Do You Know Someone in Crisis?

         You see them everywhere.  Friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members…in Crisis and seeing no way out. 

What is Crisis?

• The professional person who cannot sleep because of a   negative performance review.
• The neighbor who is in constant conflict about how to help an ailing parent or sibling.
• The son or daughter who witnesses misdeeds at work and doesn’t know where to turn.
• The co-worker who is heartbroken because a fiancé just broke their engagement without reason or warning.

         What do these people have in common?  They are all experiencing a temporary confusion about Crises in their lives.  How can you help them?  You could suggest they seek a Coach to help them weather the Crisis.

Why Is My Friend in Crisis?

         People in Crisis often don’t see options and so feel powerless about their situations.  Crisis situations happen in everyone’s life.

         In our parents’ and grandparents’ day, adults often had lifelong friends with whom they could share both joys and troubles.  Often, a friend lived next door or worked alongside them for their entire lives.  Such a friend was aware of circumstances, relationships and details and could help sort things out so that day-to- day events made sense.

         For some people, today’s fast-paced and mobile world means that their longest friendships are often no more than a few years old.  Many people are uncomfortable socializing with co-workers who may be here today and across the country tomorrow.  A spouse or parent may sympathize and worry but they can’t provide the objective perspective that a professional Coach can offer.

What is Coaching?

         Coaches are specially trained professionals who work one-on-one with Clients to help achieve particular goals or find solutions to seemingly overwhelming problem.

         Does that sound like counseling or psychotherapy?  To someone unfamiliar with coaching, perhaps it does.  The difference is that therapy deals with an existing pathology and often focuses on events in one’s past and how to cope with that history.  Coaching works in the present and future and focuses on solving present day issues and challenges.

         Coaches hold their Clients as whole, resourceful and creative individuals and work to help Clients find their sources of power and then to utilize that power.  Coaches recognize that Clients may need help sorting the facts and setting priorities and goals, but, the Client is in charge of their own life and its circumstances.

How Does Coaching Work?

         Coaches who specialize in Crisis Coaching use training and intuition to help a Client identify options and resources.  The coaching usually takes place over the phone.  The Coach and Client may never meet in person.  However, the Coach serves as a sounding board and advocate that Clients need in their time of trouble. 

         Coaching sessions may last an hour or slightly longer and may take place several times per week, depending on the depth of the Crisis and how much of the Client’s energy is involved.  Generally, within 3 to 4 weeks, Clients have moved out of Crisis and are equipped with lasting learning and more power over their lives.

         The Coach asks powerful questions to help Clients focus on what is most important about their life and their current situation.  Homework assignments help Clients continue to work between sessions and the learning from these assignments is reviewed between Client and Coach. 

         As the Coach listens, she often offers a different perspective for the situation and encourages Clients to consider new perspectives.  This change of perspective often leads to recognizing new solutions and options. 

         Actions at the heart of resolving Crises include identifying options and setting priorities.  Once the issues have been sorted, the real work begins and Clients are on their way to resolving their Crises and moving ahead with their lives.  The freedom to move ahead can be priceless to the Clients.

         If you have a friend or acquaintance in Crisis, one of the most loving gifts you can give them is to put them in touch with a Coach who can help them resolve that Crisis.  Recognizing and addressing the problem along with finding options out of their confusion will help Clients regain power over their own lives and actions.  And that, my friends, is a gift that is priceless!

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 Susan O'Rourke is a Personal and Life Coach specializing in helping Crisis Clients find their power and their options for moving out of Crisis. She also coaches Business Owners and Drivers to find the power in their “loneliness at the top”. Call her for a free sample Coaching Session. She is also available to speak at your next meeting or function.

 

 

For a free coaching session, please contact me:

Susan O’Rourke, C.P.C.C.
Emerald Coaching
Phone: 309.287.1209
Email: EmeraldCoaching@aol.com