Positive Psychology Coaching/Therapy is a mutually beneficial partnership that is focused on your future and maximizing the potential that you already possess. During this process, we converse in a special way that is completely focused on your needs, desires, and interests. The biggest difference between what I do and traditional therapy is the positive approach that is forward-focused, helping you to identify your “big picture” goal: What do you want your life to be like? Coaching helps you to identify what things in your life now need to change in order to achieve this. In each session we will discuss things that will be of the most benefit to you. I am committed to helping you in the areas that you desire, including helping you to identify challenges and roadblocks, and turning those into victories! Every client/patient deserves a coach/therapist who truly believes in their your potential and sponsors you along your journey. The vast majority of what I do is based on Positive Psychology.
Positive psychology has been described in many ways and with many words, but the commonly accepted definition of the field is this:“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.” (Peterson, 2008) To push this brief description a bit further, positive psychology is a scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings, and behavior with a focus on strengths instead of weakness, building the good in life instead of repairing the bad, and taking the lives of average people up to “great” instead of focusing solely on moving those who are struggling up to “normal” (Peterson, 2008).
What Positive Psychology Focuses On
Positive psychology focuses on the positive events and influences in life, including:
Positive experiences (like happiness, joy, inspiration, and love)
Positive states and traits (like gratitude, resilience, and compassion)
Positive institutions (applying positive principles within entire organizations and institutions)
As a field, Positive Psychology spends much of its time thinking about topics like character strengths, optimism, life satisfaction, happiness, well-being, gratitude, compassion (as well as self-compassion), self-esteem and self-confidence, hope, and elevation. These topics are studied in order to learn how to help people flourish and live their best lives.
Positive Psychology is not about “being happy all of the time.” I can explain this concept in more detail. Everything about Positive Psychology is completely based on science. I do use traditional therapy as well when it is beneficial. Positive Psychology is the future of current psychology and builds upon it.
Responsibilities
In order to work together effectively as a team, we need to establish at the outset what I do and what our respective roles are. Both you and I contribute to the process, which involves commitment.
Me: As your coach/therapist, I am committed to earning your trust and giving you a peaceful, comfortable environment where you can feel free to express yourself honestly and openly. These are your sessions. I am not your guide in the sense of telling you what to do, but I am committed to helping you create your own journey, and to empower you to decide for yourself where you would like to go.
You: As my client/patient, I wish for you to fully commit yourself to embarking on this journey. The most helpful thing that you can do is to be as honest and to be as open as possible, as you define and redefine what your main goal is, and what your smaller goals, or stepping-stones, are along the way. I would like for you to be honest with me in all respects, including how much you are benefitting from our sessions and if there is anything that you are uncomfortable with or anything that I’m not doing that you feel would be more helpful. We both need to be committed to being honest and developing trust.
I absolutely want what is best for you! If there seem to be some roadblocks (also referred to as self-limiting beliefs or schemas) along the way, I may need to ask you some direct, thought-provoking questions. The decisions that you make are yours, and so are the outcomes. If something doesn’t go as hoped, I will still be there to help you get back on the path that you have identified for yourself. It is not uncommon for long-term goals to evolve along the way. In fact, that can be very healthy and a sign that you are becoming more in tune with your true desires.
Confidentiality
Trust is essential for the success of our coaching relationship. Everything involving our coaching relationship and sessions is entirely confidential. I will not even reveal that you are my client. No names or details are discussed with the “outside world”; our sessions are a safe place.
Preparation and Session Procedure
My goal is to know as much about you as possible, in order to be able to best assist you. I would like to understand as fully as I can your values, desires, dreams, intentions, behaviors, attitudes, passions, frustrations, and difficulties. I want to focus on being of service to you and a resource specialized to your needs. We need a mutual commitment, as I mentioned in our respective roles. In order to fulfill this commitment, you need to be willing to set aside some time and energy to reach your goals. I customize my sessions to what you prefer and enjoy. Each person’s sessions are a little different. This could include some homework or some things to practice in between sessions. We will agree on these particular projects during the session. I have forms that you will may helpful in tracking your progress and to help you to come to your next session prepared with a specific goal in mind. I also like to give you personality assessments that will help both of us to know you better.
So, now what?
I do individual appointments in Richardson, Texas (in Dallas.) I work in an office with a psychiatrist, Dr. Wayne Jones. Sometimes we work together with the same patients, but I also see my own clients. I can also do phone and video calls for appointments for the sake of convenience, or if a client is long-distance. It's nice to meet in person as much as possible. Sometimes we'll do a bit of both. I am trying to make coaching as affordable as possible. Feel free to ask about my fees, which are lower than a lot of others in the field, so that more people have the opportunity to experience the benefits. The number of sessions, the duration, and the frequency of them is on a case-to-case basis. A standard coaching engagement is 6 months, but again, that can vary. There is no contract or obligation for you to continue, and no fees up front. As a client, you have the right to quit our engagement at any time. Are you familiar with life coaching? I would love to know more about you. Let me know if you would like to talk on the phone and/or set up an appointment.
