Winter, a time of cold and long nights.

I grew up in Chicago’s cold, cold winters — when it was really cold, the moisture in my nose would freeze when I breathed.  Snow could stick around until April or May.  Now I live in New York City and one winter joy living in the big city, is the silence that envelopes the city when it snows.  Less traffic, less noise, as if the snow blanket mutes everything.  For a moment, we all slow down, take a breath and perhaps see beauty.

Winter, in the five elements system of traditional Chinese acupuncture, the season of unknowing, described by a mentor of mine as being in the depths of a lake — it’s dark and cold and we do not know what is there, and we swim around in it with curiosity.  Winter is inward.

As a coach I swim around in the unknown and explore with my client, listening and asking questions to explore the deep mystery further.

It takes a little courage to go into the deep because I don’t know what’s there.  But like layering up to go out in the cold, I make preparations.  My preparation is my coach training and my mentor coach who I can go to.  My preparation is my coaching experience, and lessons drawn from my professional and personal life.

I respect the courage of my clients who are journeying into the unknown when they decide to have me coach them.  It is a confidential conversation and as an ICF-certified coach, I adhere to a high ethical standards and practices.  As a coach, my goal is to help my clients uncover the insights and solutions they already have.  My goal as a coach is to have my client become more self-aware and empowered, and to learn more about herself and her situation.