Though I have been working with college students and parents for just over 15 years, and have had many opportunities to coach them through the transitions that come with college, I have approached my own life and career transition with caution, wondering if I have what it takes to branch out on my own and start a coaching practice.
I have a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance Services and a generation of work behind me, at one of America’s best universities. I’ve helped students through homesickness, depression, aimlessness, behavioral issues, suicidal ideation, relationship problems, academic malaise, choosing and changing majors, leadership development, and all sorts of other developmental issues. I’ve had hundreds of conversations with college parents, helping them work through ways to help their students cope with the challenges of going to college, not to mention helping them adjust to their student’s development into an independent, free-thinking adult who may or may not act in ways that mesh with family values or their upbringing.
Knowing all of this, you might think that transitioning to a career as a life coach would come easily, but it took me several years of research into certification programs, talking through ideas with colleagues, students and parents, and a lot of soul-searching to finally commit to this path. After all, I have held a good job at a respectable university, have a good salary and benefits, and live in State College, PA, better known as “Happy Valley.”
Over the past few years, a confluence of events caused me to take a harder look at my life, and weigh the security of my current position against a few other things: the satisfaction the position was giving me, and the opportunity costs associated with staying on this secure path. I realized that my current position wasn’t rewarding to me in the ways it had been before, and that changes in my personal life (becoming a father, seeing my parents get older and have health challenges, and discovering I have a neurological disorder) had pushed me to reevaluate how I spend my time and energy. In the final analysis, I realized that I’d moved beyond my job, and that it just isn’t a good match for who I want to be, and how I want to spend my time and energy, at this point in my life.
So I decided to take a major leap of faith and try to work for myself, and create a position that would allow me to do the things I enjoy and feel that I do well, every day. I decided to leave my job, in order to move forward in my career. I’m not leaving my profession (Student Affairs in Higher Education)…I’m just going solo.
I recently began a coaching certification program, which started with a five-day intensive class, and is followed by independent work, a critique of my business plan, review of work with practice clients, and a final exam. From here, the program is self-paced, but I intend to finish by the New Year, if at all possible.
In pursuit of this goal, I need to begin coaching and I need practice clients. I’m seeking 2 to 3 clients, and would like to find college students and college parents that are having difficulty with the life transitions that come with college, and want to set new goals, redefine their relationships, and successfully manage the transition.
Practice coaching clients will receive 4 free coaching sessions (a $300 value). During these 45-minute sessions, we’ll explore current life issues, and any roadblocks in the way of your successful transition, so that I can help you discover ways to overcome the roadblocks, set goals and manage your relationships and your life plans. I’ll be using techniques that are part of the Life Purpose Process ©, a proven coaching method that has assisted thousands of people in finding their purpose and setting new goals for leading successful and balanced lives.
If you are interested, please e-mail me at sean@higheredlifecoach.com and we can set up a time to speak on the phone or chat online, to discuss the parameters of the coaching process. If it sounds like something you would be interested in doing, we’ll set up a regular time to speak on the phone or over video chat weekly, to discuss any issues you are dealing with, and to work toward setting and meeting your unique life and transition goals.
A couple of other notes if you are interested:
- These 4 to 6 sessions are offered for free, and no further obligation will exist on either side of the coaching relationship.
- I will not be asking you for money, credit card information, or enrolling you in anything.
- All sessions will be confidential (between you and me) unless you specify otherwise.
- If you are interested, I need you to commit to a minimum of 4 sessions between now and December 31, because I will need to submit evidence of having practice clients as part of my certification process.
- This is not psychotherapy, and I am not a licensed therapist. If issues arise that are better suited for work with a therapist, I will advise you to meet with one.
- If you are interested in continuing with coaching past the 6th session, we will need to discuss a separate agreement, and those sessions will be billed at a regular rate of $75 an hour.
If you know of anyone else who might be interested, please pass this information along. If you have any questions, e-mail me.
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