MY COACHING PHILOSOPHY
What makes this practice unique?
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JourneyUp Coaching is about clarity and focus on the destination...
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But most importantly, about finding and being the most authentic version of yourself along that journey.
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We focus on solutions and goals, but we must get to root issues and deep self-awareness as well.
What will a coaching engagement look like?
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You guide the purpose and desired outcome of our time together.
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We'll explore what matters to you, and define what does success looks like
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We'll use a myriad of techniques and approaches to get there together.
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Some of our sessions will feel like we are merely inching our way towards progress, and other times we will have major ah-ha's!
My job is to:
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Ask curious and humble questions
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Listen intently
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Turn insights to action plans
Important aspects of my coaching:
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We focus on what you can control
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Performance vs. Learning Orientation: I have been a lifelong athlete, team leader, and driven achiever. In hindsight, I realized that I was often driven by a performance orientation rather than a learning orientation or growth mindset. I want to help my clients embrace a learning orientation.
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Performance orientation: interested in demonstrating competence and avoiding failure. Studies show that performance-oriented goals foster avoidance of challenging tasks due to anxiety about failure (Dweck & Leggett, 1988).
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Learning orientation: I hope to support others in cultivating a learning orientation in their endeavors. That is an interest in increasing competence for the purpose of personal development and growth, rather than the need to prove something or avoid failure.
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Coaching vs. Therapy: Coaching is focused on helping you address your current challenges and goals, whereas therapy is often focused on analyzing the past. I am not a licensed therapist, but I am a certified coach through Northwestern University's OLCC program.
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We will certainly spend time on past experiences, root issues, and understanding how your mental models and assumptions affect thinking, feelings, and behaviors. This is crucial for sustained success. But we will be current and future-focused, turning insights into actionable plans.
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MY APPROACH
To get technical...
My coaching philosophy and approach is based on three different models/theories from established coaching models and schools of psychology. The below three models can be referenced in
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL
Let's get to the root of the problem!
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that if you question and interrupt patterns of thought then you can influence behavior. Simply put, the way you think about things influences the way you feel about things. Using this as a foundation in my coaching practice, we can dispute/question our beliefs and mental models in order to come to an alternative perspective and action plan.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Leverage strengths!
Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology and scientific study focused on well-being, positive traits, and an emphasis on fulfilment/happiness. Put simply, we can drive purposeful change through focus on positive emotions and on identifying, developing, and leveraging strengths. Further, utilizing self-efficacy theory (one's belief that s/he has the capacity to succeed in a given domain (Albert Bandura, 1977, 1986, 1997), we can work towards having more control, motivation, and resilience in the face of setbacks and in working towards goals.
SOLUTIONS FOCUS
Let's get results!
While we will focus on root issues and come to the "why behind the what," this element of my practice is about co-creating solutions and goals that are pragmatic and allow for incremental and larger-scale wins. Clients have everything they need to be successful. You determine the focus, and we will work together towards solutions that are attainable and sustainable.
Coaching Models: Cox, E., Bachkirova, T., & Clutterbuck, D. (2010). The complete handbook of coaching. Los Angeles, Calif: SAGE.
Self Efficacy: Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The Exercise of control. W H Freeman/Times Books/ Henry Holt & Co.