LIFC 201
LECTURE NOTES: MODULE/WEEK 1
DVD 1: Coaching: The New Helping Relationship, Dwight Bain, M.A. and Catherine
Hart Weber, Ph.D.
Coaching is a vital new helping field that is growing daily. Dwight Bain and Catherine
Hart Weber help you understand this new skill and how it differs from other helping
professions such as counseling.
Introduction:
A. Why is Life Coaching Becoming So Popular?
People are looking for change—purpose in life.
Therapy is not for everyone, but coaching is!
A good coach will take their client from where they are at to where they want to
be.
B. What Sets “Christian” Life Coaching Apart?
Christian Coaches help people discover God’s calling on their life and how to
live out that call.
#1 Group searching for Life Coaching—individuals in their middle years of life—a
credentialed coach is going to come alongside them and help save 10-15 years of effort!
God has given each of us a Life Story and a unique journey!
Your Life Story will determine your area of
expertise in coaching—it becomes your credibility!
Discovery Question #1:
What goal do you have in watching this video series?
Life Coaching Flows Out of Your Life Story!
Where are you right now in your story? Is there a common theme?
(i.e. Movie title, Book title)
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I. History of Coaching:
A. Entertainment and Sports Coaching (1950s)
B. (Business) Executive Coaching (60’s, 70’s and 80’s)
C. (personal) Life Coaching
D. Counseling/Psychotherapy –stress management, habits, lifestyle
New Positive Psychology:
II. Types of Coaching:
A. Personal Life Coaching:
B. Performance Coaching:
C. Executive Coaching:
D. Group Coaching:
E. Wellness Coaching:
F. Retirement Coaching:
G. Career Coaching:
What type of coaching resonates with your Life Story?
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Discovery Question #2:
What is the specialty area or “niche” of coaching you are thinking about
pursuing? (list your top 5 areas)
III. Definitions of Coaching: An ongoing intimate transparent relationship for
those making important changes in life. To explore their dreams, their hopes,
and their fears, coaching focuses on clients taking action towards realizing
their vision, goals and desires.
IV. Roles of a Coach:
A. Coming alongside of an individual to help them discover new ways of achieving
life goals
B. Asking the right questions
V. Distinctions Between Coaching and Counseling:
A. Coaching: move forward toward change and growth – results, solution, action –
looking forward
B. Counseling: helping people deal with past issues – moving toward healing
VI. Basic Credentialing Requirements for Coaches vs. Counselors:
VII. The Coaching Process:
A. The Initial Conversation—gathering information and data
Open-ended questioning
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Assessment
Testing
B. Begin process of keeping client accountable
Assign homework
Set clear goals
Listen to God’s voice—out of your Life Story flows the
Life Coach God designed you to be!
DVD 2: Christian Coaching: Scriptural and Spiritual Foundations, Richard Eley,
Ph.D., Katie Brazelton, M.Div., Ph.D., Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D., and Sandra Dopf,
B.S.
This panel of experts explores the biblical basis for the field of coaching and provides
theological grounding as you launch into this new area of study.
I. What Makes “Christian Coaching” Christian?
A. The Christian World View
A strong foundation in relationship with Jesus Christ
B. Awareness that there is a plan for our life—God’s plan
C. We see the fruit of our labor as coaches in the lives of our clients
II. Goals and Purpose of Christian Coaching:
A. Help others fulfill the plan God has for their life
B. Help others to accomplish a deeper sense of meaning and purpose
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III. Spiritual Foundations of Christian Coaching:
A. Spiritual Gifts—Ephesians 5
B. The Gift of Encouragement—Romans 1:28
IV. Jesus as the Perfect Model of a Life Coach:
A. Motivation of Jesus was not selfish.
B. He built strong relationships with people and His disciples.
C. He asked questions.
D. He demonstrated unconditional grace.
E. Jesus knew suffering.
F. He came and provided hope in God—we can give hope to our clients
because we now have hope from Jesus.
V. Reasons to Use Spiritual Identification with Clients:
A. Jesus told stories—Share briefly your own personal life story/journey with
your clients.
