What Is Life Coaching Anyway?
I know you may be asking yourself……..What is Life Coaching anyway? Who needs a Life Coach? What is the difference between a Therapist and a Life Coach?
I’d love to take the opportunity this week to explain WHY I decided to become a Life Coach, the DIFFERENCES between a Therapist and a Life Coach and WHAT I can possibly do to help your child, your family or just you as an adult…..looking for some kind of change or direction.
My Why:
When I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I would play school in my back yard for as long as I could remember and I would teach my invisible students all they needed to know about Math, Science, English and Social Studies. It was a real gift in life to know exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up and I couldn’t wait to have real students, in a real classroom.
I went on to teach 1st Grade for a few years and I absolutely loved every second of it.The kids were sponges and they loved to learn and be encouraged. It was the most rewarding job and it was everything I dreamt it would be.
Fast forward a few years, my husband and I decided to start a family. I assumed that all of my expertise and knowledge from teaching would roll right into parenting. I really thought I was going to NAIL this next chapter but……. I was WRONG.
Parenting my first child ended up being much more difficult and complicated at times then I knew how to handle. I spent years trying to navigate the different and evolving hurdles that we faced raising my first daughter and now…..when I reflect……. I see where I could have done a better job but also I see what REALLY helped.
Isn’t that the way in life?…..We try something we have never done before (parenting) and we succeed and fail along the way. My failures and OUR successes as a family has inspired me to help others. I realized that in my darkest days, there were lessons and new perspectives that would shift my world dramatically.
I learned there is growth in the pain, there are lessons in the challenges and there is beauty and light even in the most routine and mundane days. These little “life nuggets” revealed themselves to me when I felt hopeless and scared for my daughter and for her future. During those years that my daughter was working through her anxiety and depression I threw myself into school and personal development. I experienced major shifts in my way of thinking, learned how to center myself in chaos and what I love the most about this journey is the uncovering of my “spiritual side”. When I say “spiritual” it does not refer to religion in any way. Spirituality in my life is more about having faith that all will work out for the best and also the self recognition that my own thoughts (positive or negative) shape my daily experiences. I speak so much of gratitude in previous blogs but it really has become the cornerstone of my mindset as I start my day. All of these new thoughts and practices have changed the way I view stress, conflict and emotions. I truly believe that our children can benefit from learning these skills early in life. I know as an adult, I wish I had these tools available to me earlier than 49!
So why Life Coaching?
Life Coaching fell into my lap during an extreme immersion in my own personal growth. It kept popping up in places and planting seeds as to how I can be of service and help other kids and families going through similar situations. Mental Health and Positive Mindset has become such a passion of mine and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned. Within the last year I completed my certification as a Core Energy Coach which is certified through ICF (International Coaching Federation) and was completed through the IPEC Program. My coaching niche’ is teens and parents but the umbrella casts wide over anyone who is looking for positive change in their life!
The Differences between a Therapist and a Life Coach:
Therapy is designed to help you heal. Therapists are qualified to treat mental health conditions, work through trauma and take deep dives into past experiences.
Life coaching is designed to help you succeed in a forward motion. A Life Coach helps break through blocks, establish clear goals with accountability as well as supports and mentors the client through life’s challenges and successes.
How Can I Help Your Family Or Teen?
My HOPE, VISION and DREAM for The Butterfly Coach Project is to use my teaching/coaching background to guide teens and parents through the rough waters of teen anxiety. I have walked in these shoes as a parent who felt lost with no direction and I have witnessed my daughter feel hopeless and alone. I know the frustrations and the fear you may be feeling as you read this blog today. I am here to tell you in this moment …….
IT WILL GET BETTER!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I AM HERE FOR YOU!
XOXO🦋
CONNECT WITH ME
@butterflycoachproject