Professional Coaches » Family Coaching

Family Coaching

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:38:45 +0000

Family coaching requires the ability to bring a family together as a team. Families are comprised of individuals with their own interests, values, beliefs, problems, and goals.

It can be tricky to bring a family together as a team when everyone is going different directions.

First, obviously, you must identify any problem(s). What are the problems the family has as a whole and individually? It’s important to outline the individual problems of each member and then diagram how they create problems for the family as a whole.

Address Individuality. Determine what “issues” might just require everyone learning to appreciate each other’s differences and accepting each other as individuals. Family has to learn to appreciate individuality, even if it’s not necessarily their vision for the person, and support that individuality. Acceptance nourishes bonds.

Teach communication improvement. Communication is key in any relationship. Families must learn to openly, comfortably, communicate with each other and accept communication from each other.

Find common goals or dreams that can bring the family together. Having a common goal or dream provides a foundation for forming bonds, teamwork and communication.

Teach how to foster love and purpose. The feeling of a purpose is a great motivator. Some people take for granted that someone they love should already know they’re loved – have them practice the art of showing and receiving love.

Mend relationships and teach conflict resolution. Relationships have to be mended before they can prosper. Get hard feelings out in the open and focus on forgiveness.

Teach the best practices for conflict resolution and remind of “acceptance of individuality”.

Build a family team. Families that work together as a team build great relationships. Teach them how to attack every day routines and challenges as a team. Give them ideas for games that will foster teamwork. Do trust challenges and even create ideas that will help them learn more about each other’s individuality.

What other practices do you implement in Family Coaching and are there any specific methods you’ve found to be successful?

Karen J. for ProfessionalCoaches.comSimilar Posts:

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International Coaching Federation

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:54 +0000

The International Coaching Federation (ICF), is an organization that not only awards credentials for professional coaches, but also offers a goldmine of information and resources to its members.

According to the ICF, the following are the core competencies of professional coaches:

Setting the Foundation
Co-Creating the Relationship
Communicating Effectively
Facilitating Learning and Results

Regardless of what type of coach you are, these core competencies ring true. Without them, it would not be possible to support or guide clients toward an appropriate goal. But, do these competencies look the same in all types of coaching? Are they applied the same by life coaches and executive coaches? Or is it more about the individual coach rather than the type of coaching? Every coach implements these competencies in one way or another, but depending on the coach, more focus may be given to one competency over another.

Members of the ICF are also listed in a directory on the website. A potential client can enter in several pieces of qualifying information including geographic location and type of coaching desired, and then a list of ICF member coaches is displayed.

This added marketing benefit may be reason enough to join, the additional credentials notwithstanding. For many potential clients, additional credentials can be a relief. There has been some buzz over recent years regarding the regulation of the coaching industry. As such, having additional credentials may put potential clients at ease.

They are in the process of updating and redesigning their website so we’ve found that a few of the links aren’t working but we’re sure they’ll be fixed once they get the kinks ironed out.

Lisa on behalf of Contemporary VA

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Putting Stress into the Proper Perspective

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:18:35 +0000

When life’s little stresses get to be a bit too much, have your clients ask themselves: "Will this really matter five years from now?" You’ll find that this quick tip can really help place any immediate stressors into proper perspective. Finding out you’re wearing two different colors of socks or running out of an ingredient for tonight’s dinner may still be stressful at the time, but relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of thing. This is a great coping technique which will allow your clients to give themselves a break and focus on what really needs immediate attention. Another way to keep life’s little stressors in perspective is to have your clients find something to be grateful for or to divert their attention. Sure – the different color of socks can be embarrassing, but when these things happen (and can’t be immediately changed), advice your client to purposefully look for something else to focus upon. If he can place his attention upon the new falling snow or the colorful holiday lights, it takes his mind out of the immediate situation. Learning how to properly handle stressors is so very important today, especially when there are so many external pressures that can’t be changed. Using a few tips and tricks can certainly help everyone get through a tough day.

Linda for Contemporary VA

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The 3 S’s of Personal Finance

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:58:37 +0000

Turn on the TV or read the news and you’ll see stories of the millions of Americans struggling financially. As a culture, we remain blind to the devastation of bad financial decisions until we are completely overwhelmed. And, when the economy is shaky, the chance that families will break apart and lives will shatter just increases.

Because finances play such a large role in a person’s well being, coaches must definitely address the subject by bringing a plan with them to the table. I like to use 3 S’s to explain how financial goals should be set and believe other coaches could use this same system with great results. The 3 S’s are: stabilize, standardize and simplify.

Stabilize
In the step of stabilization, families need to quit adding to debt, especially credit card debt. Because debt can easily grow large and create stress fractures in any family unit, stopping the outflow of money that hasn’t even been earned yet is a priority. Another step in the stabilization process is to track cash spending for a month’s time.

Once the spending habits have been stabilized, it’s time to determine how to standardize finances.

Standardize
In the standardization process, the family creates a spending plan by putting essential spending first. This includes the rent or mortgage, utilities and taxes. This is similar to creating a budget, but should be flexible enough to handle emergencies and should include “fun” spending money. Using the tracking done in the stabilization step can help a family create a realistic plan they can live with.

This step also includes building a savings plan. Since savings is the financial rock upon which families need to stand upon, this step needs to be implemented as soon as possible.

Simplify
Once the plan has been built, it’s time for families to simplify their financial choices. Help families understand how important it is to determine the difference between wants and needs. Yes, a family might need a car for transportation, but the choice of a BMW versus a Chevrolet is a want. If the family is really struggling financially, helping make some changes to simplify and downsize might be a great longer term option to get the family back on track.

By implementing the 3S plan, families can begin to make their money work for them – instead of having to spend all their time working for their money.

Linda at Professional-Coaches.com Similar Posts:

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Teenage Coaching

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:33:34 +0000

If we are to understand teenagers then it will be good for us to understand some of the journey that they take from childhood to adulthood ‐ the journey of adolescence. My whole reason for writing this is to help people, help you, and find a better way and how that impacts your relationships with others ‐ particularly young people. If adolescence is anything it is a process of change. Someone has said that change is usual except from a vending machine! And of course young people are not machines but rather changing people in a changing world. Teenagers are put through some of the most confusing and irresistible few years of their lives as they prepare to enter the world as young adults. These years put incredible amount of strain on families that do not know how to handle their anxious teenagers. Depending on the circumstances that are in the child’s environment, if there have been numerous moves from one school to another, city to city, or maybe country to country, this factor alone can have a significant impact on your child. Teenagers sometimes turn to groups. Coaching can be great for teenagers, especially if a parent is involved. As coaching is usually requested by a parent, a coach, teen and parent can probably find ways to work together that work for everyone. Common Teenage Problems:

Inability to relate to others
Little or no sense of own identity
Anger and aggression
Melancholy and depression
Endless conflicts
Learning disabilities
Attention issues
Low motivation
Drug and/or alcohol abuse
Avoids responsibilities

When coaching teens, a sensitive area is trust. Discuss this at the initial meeting – and earn trust – don’t demand it! Gain a clear understanding of what is confidential and what information can be shared and with whom. Regular meetings with parents and teens together can be very useful. Teenagers are no longer children and not yet independent adults. They may be traveling a rocky road to adulthood. We coach teens to deal with the sensitive, complex teenage years and the risks they present to many young adults. Coaching teens is often most successful when families and/or teachers are also involved. A coach works with the "team" to provide effective coaching. Also, many schools offer programs for struggling teens. Wilderness therapy programs, emotional growth classes, residential treatment centers, mentoring programs, and character-building boarding schools are examples. Are you a ‘Teen Coach’? Are you a business personal or professional coach? we would like to hear from you, write us at admin [at] contemporaryva [dot] com Professional-Coaches.com

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Parent Coaching Part II

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:52:20 +0000

Coaches are also keen to stress that parent coaching is about ensuring the well-being of the parent, rather than focusing on the child. If the parents are happy and secure, their children will automatically feel safe. Parent coaches can help parents crack negative parenting patterns, understand their child’s developmental stages. Main issue is that parents are not being confident in their own behavior! They’re not sure if they’re doing their job well enough, and this insecurity can be taken advantage of by their children. So coaches try to teach parents relationship skills which will help them respond well to their children. Coaches also stress how important it is for parents to have time for them – leave the washing-up till the next day and relax in the evening. If you’re constantly trying to be perfect something’s got to give, whether it’s your health or your temper. Families are scattered across the globe and the network of community is frequently weakened or lost through separation, divorce, relocation, job demands and other changes. Even when you do have close access to family members who have "been-there-done-that", you may not get the best advice from them. Best friends or parents may think they know what’s best for you, but they often promote their own staunch, old-fashioned opinions without considering the child’s personality, long-term goals or other factors in a situation. These difficulties indicate an area where coaching is needed, and where you may become proactive by teaching your children to make decisions using their best judgment and problem solving skills. Parent coaching educate them by setting and defending our own boundaries and by negotiating and accepting the boundaries of our siblings or playmates. A parent’s job is not to solve children’s problems, but to teach them how to make compromises and solve problems on their own. The aim of coaching is to allow children to take control of their lives and their learning, to think beyond the present and instant gratification, and realize they are responsible for the impact their decisions have upon themselves, the ecosystem and others. Coaching provides parents with an opportunity:

to gain skills and knowledge to face change with confidence,
to discuss strategies to deal with the challenges that modern day parents face,
to become observers of their own behavior as we can only change what we notice,
to make choices about changing their way of being,
to put steps into place to approach their relationship with their children differently,
to be accountable to themselves for the changes they wish to make,
to maintain close family relationships, which in our constantly changing world are more important than ever.

