Q: WHAT IS COACHING?

The International Coach Federation defines coaching as an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses and organizations. Professional coaching allows clients the ability to deepen their learning, improve their performance and enhance their quality of life. Following the philosophy that clients are creative, resourceful and whole, the coach’s responsibility is to:

• Discover, clarify and align with what the client wants to achieve
• Encourage the client’s self-discovery
• Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
• Hold client responsible and accountable

Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COACHING AND INDUSTRY EXPERTISE?

Our industry expertise provides you with expertise, feedback and what you may need to do to solve problems based on our experience.

Our coaching approach will ask you powerful questions to help you discover answers authentic to you, to guide you in a direction that feels meaningful and fulfilling based on your unique path. Coaches also hold you accountable to staying on that path and can help you navigate if anything changes.

Our team often combines our industry expertise hand-in-hand with coaching techniques, depending on your specific needs.

Our approach to coaching is iterative, targeted, and holistic, allowing you the space to explore and create a path that will take you where you want to be next. Our work together will inspire to you to think in different ways, improve your performance and find clarity.

Q: WHAT IS THE GOAL OF COACHING?

The goal is to help you realize what you are capable of by leveraging your strengths, giving you a more clear sense of your path and focusing on areas that are the most appealing to you, to help you actualize your vision and take action.

Q: HOW CAN I EXPECT TO CHANGE THROUGH COACHING?

We’re glad you asked! We aren’t here to force change on anyone, but if you’ve decided to work with us, you’re probably already in search of something new. Coaching can help you make a powerful shift in your life and perspective, enabling you to improve your quality of life, and taking your career in a direction you might have never imagined.

Q: WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?

We understand how valuable your trust is, and take every precaution to maintain that. As part of our coaching agreement (a document both coach and client will sign), we vow to hold confidentiality as part of the ethical code that governs every client-coach relationship. As coaches, we are fully committed to you, the client, your privacy and your progress.

Q: HOW OFTEN WOULD I MEET WITH MY COACH?

Generally speaking, you will meet with your coach bi-weekly, although this can vary depending on the types of service you’re looking for. (Read more about our different offerings here.) Overall, we find that meeting bi-weekly offers time for reflection and application of learning between sessions, while maintaining the momentum of our work together.

Q: WHERE WOULD I MEET WITH MY COACH?

In order to make coaching as convenient as possible for you, we offer several options. Coaching services can be conducted in person in NYC/Denver or other locations based on what our affiliate coaches may offer, as well as virtually via video calls or phone.

Q: HOW LONG ARE THE SESSIONS?

Depending on the coach you choose, sessions typically last between 45 minutes and 1 hour. It’s likely that your first session with a coach (what we like to call, a Discovery Session) will last a little bit longer, around 1.5-2 hours depending on your coach.

Q: HOW LONG DOES THE COACHING PROCESS TAKE?

The time frame can vary greatly and depends on a wide range of factors: your goal(s), your commitment and openness to change, how introspective you are during this time, your circumstances, how quickly and thoughtfully you complete homework assignments, and other unique factors.

We work with individuals who come in for a very brief engagement (i.e. one one-hour Recruiter Q&A session). Others come in focused on one goal, achieve that goal, and then move on to another, and another. Those who partner with us in multiple capacities and for multiple goals usually work with us for a minimum of 3-6 months or more.

Q: WHAT IF I WANT TO END MY COACHING ENGAGEMENT?

You can choose to terminate your coaching engagement at any time, although we ask that client or coach give a fourteen day notice so together they can prepare a final session that focuses on review and closure. Ultimately, that decision is up to you.

Q: HOW IS COACHING DIFFERENT FROM THERAPY?

Disclaimer: This is a general description of common differences between coaching and psychotherapy, and does not necessarily speak to all client cases or particular practitioners. There are many different approaches and nuances to both fields.

Therapists work with clients to improve their mental health. The focus of sessions is not always though often on past experiences, which allows therapists to help clients overcome trauma, serious abuse, diagnose mental illnesses, and more.

Coaching focuses on supporting clients in taking responsibility and action towards achieving specific goals. Coaching is present and future-focused and not a substitute for therapy; a coach cannot diagnose mental illness such as depression – if you are in any way unsure whether you need a therapist, please connect with a mental health professional before entering a coaching agreement. If you have experienced serious trauma and abuse (including a toxic work environment that might have seriously impacted you), it is imperative that you work with a therapist before working with a coach.

Some common comparisons between coaching and therapy approaches:

There are similarities between coaching and psychotherapy as well:

• Both work to understand the self-limiting beliefs or behavior caused by thoughts and emotions that you may or may not be aware of.
• Both are concerned with making concrete changes in your emotional state and life.
• Both practices help you grow, change and master your emotions and motivations.

Q: WHAT IS PERQ’S APPROACH TO COACHING?

We believe that you are the expert in your life. We believe that you are whole, not broken. We believe that you are naturally creative, resourceful and capable of far more than you imagine. We believe in your capacity to change.

At the same time, we know from experience how change brings out all different sides of us: the fears, the doubts, the good and the beautifully transformational. We believe in supporting you without judgment in moving towards what is most fulfilling for you.

We believe in using your whole being (body, mind, emotions and spirit) as a useful tool for information, clarity and deeper learning. We believe in holding you accountable to your agenda so you can achieve personal and professional goals, and enhance the quality of your career and life.

Q: WHAT IS THE COACHING PROCESS LIKE IN LONGER-TERM PROGRAMS?

With the exception of our Industry Expertise Power Hours, we start each coaching engagement with a comprehensive Discovery Session and intake questionnaire.

This allows us to develop a deep understanding of you, your life stories and your underlying operating system in a short period of time. Armed with this knowledge, we then begin to help you think about your situation and your life in new ways.

We ask powerful questions, we set action steps and goals, we utilize proprietary exercises and processes, and we often evaluate individualized metrics to help you tap into your unique potential.

Our process is invigorating; you will begin to find clarity, change your mindset and take powerful new actions in multiple areas of your life.