The changes in my life since we first began coaching sessions have been nothing short of monumental. I entered into a weight management program and have, to date, lost over 16 pounds, dropped my cholesterol down to 137 (from 196), lowered my blood pressure back to normal, and regulated my pulse rate. I approach each day with an enlivened spirit and a greater sense of physical well being.
For many, this would have been enough. And ironically, for me, I had originally anticipated that my weight loss would be the only real goal of our time together. However, I have also found that through our sessions, I have dealt with issues that pervade my entire life and lifestyle. I have radically changed my living environment so that I can actually call it “home,” so that it is now a place of refuge and peace, and not simply the place where I sleep. I have realized that I control the choices I make in my life and, with that control, have come a revision and a reformulation of what I really value and wish to maintain in my life. My sexual activity has given way to a quest for intimacy that is not fleeting or transient. My spiritual life has blossomed in a way that I never anticipated—I am actually meditating every day! Eight weeks ago I would have not thought that I was capable of such an act. I have found myself slowly moving back into the community in which I live and finding acceptance, peace, and friendship. More than anything, you have helped me realize that I am not alone. Your simple presence in the midst of all these changes in my life has been a blessing and a great comfort.
I remember telling my spiritual director last month that I wanted to reclaim my life. I feel that the greatest impact of my coaching sessions has been that reclamation. I own my life again. The sense of empowerment that I have from that is beyond words and what makes it even better is that I cannot even envision myself going back to the way it was. In the past, I would go through peaks and valleys of behavioral adjustment, the normal highs and lows of emotional and spiritual immaturity. I truly feel that now I have reached a different plateau, if you will. That my thought processes, the way I react to the world, the manner in which I make decisions has radically changed. The world does not happen to me anymore, I act in the world.
~~Rob P., Doctoral Student and Priest
What can I say about my coaching from Sean? Honestly, there really are no words to express the gratitude I feel towards Sean for his words of wisdom and more importantly, his questions of reflection.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Sean in a number of roles, but the role of coach was a new one for me. One, I had no idea whether a life coach would really help me and two, I was not sure that Sean would be the right one for really challenging me where I needed to be challenged. I was wrong on both counts. What Sean offers is a voice of reason and a supportive challenge to your everyday thinking. He does not lose focus on what was, rather he focuses on what is and what can be true.
I came to Sean for help in trying to find my own identity professionally. I very much suffered from “imposter syndrome” as a professor and academic. I also had a tendency to put others’ feelings and needs ahead of my own. I was conscious of these things and relatively self-aware of where they stemmed. As a trained mental health counselor and a professor of clinical mental health, I had head knowledge of where my issues lay. Additionally, logically, I knew what I should be doing to achieve my goals. However, Sean helped me realize my true value and worth. He pushed me beyond the head knowledge to become much more practical about my solutions. We devised a plan of action for how to handle classes. We developed a flow chart for scholarship ideas to motivate me. Better still, he helped me recognize my own abilities and to stop discounting my successes and accomplishments. He helped me to stop being afraid of failure and to embrace the challenge of succeeding.
If you are considering investing in yourself by hiring a coach, Sean is the person you to help guide you the journey of self-discovery. He makes himself available to you on an as needed basis. This allows you to receive support, encouragement, and yes even challenges between sessions. He gives you small, manageable goals to work on, so you can see progress immediately. The sessions themselves are spent thinking critically about what you are bringing to the table for discussion. In a world that is filled with negativity and everyone shouting their own thoughts and ideas, Sean offers a buoy to seek refuge in the quiet and reflective moments. He truly listens to and cares about his clients. It has been a humbling and empowering journey with Sean. I value everything and cherish every moment. I am forever changed because I took the risk to ask for help. What’s holding you back from taking that risk yourself?
~~Michelle W., Assistant Professor & Licensed Professional Counselor