Frequently Asked Questions

  • I usually explain coaching this way to new clients:

    Coaching is a professional, goal-focused partnership where your coach uses proven, ethical methods to help you clarify goals, uncover insights, and create actionable change—without giving advice or telling you what to do.

    We will discuss this further in our Discovery Call and can revisit this definition throughout our coaching engagement.

    The ICF (International Coaching Federation) has a good page that outlines what coaching is:

    https://coachingfederation.org/guide-to-experiencing-coaching-for-individuals/

  • Almost anything that matters to your work and your career.

    You're welcome to arrive to the first session with a clear topic, and just as welcome to arrive without one — figuring out what's actually going on is often the hardest part, and it's real work in its own right. For most people, it takes shape over the Discovery Call and the first few sessions.

    Some of the things clients bring include:

    • Considering a new role, or weighing an offer

    • Wanting to step into leadership, and not being sure how to start

    • Building confidence — in meetings, in negotiations, in your own judgment

    • Navigating a difficult relationship with a manager or colleague

    • Returning to work after time away

    • Figuring out what's next when the current path stopped fitting

    • Making a career change without a clear destination yet

    • Being passed over, and deciding what to do about it

    • Communicating more directly — asking for what you want and saying it plainly

    • Deciding how much time and effort a side project or venture deserves

    • Integrating your work with the rest of your life.

    And, if something comes up that's better served by counselling, therapy, or another service, I'll say so and help you find the right support.

  • Coaching is different from therapy.

    Therapy typically looks at the past to understand and heal, while coaching starts from where you are now and focuses on moving forward.

    Coaching services focus on personal or professional growth and are not therapy, healthcare, or a substitute for mental health treatment.

    If you're dealing with a mental health concern, a licensed therapist or counsellor is the right person to see.

    I hold a master's degree focused on learning science and am a Certified Organizational Coach trained through UBC's ICF Level 2 program.

    I am not a licensed mental health professional and am not qualified to diagnose or treat mental health conditions.

  • Yes. Sessions aren't recorded, and any notes I keep are kept private and secure. I don't share what we discuss — or that we're working together — with anyone else.

    The only exceptions to confidentiality are situations where I'm legally or ethically required to act, such as risk of harm to yourself or others, or knowledge of illegal activity.

    I follow the ICF Code of Ethics, which you can read here: https://coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics