I have a confession to make. I don't like the name "Life Coach." It seems very vague to me, and frankly, there are many people tacking that name onto the end of their credentials because they want to solicit advice and get paid for it. For me, "life coaching" is about mentoring, educating, and teaching.

Hiring a coach that is also a Licensed Psychotherapist is incredibly smart.

Why? Because you're working with someone who has a quality higher education, a license that has incredibly high standards of care and practice, and many years of theoretical, philisophical and psychological knowledge to back up their practice.

Entering into a change relationship with a life coach (read: mentor, educator, teacher) is smart because you already know what you want, you no longer feel a need to go down "memory lane" with family demons of the past, and you have specific goals you want to accomplish.

Past histories do come back to harass us. A seasoned counselor is able to recognize these “themes,” bring them to your attention and work quickly to help you move past them so you can step right back into the present moment.

My Approach

A Counselor is a Life Coach with in-depth training. But a Life Coach can never be Counselor. Not without a higher education, proper training and proper licensure. It's just that simple.

My clients will learn core principles of the change process, including:

• How thoughts, emotions, and actions are connected (Read this article on the topic: "How to Un-Disturb Yourself")
• Why subconscious thoughts drive behavior
• The role intuition and mindfulness play in change
• The unique connection between mind, body and spirit
• How homework and journal exercises between sessions make change happen more swiftly
• How meditation, self-talk, role-playing, role rehearsal can aide the change process
• How to recognize destructive thoughts that keep you stuck
• How to set realistic goals and take action on them
• Develop a support group meant to hold you accountable during your change process
• How to push yourself out of your comfort zone at work, at home, and in social settings

As a Psychotherapist, I follow the general principles of Albert Ellis and his Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) theory. Albert Ellis, it has been noted, followed the philosopher Epictetus. Both say essentially this: All suffering and discomfort is self-generated. Individuals are responsible for their own actions and have the ability to control their own thoughts, feelings, and actions, thereby creating less discomfort and suffering.

My counseling philosophy is identical to my coaching philosophy - that which closely resembles the idealogy of Albert Ellis and Epictetus. It just so happens that some of my clients have a diagnosable disorder such as Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and some do not. Both of these clients are treated almost identically by me, with only a few minor exceptions.

Is Coaching Right for You?

If you are interested in changing your thoughts, feelings or actions, and you don't have a diagnosable disorder like anxiety or depression, life coaching might be for you. Even if you've been diagnosed with an illness like depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder or the like, life coaching helps with symptom management. In fact, entering into a Supportive Change Program with I Choose Change is a perfect way to make sure you stay symptom-free.

Many seek out a coach with help on issues such as these:

• Parenting concerns and effectiveness strategies
• Marital and relationship enhancement
• Workplace and career dissatisfaction
• Personal and professional growth
• Depression and Bipolar Disorder Symptom Management
• Anxiety, Phobias, and Fear Symptom Management
• Marriage and Relationship Issues
• Chronic Health Afflictions
• Personal and Professional Growth
• Grief and Loss Issues Symptom Management
• Stress Management
• Disorganization, General Unhappiness and Feelings of Low Self-Worth