Occupational Therapy Now / Actualités ergothérapiques

Sue Stanton interviews Teresia LaRocque and Marcia Harwell

November / December 2000 Table of Contents

In this Article

Occupational therapists often find it a challenge to live the
occupational therapy philosophy of a balance among life's
occupations, but so do others. Increasingly, people are hiring coaches because they want to restore balance, and achieve personal and professional goals more easily. In this article Sue Stanton interviews a coach and an occupational therapist who has
received coaching.

FROM A COACH…
Teresia LaRocque launched her 'personal success' coaching practice in January, 1996. Here she responds to some questions about coaching.

Sue Stanton (SJS): What is personal success coaching?

Teresia LaRocque (TL): A personal success coach works one-to-one with clients, helping them to gain long term benefits in all areas of life. A coach may help a client make personal choices, improve communication or business skills, obtain a higher quality of life, or offer direction, support and encouragement as the client starts a business or makes a career transition.

Coaches are not quite mentors because they get paid, not quite consultants because they stick with you after making recommendations, and not quite counselors because they're trained to refer you to therapy if that is what you need.

SJS: What are typical personal changes following coaching?

TL: Clients take themselves more seriously, take more effective and focused actions quickly, stop putting up with what is dragging them down, and create momentum so that it's easier to get results. They set goals that are in sync with what they want out of life, do more in less time, and achieve success in their own way and on their own terms.

SJS: What does the coaching process "look like"?

TL: First, orientation sessions of about 45 minutes are scheduled to identify the client's goals, needs and challenges, and develop an action plan to reach the desired outcomes.

Since consistency and conditioning are important for results, the coaching process involves weekly meetings, of roughly half-an-hour, in person or over the phone. There, the coach reviews the client's progress towards goals, and they work on strategies to achieve the next week's goals. The client can call between meetings if a sticky situation arises or they have great success to report.

In the final analysis, coaches can't make decisions for their clients. They can only suggest different paths than the unfulfilling ones their clients are following.

SJS: Other than cost considerations, what stops people from seeking a coach?

TL: Putting ourselves first is a concept many of us find difficult. People think that putting ourselves first means we don't care about the needs of others, that we are cold, selfish and mean spirited. Not so. When we don't take care of ourselves we can't really serve and support those around us who need us. Putting ourselves first, taking good care of ourselves, is actually a gift to those we care most about - which may be family, friends and clients.

FROM AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST…

Marcia Harwell is an occupational therapist who graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1994, and now is the Occupational Therapy Coordinator at the 180-bed Florida Hospital Waterman that offers acute and transitional care in Eustis, Florida. In 1999, she worked for five months with Vancouver coach, Jan Marie Dore. I asked her about this experience.

Sue Stanton (SJS): Why did you seek a coach?

Marcia Harwell (MH): I chose to work with Jan Marie to help me to develop a part-time coaching practice and find balance in my life. Occupational therapists share the same stressors and the traits of many professionals, the worst one that we are 'enablers'. In order to continue to love occupational therapy, we have to practise extreme self-care and balance in our personal and professional lives. I had reached the point where I had neither and was 'burning' at a remarkable rate. Merely surviving a career should never be an option. After reading a feature article on coaching in the Sunday paper, my first thought was, 'I want to do this'. The second one was, 'Why didn't I have a coach to help me through my falling apart career?'

SJS: What 'coaching' outcomes were most valuable to you?

MH: I was able to make some shifts and develop realistic goals with a vision for the future. I no longer felt alone in trying to make my life work. The gigantic leaps I made cannot ever be measured in money. I discovered that I needed a different environment - I am presently working on creating an environment that nurtures and supports me. As a result, work is much easier. My occupational therapy skills have improved dramatically by using my coaching skills to ask more in depth questions of my patients, and to help them focus more clearly on their personal goals. It's very rewarding to see folks get back on track and to get back-in-touch with what speaks to their heart.

With Jan's encouragement, I am also taking seminars with Coach U through evening teleconferences. Because occupational therapists are naturally holistic in their approach, many of them would make great coaches. Isn't that what we do daily, when we say to our patients, 'you can do it!'? The growth never stops once the person is ready.

I love working with occupational therapists, because I have 'been there'. I would love to have more occupational therapists as coaching clients because they already 'get it'. We are well versed in the daily living skills concept.

SJS: What did you do with Jan Marie that enabled you to achieve your goals?

MH: With her guidance, I explored many issues, looking at all parts of my life. Seldom is just one area the only problem. This was NOT therapy! The answers were all there. I just needed a coach to help me to focus and to tackle each challenge. Just as an Olympic athletic does not win without a coach, I needed help to jump those hurdles.

Coaching is so specific to each client that it is difficult to compare my needs with others. Coaches traditionally utilize assessments that fit that person, adding others as growth occurs. Jan first asked me to look at what I was tolerating at work as well as at home, and then to start eliminating the 'tolerations'. It is amazing what happens when you stop putting up with things.

'Journaling' works well for some. I have one client who loves it. There are many powerful exercises, such as visioning, but it must be a fit. Most coaches talk with their clients on a weekly basis, sending other helpful information by e-mail or snail mail. I was fortunate to meet Jan Marie at the International Coaches Conference, but many clients never meet their coach face-to-face.

SJS: Do you have other recommendations for occupational therapists?

MH: I urge any therapist who is suffering from burnout, is out of balance, or feels too stressed, to work with a coach. It's a great journey when you have someone to walk with you!

Finding A Qualified Coach
It is not mandatory for coaches to be certified or licensed but several organizations offer education for coaches. Two of these, the International Coach Federation (ICF) (www.coachfederation.org) and the Coach University (www.coachu.com) are resources for finding an experienced coach in your area and for information like fees, standards and credentialing. Most coaches offer a complimentary session up-front to determine which program would be best given the client's needs and financial situation.

Biographies

Teresia LaRocque, the principal of TLC Success Coach and Associates, is a Master Certified Coach and member of the International Coach Federation. Contact her by phone, (604) 473-9884 or 1 (800) 610-0970; by fax, (604) 473-9885; or through her web site, http://www.tlcsuccess.com/.

Marcia Harwell MA, OTR. Contact her by phone, (352) 383-3415 or by e-mail, coaching21@aol.com

Jan Marie Dore ,BA, CMA, is a Professional Certified Coach and a member of the International Coach Federation. Contact her by phone, (604) 734-7552; fax, (604) 734-7554; email, jmdore@netcom.ca or through her web site, www.jmdcoach.com.

This is Sue Stanton's last article as column editor. She plans to spend her extra time pursuing more writing and completing her Advanced Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (Technology) from Athabasca University.

November / December 2000 Table of Contents