frequently asked questions

How does coaching work?
We make an initial appointment which is either via the telephone or in-person to discuss what it is that you'd like to achieve during the coaching relationship. If you decide we're the right people for you, you then nominate which package will suit you best. From there, we schedule regular appointments either weekly or fortnightly. You also get to choose what you want to work on in each session and you choose how much or how little work you do in between appointments. 

Most people think coaching is about goal setting - while that's an important part of the process, it's not the only factor that we focus on. We're here to help you develop self awareness and self acceptance build your confidence and clarify your life direction. These are goals in their own way - they're just not as tangible as some other goals.

ISN’T COACHING ALL A BIT ‘RA RA’?
Our coaching style is low key. We’re not highly motivational, ‘high fiving’ coaches. We work with you to find out what is important to you and we help you work out how you can achieve that. We believe that lasting change takes time so we steer away from making promises we can’t keep. We know that we’re only ever going to be effective when you’re ready to make changes and we’re patient about the fact that for some people, that takes time.

Having said that, we will challenge you from time to time. We’ll listen and empathise but we’ll help you to understand what gets in your way. Our aim is to create a space where you feel completely supported and understood but one where you can imagine a life that is more fulfilling.

How do I choose a coach?
Until you have worked with a coach, you won’t know whether you suit each other.  The single most important  part of the coaching relationship is that you and your coach ‘connect’.  The best way to find out if you are suited to a particular coach is to have an introductory session so you can find out whether their style suits you.

HOW SOON CAN I SEE YOU?
We have a commitment to keep our practice small and specialised. In Melbourne, you'll be working with Kate James who sees no more than fifteen clients a week. Generally speaking, there's about a two week waiting period to make your first appointment. Let us know if it's urgent and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

I'M NOT SURE IF I NEED PERSONAL OR CAREER COACHING. CAN YOU STILL HELP ME?
Many of our clients want a mix of both personal and career coaching, which is fine with us. As long as you let us know you'd like to work on both areas, we will ensure we match you up with a coach who has experience in both areas.

I THINK I WANT TO LEAVE MY CURRENT ROLE AND START MY OWN BUSINESS. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THAT?
Absolutely. We'll make sure you are working with a coach who has business start up experience.

DO YOU HAVE COACHES ALL OVER AUSTRALIA?
We currently have coaches in Melbourne and Sydney and we offer a telephone coaching service Australia wide...and we pay the call costs.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT TELEPHONE COACHING. IS IT REALLY AS EFFECTIVE AS FACE TO FACE COACHING?
We were sceptical in the beginning too! It's surprising how effective telephone coaching is. In some cases, it's actually a better model for coaching. It's time efficient - you don't have to travel or park and it's very personal and interestingly, because you are really focused on listening, the conversations generally cut to the core of the issue pretty quickly. If you're still in doubt, give it a try in an introductory session. You might be surprised.

WHERE DO YOU SEE CLIENTS FOR IN-PERSON SESSIONS?
We meet our clients in Melbourne or Sydney CBD.

Is coaching expensive?
Coaching is an investment in your future. Whilst we provide exceptional service, we aim to keep our prices realistic. When you compare our costs to other top coaching organisations, you'll be pleasantly surprised. And when you consider the impact of not achieving your goals, not having a plan for the future or the impact of staying in a career that you loathe, coaching might become a necessity, not a luxury.

We're happy to talk to you about a coaching package that will suit your budget. Let us know if you need a payment plan - we'd be happy to help.

How long do people generally continue with coaching?
Most people find that six sessions is the minimum. Change doesn't occur overnight so we'd rather under promise than have you believe that three sessions of coaching will completely transform your life. In an ideal world, you'll continue your coaching for between three and six months. This is a realistic time frame to make permanent change. Some clients continue indefinitely, making a regular monthly or six weekly appointment. However, we respect that this is an individual choice and each client will differ and we're happy to work in with your personal requirements.

It's also worth remembering that even after completing a program, life continues to change. You are always welcome to come back to coaching further down the track.

What are your ethical standards?
We operate within the ethical standards set out by the International Coach Federation
http://www.coachfederation.org/abouticf/standards.htm.  We are committed to providing a professional service with a guarantee of confidentiality.  We will provide you with a Coaching Agreement at the commencement of your coaching outlining our terms of business.

Can I get more information?
To arrange an appointment or to discuss your needs further, please contact us.