Q: How is coaching different from other professional helpers?

A: Coaching is a specific form of providing service. It differs from therapy, mentoring and consulting. Coaching takes a present and future focus, emphasizing what each person wants and needs to live a fulfilled life. Coaching takes the approach of believing that each person holds the answer to their most fulfilled life; coaching helps to guide one towards that answer. In contrast, therapy usually focuses on problems of a mental health nature, and takes a past-oriented approach. Mentoring and consulting typically include an expert (the consultant or mentor) giving advice or guidance in order to complete a specific task or goal.

Q: How does coaching take place?

A: Coaching sessions take place via phone. Each session is 45-60 minutes in length. Typically, 3-4 coaching session take place each month on a weekly basis.

Q: What if I am having a bad day or have a question outside of my scheduled coaching sessions?

A: Coaching with Meraki Coaching includes unlimited email contact with your coach. Please be aware that your coach may be working with other coachees or attending to other responsibilities, so may not be able respond immediately. If you are experiencing a mental health or physical health emergency, please use local emergency health services such as 911, 211 or your local hospital.

Q: How does confidentiality work in coaching?

A: Confidentiality is a crucial part of trusting relationship between a coach and coachee. Your privacy is taken very seriously, and will be protected with careful measures. Exceptions to this are present through responsibilities your coach has as a mandated reporter. This requires disclosure of current, past or impending harm to self, others, children or the elderly, which must be reported to the proper authorities. Your coach will go over confidentiality during your first session; questions about confidentiality and privacy are welcomed at any point in the coaching relationship.

Q: Are there topics we can’t discuss in coaching?

A: Coaching is about you, and what you feel you would like to work on. For that reason, the topics that feel important to you are valid and acceptable for coaching. Exceptions to this include topics that are not in the scope of coaching, which include mental health and physical health concerns and topics that are of a consulting nature. Your coach is well-trained to recognize topics that might not be suitable for coaching, and will help you connect with other helping professionals as needed.

Q: What if the coach has never been in my kind of situation?

A: Coaching is intended to help guide one towards the answer that is best for him/her. Coaching does not include advice giving, fixing, or consulting. Instead, we will work together so that you can find the solution that works best for you, rather than a solution that worked best for your coach. For this reason, a coach does not need expertise in your situation, but rather expertise in how to help you find solutions for your situation.