Life Coaching is a particular activity that is quite different to Counselling. NLP Life Coaching is a particular type of coaching that has as it's primary goal the achievement of successful outcomes.

The word Coach has the original meaning of a "wagon" or "carriage" that carries people from one point to another; it takes them from here to there. In modern times Coaching has become synonymous with a person whose role it is to take a team, or an individual, to a particular outcome. That goal could be to win a football match, or a chess game ,or pass an exam, or even lose weight or deal with depression.

NLP Life Coaching (as I practice it) is not to be confused with counselling. Generally speaking, counselling focuses on problem solving or remedial change - it is problem oriented and deals primarily with the negative side of life. My Life Coaching focus is on generative change. I focus on helping you to identify where you would prefer to be (as opposed to where you have been, or are now). We then set goals and create workable strategies to get you there in the shortest possible time. I like to think of my work as solution focused with a strong emphasis on developing new strategies for thinking optimistically and acting positively.

Some of the issues and situations which I specialise in are listed below.

Effective Communicating

Therapeutic Coaching
Given my background in the health industry I also work with people who need another (optimistic) filter through which to experience the world. Where I have found this to most useful is in the areas of:

• Pain management
• Depression (not bipolar disorder)
• Anxiety & Panic Disorder
• Anger Management
• Phobias
• Pain Management
• Weight Loss (creating a new body - as I prefer to language it)
• Smoking cessation
• and many other health issues where standard interventions prove less than useful.

Still wondering - this might help

I am often asked what NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is. A fair enough question, but it is a little bit like being asked - how big is the universe - if you get my drift. So when I found myself being asked this question by my daughter I was somewhat perplexed. You see, she has never been one for the 'standard response'. What follows is my response to her - exactly as it played out. I should add, that my daughter was 10 at the time. The scene: a playground at Lake Wendouree - a favourite place of ours.

Daughter: Dad, what is NLP?
Me: (a moment's hesitation to gather the resources - spotting a sad, lonely, old lady looking longingly across the lake). See that old lady sitting over there?

Daughter: Yes.
Me: Go over and ask her how she is feeling today. When you have done that come back and I will answer your question.

Daughter: OK (she wanders over to the old lady). Hello old lady; can I ask you a question - please!
Old Lady: Hello dear. You are very bold, but seeing as you asked nicely, yes.

Daughter: How are you feeling today?
Old Lady: (head drops and she appears lost - deep in thought). Well little girl .... I'm not feeling so well today. I am old and my arthritis is playing up; I don't see so well and I am very lonely. Today is a very sad day for me. My husband died on this day one year ago and I miss him very much. We used to come here every year on our anniversary and now I am here and he is not. But you don't need to hear all that, so why don't you go and play on the swings and enjoy yourself.

Daughter: (wandering back to me). Dad, she says she is very sad because her husband died and she misses him. Now can you tell me what NLP is!
Me: Would you do me one small favour before I answer that question?

Daughter: (sensing a bit of a fob job) Oh! I suppose so! But you better tell me when I come back this time.
Me: I will. Here is what I would like you to do. Ask the old lady if she can remember the first time she and her husband came to the Lake.
Daughter: OK! (returning to the old lady). Hello again old lady. Can I ask you one more question?

Old Lady: ( a little gruffly, but silently glad of the company and the attention). Yes ... I suppose so.
Daughter: Can you tell me about the first time you and your husband sat here together?
Old Lady: (slowly she unfolds, her shoulders rolling back; head rising, body becoming animated. An unmistakable smile begins in the right corner of the mouth and ripples across the entire mouth. She transforms, and the years drip away as here eyes lose forty years. Her limbs shed years of hardship and heartache. Her voice loses its sad tremor and for a moment she hesitates - takes a deep breath - and then ) Oh, I remember it well, Bill brought me here when I was only just 18 years old. He sat me down and held my hand and told me how much he loved me. He made me feel so special and he told such wonderful stories and he made me laugh - yes I laughed so much I cried. That was a very special day. I remember it as if it were yesterday. My heart almost burst out of my chest. And every year after that he brought me here to this very spot and every year since then I have felt that magic return. That was 62 years ago today and yet it feels just like yesterday (the old woman is animated and smiling and laughing and her face is alive with excitement as she retells her story) Thank you for asking me little girl. You have brought him back to me.

Daughter: (somewhat perplexed by this response returns to me). Gee dad she was so happy. What a nice old lady. So, what is NLP?
Me: How about an ice cream?
Daughter: Sure dad - did I do well?
Me: Splendid!