I love to simply “be”, meaning, being a coach really isn’t “doing,” it’s “being.”  I am able to be present with someone, drop into her story with her/him, ask powerful questions, and watch her true authentic self come alive.  I love not knowing where the sessions will take the client, and it’s exciting to be a part of his awareness and growth.

Who is your ideal client?

What inspired you to become a Christian Coach?

When my husband passed away in 2015, I found myself stuck.  I hired Jennie to coach me and with her skilled coaching, I was able to gain insight and hear God’s design for my life.

Jennie was my coach, and I was so impressed by her natural ability and skills to presence with me in my vulnerability and a very difficult time.  It was such a life-changing experience, that I knew that coaching was something I was always meant to do in my life.  Christian Coaching School is a credible coaching school, but most of all, Jennie is extremely knowledgeable and professional.

Honestly, I looked forward to every single class!  My favorite part was coaching a client, recording it, and reviewing the coaching sessions with Jennie.

I would say that now I approach life and people with curiosity, authenticity, and love….rather than as someone who fixes, advises, and judges.

The reminder to come into a session with the posture of honoring where the client is, and trusting the Lord to take the layers off. All I have to do is be curious and ask questions, and defer to their way of getting to where they need to be.

I would tell them to talk with Jennie and read the testimonials.  I would tell them that CCS is a life-changing experience and an excellent coaching program. They will only gain from this program!

Coaching website:

Watch more of Lori’s story here:

I get to live out my calling to be a listener and create safe spaces for people to share their hearts! I’ve always been told that I ask good questions and am easy to talk to – and in being a coach, I get to do that, PLUS help people become more of who they were created to be. It feels like being the best possible version of myself – in order to do some of the most important work I can do in the world.

Who is your ideal client?

What inspired you to become a Christian Coach?

I’d known for a long time that I’m a great friend and relationship builder. But being a great friend isn’t a job (at least I never found a job opening on LinkedIn!), and I felt incredibly angsty about not knowing what my purpose was beyond being a mom. When I heard about coaching, I realized that it’s exactly what I love doing: listening well to people, building relationships with them, and asking them powerful questions to help them uncover what growth they’re being invited into. A light bulb went off! I had everything it took, with the gifts I’d been exercising since kindergarten, to learn to be a great coach.

My dear friend, Ellen Hoffman, trained with Christian Coaching School, and recommended the program to me. Being able to visit a class after speaking with Jennie after a consult helped me to feel like it was a kind of place where I could be at ease being myself, being vulnerable, and learning and growing alongside others.

I loved getting to see Jennie coach us, live. I was amazed at how it only took a few minutes for her to get to the heart of the matter with people that she was just getting to know. It helped me to see how a skilled coach can serve others in such a meaningful way by helping them go places they might otherwise be afraid to explore, and drawing out ideas that left them feeling excited, freer, and more confident.

As a natural listener and question-asker, it was SO humbling to get specific feedback and gentle corrections in these two areas. It was greatly freeing to realize it was okay to make mistakes, and that I was strong enough to receive correction and be teachable.

One of the things I hold onto is really believing in my clients, seeing the best of them, and encouraging them to see themselves with gentle care.

If you’re on the fence, I’d encourage you to observe a class if you can and see if you can picture yourself there! I’m also happy to answer questions about my experience if it would help you: charissa@braveselfcare.com

Coaching website:

www.braveselfcare.com

I love the premise that God initiates the change in those whom we serve. As a Christian Coach I come without an agenda, judgment-free, and ready to listen with discernment about where to direct the conversation and bring to light the a-ha’s that have been overlooked just below the surface.

Who is your ideal client?

What inspired you to become a Christian Coach?

I’ve always been that friend ready to listen and offer encouragement at the drop of a hat. I’ve also made my share of mistakes I’ve had to overcome and lessons I’ve had to learn along the way. Seeing women who look like me be written-off either by those around them, or by dismissing themselves of ever being capable or worthy of realizing their goals because of who they are or what they’ve done, fueled me to do so much more. I needed to build bridges for others in the way that bridges had been built for me. The grassroots of a vision to serve my community beyond the four walls of the classroom dropped into my lap only two months into my teaching career. I knew that in order to be prepared for the transition, I needed formal training with proven strategies on how to guide my clients through discovering what holds them back from finding the contentment they desire.

As a born-again believer in Jesus, my pursuit is always to view my clients through the eyes of Christ. I wanted my foundational certification to be attained where method and theory go hand-in-hand with biblical truths. To be honest, at the time I didn’t even know what coaching was or how it differs from therapy. As I began to do more research, there was something about Christian Coaching School that was drawing me in beyond all others. I’m no believer in coincidence, so I decided to take a mini-dive and book a consult call. My initial consultation with Jennie sealed the deal. At that time I was still trying to figure out how I fit into this new venture God was nudging me to start. There were so many unknowns, and I felt incapable of getting started – whatever that meant. Jennie put me at ease and confirmed that these aspirations were valid. Her confidence and care let me know that I’d be in good hands. I knew it would be the first step to so much more, and I am getting to see the fruit of that decision now. Jennie, I am forever grateful!

My favourite part of the program was the amount of live interaction, and the opportunity to develop our skills through practicum. Every coaching model taught and practised was first modeled live or through unscripted, pre-recorded sessions. Practising our skills on each other in such a safe space gave us a real sense of the coaching experience both as a coach and as a client. We got to see and experience first-hand how to work through roadblocks and get our clients back on-track.

Training with CCS gave me the confidence to launch into the business realm with the training and certification needed to develop giftings I hadn’t yet fully tapped into. Not only that, but the skills gained within the program have made me a much more empathic and discerning listener, and an overall better friend!

Since my training with CCS, I keep coming back to the importance of believing in the client by asking instead of telling and listening instead of giving advice. The training I received taught me that I can rest in God’s faithfulness to speak to the hearts of those He allows me to serve, and to provide the insight required for me to nurture them along the road to stewardship over their own lives. A coach is not there to fix, but to support in the process of becoming.

The investment was worth every penny. If you’re like me and you’re not into deep dives head-first, try a consult call. Come with your questions and the curiosity needed to consider how training with CCS can take you that next step forward. Register that business and claim those expenses! Do whatever you need to do to remove the barriers between you and the dreams you’ve been longing to walk out in the flesh. I’m living proof that it’s worth it.

Coaching website:

www.eyeswide.ca

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