We will become a far more positive society when reaching out for support to help us deal with modern day parenting challenges is seen as a healthy thing to do instead of a sign of weakness. After all it is our next generation we are talking about here and they deserve the very best start in life that we as parents can give them. Are you a ‘Parent Coach’? Are you a business personal or professional coach? we would like to hear from you, write us at admin [at] contemporaryva [dot] com Professional-Coaches.com

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Parent Coaching Part I

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:17:40 +0000

Coaching is a guideline or it is pen book that teaches you each time and build confidence, powerful thinking, and decision making. During our life at some place and some time it is difficult to manage it, at that time we need support and share our problems with someone else. So we need coaching guide lines to overcome these life issues, the coaches and parents, they work as team and achieve that parents need. Coaching face challenges, not knowing your son or daughter’s abilities, can make impossible to take decision, so here you need some of coaching discipline to get assistance. Is it important for parents getting coaching? Yes it is important, because the feelings of child are created or he/she feels in environment around them, or anywhere else, they share with parents. Parents have a key role to play in reducing behavioral problems in child and also proven to increase a child’s social stability, educational achievement, and even their potential to have a solid marriage as an adult. The children are also more curious about the world around them and develop greater problem solving skills. An effective Parent Coach is a highly trained individual who listens intently, asks key questions, provides Information, and offers specific suggestions to implement new attitudes and strategies in your family life.

Are you wishing for help when confronting issues related to kids electronics of all kinds?
Are you expecting your first baby and fretting about child care, or going back to work, or nursing, or caring for your new infant?
Do you feel baffled about your toddler’s tantrums?
Are you worried about a lack of patience?
Do you wonder how to relate to your teen?
Are you having challenges with a blended family?
Are you feeling guilty about working outside the home?
Are you having trouble balancing work and family?
Do you wish you could stop yelling so much?
Are you wondering how to get your kids to listen?
Do your teens tune you out?
Are you worried about appropriate boundaries for your teens?
Do you feel like your kids are out of control?
Is your child having a hard time going to bed or sleeping at night?
Is sibling rivalry driving you crazy?
Are you concerned about your child socially?
Are you concerned about meeting your kids needs related to divorce?

Above is only a short list of the multitudes of issues parents deal with. There are so many things that rob parents of their confidence, their peace of mind, and their sense of joy in parenting their children. This is where parent coaching, with a trained parenting professional, can really help parents feel better, capable and successful in achieving the results the parents are hoping for. Are you a ‘Parent Coach’? Are you a business personal or professional coach? we would like to hear from you, write us at admin [at] contemporaryva [dot] com Professional-Coaches.com

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What is family coaching about?

admin — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:40:31 +0000

Here I am, once again writing another article related to personal coaching; this time my topic is family coaching. Family coaching is a broad term used for this profession; it may be further divided in Teen Coaching and Parent Coaching. Question… What is family coaching all about? We all have witnessed the impact of “broken” families in our country… increase in jails being built, children’s homes being overcrowded, government handouts skyrocketing, and even metal detectors in our schools. Anger is at an all time high with children killing children. Can it be stopped, this devastation, the disintegration of the family unit? Yes Family Coaches can help; families learn to forgive the hurts that separate hearts. These coaches are out there to reconnect family members through intensive “coaching” sessions. By working together with all family members, families heal the hurts that cause distance in relationships. These coaches compassionately help family members build strong family teams that will WIN at life. What are the goals of the family coaching?

Family Crisis,
Overwhelming Issues,
Anger/Stress Management,
Poor Communication,
Teen Pregnancy,
Addiction & Abuse,
Violence/Suicidal Threats,
School Drop Out Prevention,
Gang & Discipline Concerns,
Blended Family Issues,
Marriage Mending

Are you a ‘Coach’? Are you a business personal or professional coach? we would like to hear from you, write us at admin [at] contemporaryva [dot] com Professional-Coaches.com

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