As the idea of coaching grows and people start to see the benefits of coaching, more and more people have coaching questions!

What is it? How is it different from counseling?

Why do I need a coach? What do coaches do?

Let’s answer some of these coaching questions!

Starting with the basics… what is coaching?

“Coaches help people… shape new vision and plans, create a sense of purpose, and establish appropriate goals and objectives to generate desired results. A Christian Life Coach is trained and devoted to making godly disciples and guiding others into greater competence, confidence, and commitment…” -ICCI

What kinds of things can a coach help with?

Having a coach can help with challenging seasons, difficult decisions, transition, hardship, relationships, or times of just wanting to learn or grow. You might just need someone to talk to as a sounding board or someone to ask questions to help you process.

Although I have a few special niches {with personal lived experience} in ministry stateside/overseas, neurodiversity and complicated marriage, I also love meeting with women in the areas of personal growth, goal setting, accountability and all things health – spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional.

• Personal Development – Where do you need to grow? Let’s start there.
• Problem Solving – What do you need help with? Let’s get it sorted out.
• Accountability – What do you need to do? Let’s get it done.
• Business/Branding Coaching – Social media, marketing, planning, tasks… Let’s make a plan.
• Neurodiversity – Time for a coach who understands autism and ADHD? I can help.
• Ministry/Missions – Need a SAFE sounding board for all the things? I’ve been there.
• Complicated Relationships – Struggling in relationships? Let’s discern and do the next right thing.

What is your experience and credential?

I am a Certified Professional Christian Life Coach, Certified Neurodiversity Coach and an ordained minister. Under those credentials, I can offer coaching in many areas of life.

Along with accountability and problem solving {I love big projects and helping people navigate them!}, I am passionate about health and wholeness in all areas of life. I have struggled for many years with health issues. Balancing that with real life, figuring out medical appointments, therapies, with healthy eating, supplements, exercise… it is so much to navigate! Having a coach help with the process can be invaluable.

I love working with women serving in ministry, stateside and overseas. Having someone who knows and understands that life is not an easy thing to find. In addition, I have a heart for women in ministry with neurodiversity {autism, ADHD, sensory processing, special needs} impact on their family and marriage.

What is the difference between coaching and counseling?

First of all, they are not the same. Counseling has a very specific purpose to look at the past, evaluate aspects of mental health that are impacting the client, provide resources and psychological help. Counselors navigate with a client through past trauma, hurt, grief, personal and relational struggles that have impacted their life. They play a key role in bringing your mental health from the past to a place of healing for the current season you are in.

A coach works with clients in the current season, while looking into the future. Where are you now and where do you want to be in a specific area? Coaches facilitate that growth process. You can listen to a full podcast here about these differences. From a Christian Life Coach perspective, I love this quote from ICCI as they describe Life Coaching, “The concepts of life coaching are sometimes intermingled and integrated with other similar approaches to people helping such as spiritual formation, mentoring, discipling, consulting, and counseling. While there are clearly several overlapping paradigms, life coaching is primarily an “inside-out” process, wherein the coach seeks to draw out of a client his or her passions, giftings, and a greater awareness of God’s calling.”

Can you be in coaching and counseling at the same time?

Yes! I think counseling is something I will continue to engage in throughout my life. Each new decade of my life has stirred new things within me or possible pain points that counseling can specifically help with. I love my counselor and she has walked with me through some great challenges. Yet, even as I work through something painful from the past, God is asking me to continue growing in Him!

Having a coach can be vital to all areas of growth, changes in thinking which impact behaviors and experiences.

What tools do you use in your coaching practice?

I love journaling and giving homework. I’ll have you reading books, listening to podcasts, and figuring out what is going on inside of your head so that we can address things specific and unique to you. But you’re also free to go at your own pace and show up completely as you are, without homework, just needing to talk.

I’m trained in Personal Development Coaching using The Equipping Profile which is an invaluable research-based tool designed to help clients with core beliefs, balanced thinking, and right behaviors. This guides you through practical application of your Equipping Profile report to create a targeted plan for a transformed life.