1. Shows vulnerability
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2. Shows authenticity
B. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter—John 4:16
C. Jesus Christ is the Advocate—I John 2:1
D. The Spirit of Encouragement brings the Word alive.
VI. The Importance of a Spiritual Foundation:
VII. Four Themes of Christian Life Coaching:
A. Focus—The Samaritan Woman John 4
B. Balance—Luke 2:52
C. Productivity—Story of Bartimaeous Mark 10:46-52
D. Fulfillment—John 10:10
“Christian Life Coaching is a new helping relationship to propel Spiritual formation.”
~Catherine Hart Weber~
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DVD 3: Theory & Practice: Developing a Model for Effective Change, Georgia
Shaffer, M.A.
There are many theories and models of coaching. Christian counselor and life coach,
Georgia Shaffer, explains some of the basic theories and helps you understand how to
develop an effective model of life coaching that will help your clients make effective
changes in all areas of their lives
Change happens through a crisis or by choice!
I. Life Coaches Assist Clients to Develop Through Choice.
II. 5 Stages of the Change Model
A. Pre-Contemplation Stage: Unaware of the problem our have no intention
of changing.
B. Contemplation Stage: Aware of the problem, want to do something about
it, but not ready to take action, make the emotional investment; weighing
pros and cons
C. Preparation Stage: Intends to make changes, starting to think about
implementing change; now emotionally invested
D. Action Stage: Beging to see actual behavioral changes
E. Maintenance Stage: Continuing the behavior of the Action Stage,
continuing to move forward despite setbacks
III. Four Simplified Stages of Change Model
A. Recognize : where are they now, where do they want to go
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Spiritual, Physical, Social, Emotional, Mental, Vocational
Utilize inventories and assessments
Listen to their story—listen to their passion
Clarify the difference:
God-appointed change
People-appointed change
Self-appointed change
God-appointed change is the goal!
God-Appointed Change: Story of Joshua; Deuteronomy 3
Often clients make the choice to be a People Pleaser
Recommended Reading:
“Windows of the Soul”
~Ken Gire
Help clients recognize how God has shaped their personalities and crafted their
life experiences. What skills has He given them?
Self-Appointed Change:
Recommended Reading:
“Visioneering: God’s Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Vision”
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~Andy Stanley
Sample Questions to use:
Where are you right now? What do you like about where you
are right now? What don’t you like? What do you care deeply
about? How has God created you? How are you unique? What
are your Spiritual Gifts? What are your skills and talents? What
are the strengths of your personality? What are your life
experiences?
B. Organize:
Much easier to move forward if you have a plan
Self defeating thoughts begin to emerge—focus becomes on
weaknesses
Sample Questions to use:
Who can help you? What are the resources you need—
financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically? What skills
do you need that you don’t have right now? How can you
get them? What training and experience do you need to
become more competent and effective? Who are the people
around you in your life that you can help? Where do you
need to step out in faith and take that risk? What’s the first
step? What’s the next step?
Recommended Reading:
“Now Discover Your Strengths”
~Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton
C. Energize:
Make the commitment, write it down
Take action
Stay with the pain—normalize the pain for the client
New perspective
Be patient with process
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Rely on others
Sample Questions to use:
How can you minimize the daily distractions of life? How
are you doing at balancing the different areas of your life?
What can you do to reenergize yourself? How can you help
to rebuild your confidence? What is the most challenging
about your current situation? What is the one thing in your
life that you are most proud of? What do you believe about
your ability to past this obstacle? What resources do you
have available that you are not using? Do you need to
readjust your priorities? What will you do for yourself if
you overcome this challenge?
D. Realize:
Celebrate this moment!
Help sustain change
Never stop growing
Sample Questions to use:
Have you celebrated the fact that you’ve pursued your
passion? What are you doing to continue growing? Is the
stress you are experiencing the kind of stress? What do you
need to say ‘No’ to? What could you do differently? What
are you willing to do to overcome any setbacks? What
would you like to learn more about? What would you like
your life to look like?
IV. If Crisis is Encountered:
V. The GROW Model:
A. G = Goal
B. R = Reality
C. O = Obstacles, Options
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D. W = Way forward
View Video Clip: An Interview with Dwight Bain
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