how coaching works

A coaching relationship establishes an ongoing conversation that draws on your own wisdom about what you want to do with your life, rather than looking for answers in other people, activities, or places. It’s not mentoring, consulting, or therapy. It is about your learning and development, over the lifespan.

The first step in a coaching conversation is to situate in the moment: what is it calling for? In service of what are we in conversation? Where are you stuck? What is working?

Once we are clear about our starting point, we explore how to reframe your perspective so that you can experiment with new directions. In Narrative Coaching, this is known as the “search and shift” phases, and it underscores the partnership aspect and the action orientation of coaching’s approach to supporting people in transition. Finally, we explore how to sustain the changes you are committed to making, which sometimes involves conversations with key people in your ecosystem so they know what support you need to move forward.

where i focus

  • Life at Work

    Many people approach work as if it were a battlefield. We explore ways to unwind the old tapes that drive that narrative and dig deeper into how work can bring fulfillment and even joy. You will learn how to work in new ways, with less emotional drama, more satisfaction and a greater sense of purpose.

  • Veterans in Transition

    Since 2013, I've had the honor to work with The Commit Foundation. I have coached dozens of men and women leaders transitioning from the military to civilian sector, and it is clear to me that our veterans face a unique set of challenges. We partner together in a focused, efficient and holistic way as we work through the professional and personal sides of change.

  • Business Leaders

    All organizations are networks of relationships, conversations and commitments. Whether you are a founder or executive team member, strengthening your navigation skills in these networks will bolster your leadership in significant and impactful ways.

my role as your coach

My responsibility to you is to create the conditions for meaningful conversations and to remind you of what you are seeking. Your part is to engage fully with the process, which means being open to learning and rigorously honest with yourself. It also means being willing to experiment with new narratives -- new ways of being and acting in the world that align more closely with what you really want in your life.

I also provide session digests when I think they will be helpful – these are short summaries of our conversation as I experience it from the perspective of an engaged witness to your work. They are designed to further your exploration and build more scaffolding for you to rely on as you move into action.

military veteran coaching

Leaving a military career is a daunting challenge for any veteran. Coaching can help you regroup as you take command of your future, and you will feel more positive about going in new directions and learning as you move through transition. 

I have learned so much from my military veteran clients, and they have helped me identify ways to step into coaching with more ease and intention. I also strongly agree with The Commit Foundation’s mission statement, which includes the statement that our veterans deserve the support and reinvestment of the civilian community because they bore the burden. 

why i love working with veterans

chat with me

If you’d like to explore coaching, you may book a 45-minute free consultation. If you’re ready to begin coaching, please select a 60-minute timeframe to book a session.

Please indicate whether you prefer a phone or in-person meeting, either at my north Arlington office or in the immediate D.C. metro area.