Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does life coaching cost?
• How is life coaching different from therapy?
• Is life coaching confidential?
• What issues can I bring to a life coaching relationship?
• Shouldn’t I be able to figure things out on my own?
• Does a life coach give advice?
• How long will it take before I start to see changes?
• What does committing to life coaching entail?
• How long will I need to be coached?
• Do I need to commit to a certain number of sessions?

• What happens during a private coaching session?
• What happens during a group coaching session?
• What is the difference between private and group coaching?
• What is phone (or Skype) coaching like?
• What tools do you use?
• Is there work to do between sessions?

• What is Minnie’s training and experience?
• Does Minnie adhere to a code of ethics?
• What sort of people does Minnie coach?
• Why should I choose Minnie as my life coach?
• How do I know if Minnie is the right coach for me?

ABOUT LIFE COACHING IN GENERAL

Most people will tell you that the return on their life coaching investment significantly exceeds the price they pay for it. Quantifying life coaching’s value in monetary terms is difficult – how do you put a price on mental clarity, self-awareness, motivation, and increased personal satisfaction?

This is why I offer a commitment-free complimentary coaching session to anyone interested in my services. This offers us a chance to discuss your needs and expectations, and how we might meet them. I also explain my life coaching package, including my rate, during this session, after which we each decide whether we are a good ‘fit’ and should begin work together. If you’re curious and feel ready to begin life-affirming coaching, then you have nothing to lose: get in touch, and let’s talk !

Good question! Life coaching is a future-focused, action-oriented process. By building on your strengths, life coaching empowers you to move faster towards your goals. Therapy tends to be more about healing deep emotional issues from the past. While there may be some therapeutic moments during a life coaching relationship, life coaching is not therapy and this is an important distinction to make.

While past experiences may be discussed during coaching, it is always with the intention of better understanding your present situation, in order to help you move forward.

Yes, absolutely! I adhere to the International Coach Federation’s Code of Ethics, and that includes confidentiality.

A lot! Issues from both your personal and professional life can be tackled. You may find that the initial reasons that brought you to life coaching shift after we begin – this often happens as we look deeper into what’s really going on. Read this coaching story as an example, or peruse my client testimonials.

Life coaching can help you to:

• Lead a more balanced, peaceful and joyful life
• Find time for your passions and responsibilities, and space in between
• Define your purpose on this planet and align your life accordingly
• Start a business or other important project
• Find a new romantic relationship
• Explore new career options in a creative, open-minded way
• Improve communication skills with loved ones or colleagues
• Manage a challenging workload and become happier and more productive at work
• Shed limiting beliefs and unhelpful behaviors
• Channel your energy better so you maximize your potential to reach your goals
• Become more comfortable in your relationship with money

A lot of people ask themselves this, or: ‘I know what I need to do, I just haven’t done it yet…’
It’s not that you can’t do it on your own...but rather, why haven’t you?

Old, ingrained habits and limiting beliefs are often to blame for not living to one’s full potential. Uncovering and changing these requires dedicated focus that is easier with an experienced guide by your side. Having my support and encouragement along the way also makes a big difference and you’ll achieve your goals quicker and have more fun doing so. You’ll also learn why you couldn’t achieve them as easily before, so you are better equipped for any future challenges life throws your way.

No. My role is not to tell you what to do, but rather to empower you to find your own answers. We all need expert advice from time to time, but more important is knowing whether this expert advice is right for us. The coaching we do together will help you connect with your own inner expert and listen to the sage advice it offers you.

I may from time to time suggest books, exercises or tools that I think will help you with a particular issue. It is always up to you whether or not to accept them – or to approach your issues in an entirely different way. My goal is to help you progress faster, and if you have a better idea as to how you can do that, great!

This depends on a number of factors, including: how ready you are to make change, and how much time and energy you invest in the process…particularly in completing the action items you set for yourself during our sessions.

If you invest yourself fully in the process, you will probably start to see shifts fairly quickly. This feels exciting and there are even moments when you can feel a little overwhelmed at just how much change is happening on different levels all at once!

Committing to life coaching means making a considerable investment in yourself and being ready for positive life changes. This means devoting your time, energy and financial resources to your personal and professional growth.

Showing up (or calling) for sessions, and doing the work in between, requires time and energy. Recognize that going through this kind of change process requires focus and awareness above and beyond your regular day-to-day life.

But it’s not all about what you give out! You will be rewarded many times over for your investment by the new perspectives and clarity you gain, the new things you learn about yourself and the motivation you feel to move forward with your projects.

For the greatest return on your investment – in terms of time, energy and money - I recommend you stay in the coaching process for six months or more. That is when the changes you are making – the new habits and perspectives gained - start to become an integral part of your life and there is less chance of you slipping back into old habits.

The kind of coaching I offer is designed to bring about profound, sustainable change, and as such I ask for a minimum commitment of six months. This gives you time to integrate the changes and anchor new behaviors. Your commitment will pay off, and you may - like many of my clients - continue coaching well beyond that! Note, however, that you have the right to stop coaching at any time. Check out the testimonials or a coaching story to hear about how other clients have experienced change through coaching.

