over the country addressing a very wide variety of needs. I am committed to helping animals and humans live happily together and get the most out of these unique and important relationships. You will never find a better "best friend," and your four-legged friend just might be your best coach! ~ ~ ~ You can contact Audrey at atlantis@newmex.com. ------------------------------------ CEO's Change Coach Jo McDermott Most successful organizations are founded by very charismatic founders who are the energy and backbone of the organization. These founders created the idea for the organization (usually a business, but sometimes a church or other kind of nonprofit), and built that organization on the back of their own hard work and personality. In many ways the relationship these founders have with their organizations is that of a parent/spouse. The organization takes over a key part of the founders' lives, taking priority over most other aspects of life. The founder hand selects the personnel, guides the product development, personally chooses the marketing strategy and frequently is the number one sales person. At a certain point in the life cycle of the organization, the skills of the founder no longer serve the organization well, but rather hold it back. If every decision has to go through the CEO, if he has to be involved in all product development or sales calls, then the organization is limited to the time and ability of one individual. Many organizations, especially those with Boards involved in the decisions, replace the founder at this point with a leader who is more capable of delegating and building an "executing" business. There is another way, though. If the leader can understand which of his skills and traits are in the way, and if the leader has enough motivation to do something about it, they can learn new skills and can grow with the organization to the next level. I coach leaders in this situation. It requires bravery on the part of the leader to face the fact that the strengths that have gotten her to this point are the very things that have become weaknesses as the company goes to the next level. It requires a high degree of personal commitment from the leader to push into new skills and competencies. It is worth it, though, because the leader gets to see his creation prosper at the next level and the organization doesn't lose the energy, knowledge and history that the leader brings. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Jo at JoMcDermot@aol.com. ------------------------------------ Course in Miracles Coach LaVae Hoffman Students of A Course in Miracles constitute the unusual niche served by LaVae Hoffman, Ph.D. This unique practice grew out of LaVae's work with executives and professionals who repeatedly demonstrated that when highly successful people connect with the deepest level of truth, their lives expand into unprecedented fullness and meaning that create a ripple effect of wholeness and healing. Who could resist a call to support people in creating joy and abundance? Certainly not LaVae, whose own life includes a sustained level of transformational energy that has lifted her beyond the limits of her early experience and imagination. With gratitude and joy she provides support and encouragement for others who seek an expansion of their lives and achievements. Dr. Hoffman maintains a highly exclusive and limited clientele who request coaching sessions that cover the same topics and processes as standard coaching practices. In addition, however, they receive support for the change-at-depth that produces transformation and healing within each client's world. While working to address the cares and concerns of fast-paced personal and professional activities, LaVae's clients also ground their experiences in the realm of Spirit and secure for themselves a foundation that launches their lives to new levels of productivity and awareness. ~ ~ ~ Dr. Hoffman occasionally accepts clients who are not students of A Course in Miracles. She can be reached at lavae@mail.utexas.edu ------------------------------------ Divorce Coach Candace Hammond I discovered coaching after going through my own painful divorce. After going through counseling and getting some much needed help from a therapist I was ready to take a more pro-active step in healing my life and moving forward. Hiring my own coach helped move me from victim to a place of power and gave me the control back in my life that I was craving. In weekly sessions with a coach you can take some of the time to whine, but I will quickly move you from complaining to action. When you go through a divorce it creates a vulnerability in you. A coach can help you to rebuild your self-esteem and create active steps for moving forward with your life. Often, within a marriage we lose a piece of ourselves - through partnership we sometimes have compromised goals and dreams. I find that especially women have put their dreams on hold while they are busy mothering and being a wife. For these women divorce can provide an opportunity to resuscitate these long forgotten interests and passions and wake up a part of them that's long been asleep. I'm not an advocate of divorce. I think it's wonderful when people can stay together, but it doesn't always work out that way. Working with a coach who specializes in this area can help you to see that your old life may be over, but that there is a whole new, wonderful life still ahead of you. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Candace at mantis@capecod.net or you can visit her website at personalpowercoach.com ------------------------------------ Grief Coach Debra Phillips In five years, I lost or said goodbye to almost everything I knew and loved. Like a building in an earthquake, with each loss one floor crashed on top of the next -- until my entire world was smashed to rubble. Death, divorce, loss of love, sex, health, a prestigious job and financial freedom flattened me. One particular afternoon, grief overtook me and I ripped through the Boston Yellow Pages searching for "Grief," "Bereavement," "Death," or "Loss" counseling. Nothing. With a vengeance, I stripped the phone book of its worthless pages, sobbing uncontrollably and promising myself if I survived my pain I would find a way to help others through grief. Nearly a decade later, GriefRelief workshops are part of the joy of my life's work. And coaching people through any kind of loss -- death, divorce, health, empty nest, job, moving -- is a key component of my coaching practice. Because death is hardly a popular subject in our culture, we aren't taught how to handle the changes loss brings. Grief is a process to work through, that's why it is called "grief work." Having a knowledgeable coach to walk with arm-in-arm can be a valuable way to learn how to grieve. "Grief sucks," says humorist Annie Lamott in her book "Tender Mercies." "Unfortunately, though, avoiding it robs us of life, of the now, of a sense of spirit." She's right. And so is author Linda Carroll who summarizes best the goal I see for my grief clients' struggles. To recover from the pain, "the only way to move on is to grapple with it head on, to ride all the emotional waves until they finally deposit you in a quiet place." ~ ~ ~ You can contact Debra at Angel@GriefRelief.com, or visit her website at GriefRelief.com. ------------------------------------ HIV Coach Marianne Craig I coach people who are HIV positive. For five years I worked with this group as a therapist on issues like anxiety and insomnia. It hit me one day that people with HIV could really benefit from coaching - and it's true! Combination therapy has resulted in a good prognosis for thousands of people. But being positive brings up lots of stuff and it can become a whole way of life. As you settle into taking the drugs for life and managing your symptoms, you become aware that you are no longer the person you were before your diagnosis. Many people ask, "What will I do now? How can I make a contribution? What are my strengths? What new skills do I need?" This is where coaching comes in. Based in Brighton in the U.K., I work one-to-one by phone or face-to-face. The focus is usually on personal and career issues, together with the areas of confidence and support. Some clients are keen to go out to work but are unsure of their direction. Some want to do part-time volunteer work. One client was diagnosed at 26 when he was very active in the club scene where he also worked. Now, at 36 he feels uncomfortable in that scene. He feels well enough to do some kind of job but it must fit the person he is now. He is using coaching to explore new possibilities, including setting up his own business. One of my clients on welfare benefits has obtained funds from an AIDS charity to pay for coaching. I base my fees on a sliding scale and I will soon be starting an HIV coaching group over the phone. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Marianne at marianne@coachlifeandcareer.com, or visit her website at coachlifeandcareer.com ------------------------------------ Image Coach Ginger Egerton Weight issues are a major concern for many Americans. It is estimated that nearly 40% of all adults are significantly over their ideal weight. The diet and exercise industry brings in billions of dollars each year from people yearning for the ultimate answer to their weight issues. The diets have actually become a consumable product in this country. I began my career as a weight loss consultant and aerobics instructor in 1984. After I married and stopped working, my weight began to go up. By 1994 I was more than 100 pounds overweight. How did this happen to me? I knew everything there was to know about diets and exercise. Or did I? In 1998 I was led to an insight that changed my life. It was not my eating that was out of control. It was not my weight that was the issue. My life was out of control. The way I was living was the issue. For me going on a diet was like shoveling a sidewalk while it was still snowing! I could not find success in one isolated area of my life when every other area needed work too. Life is a system. My weight was only a small part of an overall problem. To reach my weight goal, every single area of my life had to be improved. As my life choices became more honest, I began to live with more integrity. I committed myself to living life from my own heart. I soon realized my weight was a symptom, not the problem. Within four months of beginning to make some major life changes, my weight had dropped by 70 pounds. There was no struggle. My body simply began to reflect my new life. I am now comfortable with my weight and I am able to choose my weight and maintain it. In 1999, I spent eight months designing a body image program. I now hold workshops and coach individual clients to reconnect with their bodies by reconnecting to their life. A healthy vibrant body begins with a healthy vibrant life. