Frequently Asked Questions | The Center for Positive Change

Q: Are Executive coaches like athletic coaches?
A: In many ways, an Executive, Leadership, and/or Life Coach is like an athletic coach. He or she recognizes the special talents of individuals, specializes in the strategies and tactics required for success in a given activity, and imparts those skills and capabilities to others through teaching, training, rapid learning methods, and mentoring (providing encouragement, feedback and support).

An Executive Coach differs from an athletic coach in training and clientele. Athletic coaches train athletes while we train executives, leaders, and professionals. Our training is in psychology and organizational development. Executive, Leadership, and Life coaching had roots in athletic coaching but our similarities stop there.

Q: What is the difference between counseling or psychotherapy and coaching?
A: Even though coaching and therapy have similarites, they are not the same. Psychotherapy is the treatment of emotional or behavioral problems by psychological means. Some psychotherapies are problem-focused, like the treatment of phobias or addictions. Treatment typically ceases when the symptoms disappear or become manageable for the client. Psychoanalysis is another type of psychotherapy. It is long-term and works at uncovering the roots of issues in order to enable the client to move forward. Thus, there are a wide variety of therapist options.

Executive Coaching is about individual planning, goal setting, and achievement. It is also about personal discovery and enlightenment rather than mental illness. It is about realizing one’s full potential, which in turn, benefits the organization. Coaching and therapy both focus on helping clients discover their own solutions. Some types of psychotherapy are more similar to coaching than others.
Executive Coaching can provide a dramatic short term impact for companies. But the reality is that it will take from 6-12 months of quality coaching to make sustainable changes. Those who tell you that it can be done quicker are not well informed.

Q: Is Executive coaching specifically for Executives? If so, what level of Executives?
A: Executive coaching and Leadership coaching are virtually the same. There are one-on-one sessions between a coach and an executive. The aim is to enhance on-the-job performance of the executive/leader. Executive coaching has a broad application ranging from the CEO, President, upper, and middle management.

Likewise, the term Executive coaching is often used with other professionals (i.e., physicians, attorneys, and accountants). Executive coaching with professionals is usually related to similar issues (i.e., performance enhancement and life-work balance) as executives, but in a professional rather than a corporate setting. horizontal and vertical axis as coaching. Together they form a horizontal and vertical axis as shown in the diagram below.

Q: I have heard of Life Coaching. Is that different from Executive Coaching? Do you provide Life Coaching?
A: Life Coaching is a practice with the stated aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods which help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals. Coaching should never be targeted at psychological illness, and most Life Coaches are neither trained as therapists nor consultants.

While some Life Coaches have given the trade a bad name, by “playing therapist”, we do n

ot believe one should be discouraged from using a Life coach. However, there is no State by State regulation of coaching. As such it is a “buyers beware” market. Some Life coaches only have a high school diploma and four weeks of training. Others are well trained, certified, and members of a coaching organization. Still, others have been trained in the behavioral sciences and/or business and hold graduate degrees.

At the Center for Positive Change, we do work with non-executives in a Life Coaching modality to help individuals make positive changes in their life.

Q: How long does the coaching process last?
A: That depends upon the stated goals. The usual term is between 6-12 months.

Q: Why do you use fly-fishing in conjunction with your coaching?
A: We have found that fly-fishing enables the client:

To be more insightful
To be more open to change
To actually take the time away from work-a-day distractions in order to be more contemplative
To experience how fly-fishing is a “metaphor” for life so that the stated goals will be easier to obtain

Q: Why use fly-fishing rather than spin or bait fishing?
A: Fly-fishing provides a different experience because the knowledge base is greater. In fly-fishing, one must learn the physics of casting, entomology, reading the water, and perhaps even how to tie one’s own flies.

Q: I have never fly-fished before. Am I able to still receive your coaching services?
A: Absolutely. In fact we have found that novice fly-fishers often find it easier to make changes than those who are more seasoned.

Q: If I am not interested in fly-fishing may I still obtain your services?
A: Yes, by all means, however, we believe that using a metaphor like fly-fishing provides for much more powerful coaching.

Q: How do I get started?
A: Just contact us by phone or email and you are on your way to positive change.



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		Q: Are Executive coaches like athletic coaches? A: In many ways, an Executive, Leadership, and/or Life Coach is like an athletic coach. He or she recognizes the special talents of individuals, specializes in the strategies and tactics required for success in a given activity, and imparts those skills and capabilities to others through teaching, training, rapid learning methods, and mentoring (providing encouragement, feedback and support). An Executive Coach differs from an athletic coach in training and clientele. Athletic coaches train athletes while we train executives, leaders, and professionals. Our training is in psychology and organizational development. Executive, Leadership, and Life coaching had roots in athletic coaching but our similarities stop there. Q: What is the difference between counseling or psychotherapy and coaching? A: Even though coaching and therapy have similarites, they are not the same. Psychotherapy is the treatment of emotional or behavioral problems by psychological means. Some psychotherapies are problem-focused, like the treatment of phobias or addictions. Treatment typically ceases when the symptoms disappear or become manageable for the client. Psychoanalysis is another type of psychotherapy. It is long-term and works at uncovering the roots of issues in order to enable the client to move forward. Thus, there are a wide variety of therapist options. Executive Coaching is about individual planning, goal setting, and achievement. It is also about personal discovery and enlightenment rather than mental illness. It is about realizing one’s full potential, which in turn, benefits the organization. Coaching and therapy both focus on helping clients discover their own solutions. Some types of psychotherapy are more similar to coaching than others. Executive Coaching can provide a dramatic short term impact for companies. But the reality is that it will take from 6-12 months of quality coaching to make sustainable changes. Those who tell you that it can be done quicker are not well informed. Q: Is Executive coaching specifically for Executives? If so, what level of Executives? A: Executive coaching and Leadership coaching are virtually the same. There are one-on-one sessions between a coach and an executive. The aim is to enhance on-the-job performance of the executive/leader. Executive coaching has a broad application ranging from the CEO, President, upper, and middle management. Likewise, the term Executive coaching is often used with other professionals (i.e., physicians, attorneys, and accountants). Executive coaching with professionals is usually related to similar issues (i.e., performance enhancement and life-work balance) as executives, but in a professional rather than a corporate setting. horizontal and vertical axis as coaching. Together they form a horizontal and vertical axis as shown in the diagram below. Q: I have heard of Life Coaching. Is that different from Executive Coaching? Do you provide Life Coaching? A: Life Coaching is a practice with the stated aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods which help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals. Coaching should never be targeted at psychological illness, and most Life Coaches are neither trained as therapists nor consultants. While some Life Coaches have given the trade a bad name, by “playing therapist”, we do not believe one should be discouraged from using a Life coach. However, there is no State by State regulation of coaching. As such it is a “buyers beware” market. Some Life coaches only have a high school diploma and four weeks of training. Others are well trained, certified, and members of a coaching organization. Still, others have been trained in the behavioral sciences and/or business and hold graduate degrees. At the Center for Positive Change, we do work with non-executives in a Life Coaching modality to help individuals make positive changes in their life. Q: How long does the coaching process last? A: That depends upon the stated goals. The usual term is between 6-12 months. Q: Why do you use fly-fishing in conjunction with your coaching? A: We have found that fly-fishing enables the client: To be more insightful To be more open to change To actually take the time away from work-a-day distractions in order to be more contemplative To experience how fly-fishing is a “metaphor” for life so that the stated goals will be easier to obtain Q: Why use fly-fishing rather than spin or bait fishing? A: Fly-fishing provides a different experience because the knowledge base is greater. In fly-fishing, one must learn the physics of casting, entomology, reading the water, and perhaps even how to tie one’s own flies. Q: I have never fly-fished before. Am I able to still receive your coaching services? A: Absolutely. In fact we have found that novice fly-fishers often find it easier to make changes than those who are more seasoned. Q: If I am not interested in fly-fishing may I still obtain your services? A: Yes, by all means, however, we believe that using a metaphor like fly-fishing provides for much more powerful coaching. Q: How do I get started? A: Just contact us by phone or email and you are on your way to positive change.