ABOUT THE PROCESS

Private coaching sessions last about 50 minutes and can take place at my Montreal office or by phone - or a mixture of both depending on your needs. Life coaching is an organic, intuitive and fluid process that varies based on you and your needs at that specific moment in time.

I ask you to complete a short questionnaire and email it to me at least 3-hours prior to each session. This allows you to check in with yourself about progress since our previous session, and me to get a head-start before we meet. By providing the content for each session and preparing in this way, our sessions are efficient and productive.

There is no set structure to the session, although I will generally start by asking you what it is you want to focus on. From then on, everything depends on what you bring to the table; we are pioneers, exploring together the issue(s) most pertinent to you. We’ll seek to understand any blocks, keeping our minds open to whatever may arise in the process.

It’s likely that at some point during our session you’ll make a commitment to complete a certain action point – or several - before our next session. This is what it’s all about – courageously moving into unknown territory towards your goals, by taking one step at a time.

The beauty of group coaching sessions, is that participants benefit from the wisdom, experience and energy of each person in the group. Up to ten participants meet for a couple hours, typically in the evening, either by phone or in person. Themes are defined ahead of time, and members sign up for a series of sessions exploring that particular topic.

Group sessions are slightly more structured than private sessions, to ensure that everyone participates equally and fully. They begin with each participant updating the group on their evolution since the previous session, and end with each person making an actionable commitment before the next meeting.

Private coaching has the advantage of offering focused, one-on-one moments for growth and learning. Group coaching sessions are powerful in a different way. They allow participants to benefit from the wisdom, experience and energy of each group member. Group coaching is also a great option if you are ripe for change but have a limited budget. And, it is a great choice for someone who operates better in a group environment and is stimulated by hearing others’ stories.

Life coaching by phone or Skype and in person are different experiences, and both can be equally profound and transformative. Phone coaching tends to be a very focused experience, which is why sessions are no longer than 50 minutes long.

An advantage of phone coaching is that if you have a busy schedule, you can still reap the benefits without the added travel time. Some of my clients live well outside the metro-Montreal area and phone coaching has helped them achieve impressive results without us once meeting face to face.

Group coaching by phone uses conference call technology, and allows a group of individuals from a wide geographical area to come together and share a virtual coaching space.

Not sure about phone coaching? Contact me for a complimentary phone coaching session and see for yourself!
 

All sorts! I use a wide range of tools and exercises to facilitate the coaching process, all with the goal of encouraging you to think differently and to see your world from a new perspective. I use tried-and-tested coaching tools, as well as creative exercises that will have your right brain buzzing. For instance, I may suggest you create a collage, or may pull out colored pencils and have you draw whatever is blocking you! (You’d be surprised how often this helps…)

The choice of which tools to use at a particular moment is an intuitive one. I am constantly being inspired with new ways to help people understand themselves, and creating ways to help them define their issues faster, and in a more enjoyable way. One thing is sure: you will be building up your own personal box of tools to help you help yourself over the months and years to come.

Yes! Each coaching session, whether private or group, will unearth at least one – and sometimes a few – action points that you commit to working on before our next meeting. This may mean working on a specific, concrete item or taking time to reflect and journal about something that has come up during the session.

And, you guessed it, the more time and awareness you apply to your coaching between meetings, the faster you will reach your goals! In fact, you will find that the real coaching happens between sessions, as you take everything we have discussed into the testing ground of your life and start to see how things can be different.

ABOUT MINNIE

I have been coaching part-time since 2005, and full-time since 2007. My training includes a reassuring mix of formal coaching training, and rich and varied life well-lived - all qualities of a good coach! Read my story to find out more about my background and education.

Yes. As an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF), I take the coaching profession seriously and adhere to the ICF’s Code of Ethics.

I work with a lot of high-achieving, creative and feisty women who are often pioneers in their own field. This includes entrepreneurs, artists, managers and young mums. Most are juggling many projects, thrive on having a lot going on and are striving to surpass themselves. Having worked with hundreds of women entrepreneurs through a previous employer, I have a deep understanding of such women’s potential and challenges. (And yes, it sounds a lot like me too!)

All this said, I also coach people outside this profile. What is important is that you are ready for coaching , that there is a good fit between us, and that I am able to support you in the issue(s) you want to work on. So, whatever your story, contact me for a complimentary coaching session to see whether it’s a go!

I bring my appetite for life and passion for helping others to every session – read my story to find out more about my qualifications and experience. That said, only if you feel inspired and comfortable in my presence am I the right coach for you.

If you’re ready for coaching , I encourage you to set up a complimentary coaching session to see whether we’re a good fit.

We need to evaluate whether we are a good ‘fit’ together, which is a lot about chemistry. If you feel a strong sense of rapport, and that I will challenge, stimulate and inspire you to make the changes you desire, that’s a good sign. I, too, need to feel excited at the prospect of working with you, and confident that I will be effective in helping you reach your goals.

The best way for us to check out the fit is to have a commitment-free, complimentary coaching session , after which we both decide whether or not to go forward.

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