How specifically will you help me to reach my career and life goals?
I will assess your current situation, develop specific strategies for change, teach you how to connect with professional resources for support, problem-solve with you when the inevitable obstacles and challenges arise, and co-create new goals once your original goals are achieved.
What is your background specific to career development and coaching?
I am certified as a Personal and Executive Coach through the College of Executive Coaching. I have a 15+ year successful track record in helping clients to choose, change, or advance their careers. I am licensed as a psychologist (TX #34252 and CO PSY.0005292) and while career coaching and consulting are not therapy, my background and knowledge of psychology are helpful in all the work I do.
If I want to find a new job, how will you help me?
Together we will…
– Identify your job search focus.
– Choose a project management system to help you organize your job search.
– Fine-tune your resume, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile.
– Strategize about how to connect with employers and how to respond to interview questions.
– Prepare for a job interview.
– Connect you with sources of ongoing support.
– Assist you with salary negotiations.
– Help you to choose between multiple job offers.
Will you create my resume, cover letter, and/or LinkedIn profile?
During our coaching sessions, I will provide suggestions about how to make these materials effective. If you wish to outsource this area completely, I will help you to find a professional resume writer.
If I want to change careers, how will you help me?
– Recommend assessments to explore your interests, strengths, values, and personality.
– Teach you how to explore workplace options that are aligned with your career goals.
– Co-design with you a step-by-step career development strategy.
– Provide support and problem-solving during the implementation of your career development plan.
If I like my career but I want to advance, how will you help me?
– Evaluate your career history and help you to plan and take action to move to the next career level(s).
– Co-create and implement a strategic plan to ensure your career and personal decisions and actions are congruent with your individual goals, values, and preferences.
– Assess your emotional intelligence and provide suggestions for emotional skills development.
– Coach you about interpersonal effectiveness in areas associated with leadership (examples are stress management, work-life integration, managing difficult interactions with bosses / co-workers / employees / customers, job-shaping, etc.).
If I want to launch and/grow a business, how will you help me?
– Work with you to choose your business direction and strategy.
– Support you in taking action steps to meet your business objectives.
– Help you to decide which business tasks to complete yourself and which ones to outsource.
– Suggest sources of emotional support for the challenges of entrepreneurship.
– Coach you about the “people side” of business, work/life integration, and stress management.
What are the logistics of working with you?
I specialize in coaching via telephone, webcam, email, and project management software.
My coaching style is very similar to that of a consultant because my background is strong in business consulting.
I use inquiry, assessment, reflection, dialogue, and specific assignments to build your level of self-awareness, skill, responsibility, and sustained momentum. I provide structure, focus, feedback, and support as together we develop and implement concrete steps to assist you in attaining your desired vision and accomplishments.
What are your fees for services?
My fee is $175 per 45 minute meeting. There are a limited number of reduced fee sessions available; please inquire about availability.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, or PayPal.
Can we chat before I hire you so that we can decide whether we are a good fit to work together?
Yes. Please contact me to ensure that my expertise is aligned with the services you are seeking and if so, we will arrange a 15-20 minute telephone conversation.
What is your rescheduling/canceling/no show policy?
If you reserve a session time, then other clients do not have access to that time. If you are unable to give me 24 hour notice if you need to reschedule or cancel, there is a $50 fee. Many clients who find scheduling difficult due to work, family, or other life circumstances find e-coaching works best for them.
May clients email you?
Yes, certainly. Brief check ins are an important part of coaching and are included in the cost of session fees. For more in-depth questions, I will read everything and either address the content of the email communication at our next meeting or if an urgent response is needed, I will ask you if you prefer I respond between sessions and bill you for the work at the same hourly rate as my normal fee for work with you.
Are career coaching and consulting fees tax-deductible?
Sometimes they are. Please consult with your financial advisor or review the IRS guidelines on topics related to professional development.
Does health insurance cover career coaching services?
Usually, no. To receive mental health insurance benefits, there must be a diagnosis of a mental health disorder and/or there must be a provable “medical necessity,” which is not typically the case for career development and workplace psychology. If career concerns are part of a medical diagnosis such as anxiety or depression, then health insurance may cover therapy sessions.
Since you are a licensed psychologist, do you provide therapy?
Yes, in a separate line of business. If you are interested in pursuing therapy with me instead of coaching, please contact me to discuss it. (This form submits your information to a HIPAA-compliant email system.)
How long does the coaching process take?
It depends on what you want to achieve. For a very specific and time-limited goal such as interview prep, choosing between multiple job offers, or making an urgent career decision, we may meet only one time. For more complex goals such as finding a new job, making a career change, changing long-established patterns of behavior, or getting support in a highly challenging work environment, the change process may take 3-12+ months.
If I become your client, how often would we meet?
Clients have access to my calendar and schedule as needed. Meeting regularly creates momentum and increases the productiveness of coaching. After we discuss your goals, I will recommend a specific frequency but the decision is up to you depending on your schedule and budget.
Will you use a bunch of tests to tell me what careers I should choose?
When I believe assessments will be helpful and will accelerate our coaching progress, I will recommend them to you and it will always be clear the cost and purpose in advance so that you can decide whether to purchase the assessment(s). I am mindful of cost and I choose affordable, high-quality assessments.
If I am looking for a job, will you introduce me to a recruiter or to your network of connections?
No. I am not a recruiter who places individuals with organizations, nor am I a personal agent who markets individuals for job opportunities. Those are different jobs than what I do.
Can you provide me with names of hiring managers so that I can contact them?
No. If your primary goal is to obtain competitive intelligence about organizations, there are research professionals and associations who specialize in providing this type of information.
Are services confidential?
Yes. I will keep your information confidential except for rare circumstances dictated by laws (for example, any threat of harm to self or others). I also encourage you to be careful about what you send via email stored on work computers as many employers monitor employee communications.
Can you provide references?
Please visit my references page to read samples of what clients have written about me.
Does your business offer a guarantee?
I guarantee the quality of my services to you. The outcome is dependent on your motivation, effort, persistence, and also circumstances outside of my control (such as the economy or internal changes within an employing organization). Good outcomes are dependent on sustained action on your part. If you do not have the time or ability to take sustained action at this time, I recommend waiting until the timing is better for you to start.
Do you work with clients outside the U.S.?
My primary expertise is U.S. specific so if your goals require knowledge of another country’s employment norms and culture, please inquire about services and together we will decide if I have the expertise you are seeking.
May I record our meetings?
Let’s agree that neither of us will record the other. If you have questions about why this is my business policy, please ask me.
I have questions that weren’t answered here.
Please send them to me in advance of our first meeting and I will be sure to address them when we talk.
This FAQ was updated on 07/27/20.