What is coaching?

The International Coaching Federation (ICF, 2018) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

What are the similarities and differences between coaching and therapy?

Coaching and therapy are similar in that both are about working through a process of exploration to gain insight, self-awareness, and understanding, and to help individuals make positive changes and be more productive. The distinct difference between the two is that therapy addresses the clinical issues of pathology and symptom management that affect level of functioning and coaching does not. Therapy focuses on more of the "why" than coaching, which is more focused on the "how." Therapy tends to be retrospective in repairing the damage of past experiences to provide relief from psychological pain, promote insight and emotional healing, and bring about resolution. Unlike therapy, the past is not a focal point in coaching, but used to clarify a present situation and tends to be prospective in focusing on the untapped possibilities of the present and future. Coaching is about the discovery of possibilities and linking that awareness to action in how to reach a higher level of performance, learning, or satisfaction. Simply put, therapy is about achieving wellness, whereas coaching is about achieving self-actualization.

Is coaching confidential?

What you talk about and the information provided by you for coaching is confidential, except under certain legal limits to confidentiality. Dr. Jacqueline Ashley, as a social worker by training, is a mandated reporter that must break confidentiality for the following reasons: If you pose a substantial risk of being an imminent danger to yourself or others, if there is a reasonable suspicion of neglect, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse of a child, or neglect, emotional, physical, sexual, or financial abuse of an elder/dependent adult, or if a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena or court order to provide information. Because coaching is not therapy, it's unlikely that these issues would come up, but in the event that they do, Dr. Ashley is legally required to fulfill her obligations as a mandated reporter.

Is coaching covered by insurance?

Since professional coaching does not constitute medical consultation or treatment, health insurance does not apply. Coaching fees may be considered deductible business expenses.

Can I get my organization to pay for my coaching?

It's possible to get your organization to pay for or reimburse you for coaching as part of your professional development. We suggest that you check with your manager or human resources department to find out if this is something the organization may do for you.

What are your coaching specialties?

As an ICF Certified Coach and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Dr. Ashley is an executive-leadership coach that specializes in working with ambitious women and minorities already in or preparing for leadership roles to address the unique challenges they face in breaking barriers to reach greater heights. Her coaching specialties include sharpening an individual's emotional intelligence (EQ), considered a highly valued leadership skill, to improve upon the EQ areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills, as well as coaching in change management to effectively help individuals manage VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) and provide them with the support to facilitate change, focus on solutions, and attain organizational goals with confidence.

Moreover, Dr. Ashley helps individuals with leadership development to define a future vision of themselves as a leader, take action towards leadership goals, improve leadership abilities by identifying leadership strengths and areas of improvement, and improve the management of people and performance. She also specializes in helping individuals achieve work-life harmony so they may have a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle aligned with stated priorities and values by improving their level of skill in managing stress in addition to becoming knowledgeable in better lifestyle design.

What qualifications do you have as a coach?

The coaching industry is currently unregulated, therefore there are no legal licensing or credentialing requirements for coaches. However, Dr. Ashley's professional training as a non-traditional social worker in her Master of Social Work program provided the foundational skills training for coaching, which she advanced and refined by completing a graduate certificate in Comprehensive Evidence-Based Coaching in an ICF (International Coach Federation) accredited coach training program and by becoming a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and an ICF Professional Certified Coach.

Who is considered coachable?

Not everyone is coachable. You're coachable if you're receptive and willing to make changes based on feedback, enthusiastic when presented with new challenges, willing to experience discomfort or have difficult conversations, open to new ways of looking at a situation, committed to continued growth, and willing to be held accountable.

How does the coaching process work?

The process of coaching clients involves the coach utilizing questionnaires and assessment tools; asking questions to not only gather information, but to also elicit the self-awareness and insight of clients; actively listening; jointly developing relevant homework with clients; helping clients to identify their resources (e.g., experience and qualities); helping clients to create strategies to overcome blocks to success; working with clients toward promoting a high degree of self-care; and helping clients to identify their values and vision. A key aspect of the coaching relationship is on developing appropriate action steps to help clients move forward toward their goals and aspirations.