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Ginger at Ginege@hotmail.com. ------------------------------------ Incompatibility Coach Ed Shea I empower singles and couples to have great relationships by creating a safe place for them to close the gap between where they are and where they want to be in their partnerships and in life. I work to assist singles and couples to identify ways of interacting that can produce the kind of relationships they may be struggling to find. My personal mission is to heal the world one relationship at a time by helping people to be loving, conscious and intentional. Working primarily by phone, I offer an anonymous "environment" and provide structure and guidance to people as they learn to create more safety and skill in their partnerships. Each individual and couple create for themselves ongoing experiences of effective communication and resolution of issues with new vision and hope for their future. Inevitably however, people see their relationships as incompatible. I actually believe incompatibility is the norm in relationship; it is the chemistry (or the Petrie dish) that allows for growth. What we need from each other is what we (individually) need to grow about. We are the blueprint for each other's growth; we are vehicles for each other's change. I use a process in which people learn how to dialogue in a way that allows them to move from reactivity to intention and response. I get people to practice the skills of mirroring, validating and empathizing, leading them to develop a new understanding of each other and to respectfully watch each other's discovery process. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Ed at Coachimago@aol.com or visit his website at HealthyRelating.com ------------------------------------ Infertility & Adoption Coach Melissa Goggin My personal and professional lives have led me to an unusual coaching niche around the issues of infertility and adoption. I am personally infertile and have two (grown) adopted children. I have worked in the field of infertility (IVF) as a nurse and with Resolve. Inc. for several years. My medical background and experience with infertility support organizations have given me a unique perspective when I work with people who wish to explore these ideas. Infertility is a major life crisis and can affect all decision-making and relationships. Many people who are experiencing infertility do not really need a therapist, but can benefit greatly by having an objective but caring and understanding person to talk to. As a coach I work with people to identify steps that can be taken and ideas to explore to work through this difficult time. ~ ~ ~ Melissa is a Coach U graduate, has a private practice and is the WINGS (scholarship) Coordinator for LBF Intercoach, Inc. You can contact Melissa at mwgcoach@aol.com ------------------------------------ Life Story Jenna Caplette Do you have a story to tell, say about a three-month hiking adventure? Or your insights as a small business owner? Are you exploring your values, looking to see which are yours and which came from your family or community? Whatever their writing focus, I help people to gather and organize their memories, or those of a family-member, friend or associate. Story creates the basis for marketing campaigns and web pages, enriches the work of personal recovery and restoration, and gives a clear sense of who you are. In my Life Story Class, participants gain a sense of all the different stories they have to tell and experience commonalities with other students. They find inspiration to continue the memoir-process and receive further resources including The Top Ten Secrets to Writing Your Story. Inspirational, not to mention illuminating? Yes. And a lot of fun. When you're done, you'll be on your way to writing your story, alive in texture and character. Give a gift no one else can give to someone you love, or future generations -- your story. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Jenna at jennac@in-tch.com. To register for her classes, go to http://www.teleclass.com/ ------------------------------------ Publishing Coach Maggie Lichtenberg Many writers think that once they deposit their completed manuscript on the publisher's desk their job is done. Not so! Willing self-promoters who create a partnership with their publisher from day one receive the most attention and promotional dollars. Writers also think their agent will do everything for them. Again, not so. Good agents (i.e., agents that are (1) passionate about your project (2) have genuine connections to editors who are interested in your subject, and (3) will return your phone calls) are not watchdogs of the publishing process. You owe it to yourself to be that watchdog -- to be a friendly and reliably communicative author -- in order to receive optimal attention. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Maggie at maggie@maggielichtenberg.com, or visit her website at maggielichtenberg.com ------------------------------------ Ritual Coach Deborah Roth I laughed when my own coach dubbed me a "ritual coach" within our first month of working together, three years ago. Now we both laugh in wonder that what had then seemed like a whimsical vision (at least to me) is now reality! At the time, I was building my "regular" coaching practice, finishing my Master's degree in psychology (specializing in Women's Spirituality) and leading monthly Women's Full Moon circles. Creating meaningful, transformative ritual for myself and others was a passion, not a vocation, or so I thought. I'm not even sure when it happened, but at some point it dawned on me that my definitions of coaching and ritual creation sounded pretty similar -- in both instances, we focus our intention and attention to create a particular outcome and take specific actions to bring it about. In ritual, those actions are often symbolic and metaphorical, but no less powerful: sharing bread becomes an act of community building; throwing a rock into a stream signifies the letting go of old wounds; lighting a candle sheds new light and hope in a time of uncertainty. In the technically brilliant sterility of modern times, I believe we're aching to find new ways to make meaning in our lives. Truly transformative ritual allows us to infuse a sense of the sacred into our ordinary lives, to recognize major life events in profoundly satisfying ways, and to re-member our connection to our deepest selves and to each other. It is such a joy and privilege for me to be able to participate in the creation of these moments with my clients, my co-conspirators in the art of ritual-crafting! ~ ~ ~ You can contact Deborah at deborah@SpiritedLiving.com, or visit her website at AuthenticWomanU.com ------------------------------------ Sensuality Coach Juliet Motley-Wilcock It is believed that at any one time, up to 80% of the adult population are not satisfied with their sex lives. Of course most of us simply ignore this "situation," by performing our "duty" once a week, frequently in a mechanical, sometimes loveless way. An ever-increasing number of both men and women seek affairs or casual sex, and as any divorce lawyer can tell you, this is rarely the right solution. Sensual Heights has been created to help couples of all ages re-awaken their sexual chemistry and to then form a powerful bond. At the same time they will achieve new sensual and sexual highs not previously believed to be possible. Including the highly respected principles of Tantra and Taoism, Sensual Heights encourages a slow approach, of relaxation, sensitivity and control rather than the traditional sensation and stimulation approach that so often creates frustration and disappointment. Unlike Tantra and Taoists teachings, Sensual Heights does not involve any form of religious rituals or the need to meditate; instead the program helps its practitioners achieve a state of relaxation and empathy. It also helps to provide an understanding of the special ways used to create and maximize sensual, erotic and sexual pleasure that lead to a powerful bond. Whilst the Internet coaching is aimed primarily at heterosexual couples, it will also be very good for bisexuals, gay couples and singles. Workshops are available in UK, Jamaica and Europe. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Juliet at Juliet.mw@virgin.net ------------------------------------ Warrior Coach Pete Farmer, M.D. I work with top executives and executive teams who are more committed to the results from their increased effectiveness as leaders than to the survival modes of the past. Through 27 years in executive and teaching positions as an Emergency Physician, I have developed an approach to coaching that emphasizes rapid diagnosis and resolution. Using validated assessments, in a very short period of time I know more about you than your mother, allowing you to rapidly get a clear picture of your strengths, weaknesses, talents, competencies and passion in life. Defining your unique and quirky contribution to the teams in your life - whether at work, your family or in your community - gives you the freedom to take more of the right actions at the right time. Why coach Warriors? Ultimately, it's because I like working with people who are willing to risk themselves. Being a warrior myself also has a lot to do with it. In the Navy I was the Senior Medical Officer for the Apollo 13 recovery and worked with SEAL Teams, UDT and South Vietnamese Commandos on a Special Warfare Submarine. In the community I have worked in a high-crime city as a volunteer policeman and in a refugee camp teaching Afghan freedom fighters to be medics for the International Medical Corps. For relaxation, I enjoy studying Iaido, the martial art using samurai swords. I've always had fun playing hard in life, whether in Jungle Survival School, climbing Mt. Rainier in a snowstorm or running the last mile of a triathlon. I like working with people who know the difference between serious and significant and can have fun doing intense work. ~ ~ ~ You can contact Pete at DrPete@WarriorCoaching.com or visit his website at www.WarriorCoaching.com. ================================================= E-mail the Editor with your comments and suggestions. steve@coachu.com Subscribe or unsubscribe at: http://todayscoach.com/ Thank you!