If you are not familiar with coaching, these four FAQs may help.

What is Coaching?
Coaching provides a context to accomplish previously unmet goals! ​ In coaching, you set the agenda, the priorities, and the overarching goals which may cover a series of sessions.  You also make goals within each session.    The coach listens to you and through questions helps you unpack your goal.  Options for accomplishing your goal get explored, as well as, overcoming obstacles that are in the way.   The culmination of each session is you setting action steps to take between sessions.   At the next session, the coach will ask how you did, and help move towards accomplishing your goal.  There is a spirit of affirmation and encouragement - mingled with accountability throughout the entire coaching conversation.  And finally, when a goal is accomplished, there is celebration.  

Who Needs a Coach?
NOT EVERYONE NEEDS A COACH!  Just like it is possible to learn a language  without a teacher, it's possible to accomplish goals without a coach.   Yet, with a coach there is more focus, commitment, and encouragement to accomplish previously unmet goals.  A coach helps you clearly define your goal, look for creative options, reduce obstacles, set measurable action steps, and with you - celebrate your accomplishment.  If you have long-term unmet goals, a coach can help.  But in the end - it is still up to you.  Your motivation is the key ingredient.  

What is Christian Coaching?
​ALIGN takes a Christian coaching approach which seeks to involve God in every aspect of the coaching conversation.   There is an anticipation that God speaks and can reveal himself.   ALIGN prays daily for each active client.  In each session, there is  an expectation that God is at work.   The coach may ask to pray.   It is always your choice in how you want to respond to questions of the spirit.  We want to see God work in each of us.

What's the difference between a Coach, a Mentor, & a Counselor?
This is a common question.  Unfortunately, these terms can be used interchangeably - creating a bit of confusion.  At ALIGN we use a sports analogy.  Let's say we want to run a marathon.   Here's how each role may engage the potential marathoner.

​​A Coach is like a personal trainer.  The coach and runner both agree that the goal to run a marathon is physically possible, and the time-frame is doable.  The runner defines the desired results. Is it to just finish; to place in the top 50; or win?  The coach asks questions, and helps the runner make a plan with incremental steps.  The plan may include other elements: diet, sleep, schedule, and other things.  They meet regularly.  The runner takes action on the plan.  Makes any adjustments along the way.  Both the coach and runner celebrate the completion of the goal.  The coach draws out what is inside you, empowers, and cheers motivation & accomplishment.

​A Mentor is like an runner who has competed in 15 marathons, and won two.   A Mentor is an expert at what you hope to do.  By watching them, and even maybe practicing with them, you hope to glean from their experience.  You look to them for advice on what worked, or didn't work for them.  You want to know, "How did you do it?"  Or, "What worked for you?  Or, "How can I learn from you?   In using a mentor, you draw from their experience and try to apply it to your own situation.   The mentor is the model.

​A Counselor is like a physical therapist.  A Counselor is trained to help rehabilitate an area that is weak or has been traumatized in the past.  If you pulled a calf muscle while training, they prescribe therapies for it to heal.  They give you a plan of action to strengthen or regain the usage of the calf  and they work with you to regain usage.  Then, when you are healthy you can try again to reach your goal.  A counselor helps to heal or rehabilitate a weak area.

Coaches, mentors, and counselors each have a necessary role and serve an important purpose.  Situations that are beyond the bounds of the normal coaching conversation are referred to trained specialists.

James 1:5  "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."