Is the coaching done in-person or online?

Coaching is typically done by phone or video call, or if through the OOTify mobile platform it may be by chat, phone or video. In-person coaching sessions may be requested at a mutually agreed upon location and would require that the client cover the cost of travel expenses in addition to the normal fee.

How long does coaching take?

Individual coaching sessions can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes in length. An executive partnership coaching session is one hour. Team/group coaching sessions of five to ten people are usually 2 hours. How much time is spent in coaching depends on the needs and goals of each client. Some clients use coaching only when specific needs arise, where sessions tend to be short and infrequent. Most clients seek more structure with routinely scheduled sessions for an hour once weekly or bi-weekly. I recommend 3 to 4 sessions per month for at least 2 months, but again, depending on the needs and goals, some clients may choose to be in coaching for three months, six months, or longer. Clients who have completed coaching will often return for more coaching as new needs, challenges, goals, or desire for further development arise.

What coaching clients do you work with?

Dr. Ashley collaborates with high-potential individual contributors, new or emerging leaders, directors, and C-suite executives in the fields of healthcare, technology, media and entertainment, government, business (including startups), education, and law. She specializes in working with members of marginalized communities who seek to overcome barriers to leadership or become more effective leaders.

Can you work with coaching clients in a different state or country?

We are able to work with clients throughout the United States and from anywhere around the world.

What are your coaching fees and how does payment work?

Value-based coaching packages provide discounted fees, if prepaid, and are geared toward clients who have a clear understanding that coaching is a serious investment in themselves of time, energy, and money that requires a full commitment. Coaching plans start at a one-month commitment at a 10% discounted price of $3,600 (full price $4,000) and can go up to twelve months. The longer the commitment, the greater the discount. A three-month prepaid package provides a 20% discount, a six-month prepaid package provides a 30% discount, a nine-month prepaid package provides a 40% discount, and a 12-month prepaid package provides a 50% discount. A custom coaching package can be crafted to suit your duration of commitment. Additionally, if you are a member of a marginalized community and/or a military service member or veteran, you may request a discounted rate, which will be calculated depending on your current professional level (C-Suite, SVP, VP, Director, individual contributor, or student).

Payment is made by debit/credit card at the time of booking. View fees and book a session.

What is your cancellation policy?

Once you schedule your appointment(s), that time is reserved in the schedule for you. If you have to cancel, we require 24-hour notice. With the required notice, the session can be rescheduled. However, if you do not give the required notice, you will forfeit the fee for that session.

How do I get started with coaching?

The easiest way is to book a free 15-minute coaching consultation online or you can also call (323) 212-5279.

What's the difference between coaching and consulting?

Coaching helps clients find their own answers whereas consulting is about providing expert advice. Coaching empowers clients through self-discovery, collaborating in capacity-building, exploring possibilities, finding their own clarity and answers, and assists in determining how goals can be achieved for growth. By contrast, consulting is providing professional advice as a subject matter expert, which tends to be problem-focused in diagnosing problems and making recommendations for problem-solving.

What types of consulting do you offer?

We provide advisement and expertise in the following areas to improve organizational performance: Social impact and innovation, behavioral health in the workplace, organizational development and change, employee engagement and well-being, conflict management, organizational communication and messaging, and staff training and development.

What consulting clients do you work with?

Corporate, nonprofit, or government organizations.

What are your consulting fees and what payments do you accept?

$4.50 (per minute rate)

$250.00 (hourly rate)

$1,325.00 (daily rate)

$780.00 (half-day rate)

Book Dr. Ashley by the minute or the hour on CleverX.

Business checks or payment by debit/credit card are accepted for consulting projects based on projected billable time. 50% is paid upfront and the remaining is paid after completion.