I’m trained in neurodiversity family impact. Along with my personal experience in parenting and marriage, I can help clients discover, learn and plan for work and relationships with autism and ADHD in mind.

My ministry experience, ministerial ordination, overseas work and Biblical training, brings everything back to root source thinking and identity in Christ. That’s where change and transformation happens.

I offer access to an Ultimate Branding Course. With that course, I walk clients through all things marketing, branding, audience, daily operations, goals and business brand planning.

How long is a coaching session? season of coaching?

A coaching sessions lasts about 50 minutes. In this time we’ll recap the last session, talk about relevant life experiences, review current goals, create action steps, assign homework and confirm the next session.

A coaching term generally lasts about 8-12 sessions, depending on goals and coaching needs. You can start here.

How much does coaching cost?

The cost depends on the topic, bundle length and financial situation. Please contact me for individualized pricing. Once we connect, you’ll receive my full coaching agreement with more details before we begin.

Why do you invoice in bundles?

I use bundles {purchasing 4 sessions at once} because it can be helpful for clients to not have to worry about so many invoices and payments, one session at a time. It can also be great to schedule out 4 sessions so it’s on your calendar and on my calendar without worry from week to week when your session will be or if I have an opening.

I do pay-ahead invoicing to keep things simple for everyone. And, there’s a discount when you purchase this way, which always helps.

If you would like to be invoiced one session at a time, please let me know by email or in session. Some clients want to go one session at a time, and that’s ok too!

Are purchased sessions or bundles refundable?

No, once sessions or bundles or classes are purchased, the fees are non-refundable. If there is an extenuating circumstance, let’s definitely talk about options.

Can I cancel a session if needed?

Yes, I require a 24 hour cancellation notice. There is a $30 late cancellation fee. Calendly does make it easy for you to cancel and reschedule as you need to so take advantage of that feature! It just has to be within 24 hours.

Do you work with couples?

Yes, I do work with couples but on a limited scope. I do not do couples counseling or high-conflict sessions. We will work on understanding each other, goals, communication skills practice or other basic couples work. This can also go well with you current couples counseling, if there are things you are meant to be practicing or working on together. I can help guide that practice.

What is the cost for couples sessions?

Because there are two people in session, I charge slightly more than my regular rates, again based on each unique couple. I will bundle and invoice the requested number of sessions once we agree upon coaching and pricing.

Do you offer any supplemental coaching?

Yes, I do have add-on packages available for bundle clients only if more connection and support is needed in between sessions. This would include back-and-forth emails, texts, and/or Voxer. Extra support can be very helpful for high stress, difficult relationships, and high conflict seasons of life when you need in-the-moment help.

Where are you practicing coaching?

I coach on zoom and in person so that I can coach anyone in any time zone.

How do you decide what I work on in coaching?

You get to bring whatever topics, goals, uncertainties, struggles or growth points into the first session. Together, we’ll determine the right steps forward towards your personal growth plan or unique situation.

Why did you choose a protea for your logo? What is a protea?

A protea is a beautiful, unique flower in South Africa. I loved it for coaching because the protea is a hardy plant that can survive drought, heavy rains and even massive bush fires. It can re-sprout which is an effective survival strategy after seemingly being wiped out by the harsh elements. Like the protea, I believe that this amazing, beautiful process of growth is possible for you as well. You can broaden your skills, change your thinking, deepen your resilience, grow in Christlikeness, and respond in healthier ways to the challenges around you.

Coaching is here to nurture your unique journey of growth.

Why did you use Jenilee Rachel and not Jenilee Goodwin?

Someone asked this and I thought it was a fabulous question! Although I do love my last name, I realized that the meaning of Jenilee Rachel, the meaning of my first and middle names, also played into what I hope to bring to coaching. Jenilee brings a Hebrew meaning of “God is gracious” and Rachel has a Biblical meaning of “one with purity.” Only by the grace of God can we stand before God in purity and holiness. No amount of work on our own can accomplish that for us. Jesus already did that work. Yet, we are also called to grow in purity and Christlikeness as we live out our days. I love how coaches can come alongside people with tangible, practical growth steps.

Do you have coaching questions?

Ask in the comments or feel free to email me your coaching questions!

A few shoutouts!