What is Julia’s approach to coaching clients?
As a coach, I believe in the client’s innate abilities to know and own their life. My role is to help uncover what’s next, together crafting an achievable and sustainable plan. I coach with a large toolbox, using my education, life experience and open nature to bring out in my clients what they want next in their lives. My emphasis is on life transitions, creating a Big Life beyond the career years, as well as leveraging leadership potential and aligning values to make a career shift. I use various methods, depending upon the client’s needs and goals. With my professional and academic background in leadership and small business ownership, I am able to share best practices for clients interested in relaunching professionally, including those considering starting a business. I also have expertise in non-financial retirement and life transitions planning and am able to help clients navigate the knowns and unknowns related to launching and leveraging new life chapters. Accountability and my ability to really listen and stay invested in each client’s success is who I am as a coach and person, so the work goes on between sessions and builds momentum. Very exciting stuff happens in coaching!
Who is an ideal client?
An ideal client is someone who is ready to commit to a new chapter and understands real change is an inside job. It helps to be a self-starter who understands what coaching is and is ready to dig in and get some work done. The more the client is willing to give, the more effective and expedient the results will be. There are no dress rehearsals, so an ideal client appreciates accountability, action and celebrates the victories and learns from the challenges and obstacles.
Why would someone need a coach?
Speaking from personal experience, I have used a coach in my life twice before becoming a coach myself. I sought coaching when I was stuck in my profession and uncertain if I was willing to let go of my identity as a business owner to take up new roles in my life. I also used a coach when I was between a job I knew had to end and not knowing what would be my next best chapter. For me, I found coaching most helpful when I was stuck in my life choices that didn’t really fit me anymore. I had outgrown where I was and unsure how to proceed with certainty. Often clients seek out an accountability partner with resources to share that deliver results. Think of coaching as a conduit between here and there.
What is non-financial retirement coaching?
Most people believe retirement preparation is mostly about finances. Yes, financial security is a primary and important buffer to assure a comfortable retirement lifestyle, however there are many other factors to consider. With certification in non-financial retirement coaching, I offer validated assessments designed to help clients see areas to focus on as they consider what they want next in life. In our coaching sessions we look at areas of strength and how to build personal awareness to assure an optimal fit for the next chapter. Ultimately continuing to have a purposeful and engaging life beyond work is a big part of our work together.
What is the difference between coaching, therapy and consulting?
Generally, coaching is present and future based and focuses on goals and aspirations; Therapy tends to start by looking at the past and seeking out ways to feel good again; Consulting offers advice and expertise in a few skilled areas. Think of coaching as a jack of all trades, geared toward asking pivotal questions to help clients realize what stories get in their way, which help sustain them, and what is needed now to find their own answers, offering advice and best practices only after clients have dug deeply themselves for their own best options.
How long does a client need to commit to coaching with Julia and why can’t clients book just one session at a time?
I have an 8 week package and a 12 week package. Both are designed to personally master momentum. Before committing to one of the packages, clients are offered a complimentary session to determine if my coaching style is a good fit and which package is most ideal. Booking packages allows more depth in the coaching relationship and frees up time to get to work. Once the contract period is complete, clients can re-contract for additional sessions with greater flexibility.
How do clients measure success?
By changed patterns, behaviors and positive outcomes that occur and are based on goals clients create toward the beginning of the contract period. Both the client and coach identify in advance and remain aware of the measurable goals to meet so the client feels a sense of ongoing accountability and accomplishment.
Does it matter if a coach is certified or not?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a governing body for the coaching industry and has worked diligently to create high standards for coaches who graduate from accredited programs. I selected the College of Executive Coaching because it is the only post-graduate ICF certified college in the nation. The training is rigorous and much of the course work is in-person learning, offers opportunities to practice coaching and takes a minimum of six months to complete. I feel the professional certification has made me a more confident coach with invaluable tools that I am able to share with my clients. In addition, I have attending the Hudson Institute’s Life Launch program, have received a certificate in retirement coaching from Retirement Options, a certification from Taylor Protocols to assess clients in the Core Values Index, as well as a certification in Immunity to Change through a Harvard University affiliated program.
What makes Julia unique as a coach?
I have an array of professional and personal experiences I bring to my coaching practice. I am a natural leader, learner and listener and really enjoy the process of watching people blossom from their own self-discovery and mastery. I see my job as bringing out the potential of clients, based on where they want to go and how they want to feel once the coaching sessions are complete.
