How does coaching take place?
This will vary from coach to coach and client to client. In most cases, coaching is done over the phone. This allows you, the certified professional coach, to work from the comfort of your home. Some coaches use "teleclasses" or "telecoaching." In these cases, a coach conducts coaching sessions over a conference line to several clients at once, or he/she can work with just one individual. Other coaches prefer to use e-mail for follow-ups between coaching sessions to check on their clients' progress and give continued support and motivation. Still others prefer in-person sessions for a more personal approach.

What type of people become Certified Professional Life Coaches?
Our students include, but aren't restricted to the following: Business consultants, fitness and wellness professionals, doctors, lawyers, social workers, meditation instructors, spiritual consultants, career specialists, massage therapists, hyponotherapists, NLP practitioners, Time Line therapists, somatic therapists, natural health educators, Hemispheric Integration practitioners, esoteric professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, MFTs, holistic health professionals, and biofeedback specialists.

How is coaching different from or similar to psychotherapy?
Some similarity exists, mainly in that the conversations between coach and client are confidential, as are those between patient and therapist. Largely, however, the coaching relationship is based on growth and movement toward achievement of goals, and not focus on the distant past. The time orientation of coaching is present and future, and in therapy it is mainly the past. Certainly there may be therapeutic issues that arise within the context of coaching. The Spencer Institute Life Strategies Coaching Program is not 'talk therapy' delving into the past recesses of personal history with no understanding of the patterns and brainwashing that are held often out of our conscious awareness. Life Strategies does look at the current influences from our past to eliminate any hidden obstacles that could become a roadblock to current and future success.

Our Life Strategies Coaching program is an integration of skills, states of excellence, and step-by-step thinking strategies leading to measurable and reproducible results through the use of Hemispheric IntegrationT techniques. As you go through the course and begin to practice the skills, you will appreciate the effectiveness of adding substance to the encouraging words as you become more than "just a cheerleader."

"I just want to say that the Spencer Institute Coaching Program, exceeded my expectations. The materials were interesting and well presented. Frankly, the assignments were a little more intense that I originally expected. This worked well for me because I now feel knowledgeable and have retained the material well. The study materials were thought provoking and definitely relative to my interests in becoming a coach. I especially appreciated the textbook. This book is also an excellent reference material. I also appreciated the conference calls with the Spencer Institute mentors. Our talks were motivating, and they answered my questions thoroughly. They were enthusiastic and supportive of my business ideas and also added their perspective.

Upon completion of the program, I feel well prepared and confident of my skills and coaching abilities. It is a lot more fun to promote my coaching business with the credentials of 'certified life strategies coach.' In summary, this coaching certification program was just what I needed to get my business launched and running well. I feel that participating in the program would be a wise decision for anyone interested in entering the field of coaching. Thanks!"

Best regards,
Donna Mar