Stress Management Coaching FAQ’s

  • It is part of the human condition to experience stress in all its forms. As Christians, we are not immune and it is not a sign you have failed God. Just as we experience illness and injury like everyone else, we must guard against the negative effects of stress on our minds and bodies. The difference is (1) the Christian has access to God’s power to overcome these effects, and (2) suffering has a different meaning to the believer. The reality is…

    • We live in a fallen world as a product of free will so can’t expect a problem-free life; even as Christians - sometimes especially as Christians.

      • In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33

    • Stress can be seen as a tool for personal and spiritual growth. God uses challenges to help people grow in patience, resilience, and character. We see examples of this throughout the Bible.

      • Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ~ James 1:2-4

    • Trials make us relatable to those in the World (and in the faith). Experiencing stress can foster empathy for others going through difficult times.

      • Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

    • We can learn to rely on God which deepens our relationship with Him.

      • Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

    The good news is that, in addition to spiritual support, our loving Father has provided biological and environmental systems to mitigate the negative effects of stress and restore our bodies and minds, and return us to calm and inner peace.

  • There are a few key differences between my approach and those of other Stress Management Coaches:

    1. I have experienced what you are going through. As someone who once suffered the debilitating effects of stress, I totally ‘get you’ and can call on personal experience in addition to my academic training.

    2. At the same time, my coaching is grounded in the principles of Positive Psychology, which means it is research-backed rather than simply a product of my life experience. While my formative experiences and divinely-inspired intuition play a part in the process, I always bring my coaching back to the guiding principles and practices of Positive Psychology.

    3. My style is in alignment with the 'Empowerment’ model over the 'Guru’ model in that my goal is to guide you to access your inner resources with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to transform your life rather than presenting myself as an all-knowing sage. I want to ultimately empower you to become self-reliant (with God's ongoing help).

    4. Certified training in stress management, Positive Psychology, Christian life coaching, nutrition, and fitness equips me to help you manage your stress from multiple angles, which greatly increases your chances of success.

    5. As a Christian, I have access to ‘extra’ assistance. As a fellow believer, so do you! We will work from the premise that we are God’s valued children and our spiritual wellbeing is inextricably linked to our overall health. Applying biblical principles and Christian values to this timeless truth yields life-changing results across all areas of your life.

    6. I coach as much between sessions as during with exercises and activities set for completion between our calls. Remember how fired up you felt after leaving an appointment or event? How long did that last? Not long, I bet. Unlike other coaches who sell one-off sessions, I have chosen a package model to ensure continuous support during your coaching journey. With that extra contact between sessions you will maintain your momentum and experience much faster, longer lasting results.

  • While there are certainly overlapping areas in that both professions aim to help people improve their lives, there are distinct differences between the two...

    Coaching:

    • Focuses equally on the present and future (with a slight emphasis on the latter)

    • Goal oriented

    • Not diagnostic

    • Change is primarily generated by the client

    • Main aim is to see the client flourish

    Counselling:

    • Focuses on the past with some regard for the present

    • Explanation oriented

    • Medically based and diagnostic in nature - may involve medication

    • The therapist is seen as an authority figure

    • Aimed at making the client functional again

    On top of these comparisons, in the words of a coaching client, “My counsellors gave me the same suggestions, but they never told me how. In coaching I figure out my own solutions, based on my actual life.”

    IMPORTANT: While I would love to be able to help everyone, some individuals need counselling rather than coaching, in particular those currently undergoing treatment for serious mental illness.

    My heart goes out to you but this field is outside my scope of practice as a coach so in addition to my lack of training in this area there are also legal implications.

  • The field of Positive Psychology is relatively new and this has led to multiple misconceptions so I will start with what it isn't...

    Positive Psychology IS NOT:

    • designed to replace traditional psychology but rather to supplement it.

    • the same thing as positive thinking or an offshoot of the so-called 'Law of Attraction'.

    • focused on repairing damage (going from a negative psychological state to neutral/'normal') like traditional psychotherapy.

    Positive Psychology IS:

    • a quantifiable science that measures happiness and tests the effectiveness of deliberate practices to increase life satisfaction and overall well-being.

    • focused on a person’s good qualities and seeks to move them from a neutral state (or low positive) to high positive. Instead of ignoring 'abnormally' happy outliers, positive psychology closely studies their behaviour and habits to move the average happiness levels of the entire population upwards.

    If happiness is roughly defined as a high level of positive emotions compared to negative emotions, Positive Psychology looks to improve that ratio by increasing the positive rather than reducing the negative. It focuses on what is RIGHT with people and builds on those qualities to move them toward their potential.

  • I consider myself to be a Christian who is also a Stress Management Coach rather than a Christian stress Management Coach. Let me explain. While my faith is central to everything I do, I am not the type to spiritualise everything. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:46 ~ It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. This is not to say the physical is more important but comes first sequentially. Just as God created Adam and breathed life into him, I look at the physical aspects of your stress before shifting the focus to the spiritual wellbeing.

    I should also make it clear I am not a super-Christian. I make no claim to be a conduit between you and God; channelling all the answers to your challenges. Instead, I coach using my God-given gifts with His blessing upon me. My mission is to help you reduce your stress levels to the point where you are able to hear God's voice yourself. At this stage, my job is done.

  • As explained in the FAQ above, I'm not super-Christian. I am also strongly introverted. It took me a long time to become comfortable praying out loud with others.

    While every coaching call begins and ends with a quick prayer, you have the option of praying silently, out loud by me, or both out loud - whatever you are comfortable with.

    Also, be assured I will also pray for you between sessions and expect you to do the same.

  • In many ways it is a superior option. Some of the advantages of online coaching include:

    • Convenience: There is no traffic to negotiate, no disruptions for travel or holidays and no excessively chatty receptionist. You can squeeze a session with your coach into your busy life from home or even the beach if you so wish.

    • Choice: You get to choose whichever coach you like worldwide based on their individual skill set and personality.

    • Cost: With far lower overheads than bricks-and-mortar coaches, an online coach is able to offer more competitive prices for their services.

    • Communication: Rather than just interacting with your coach during your session, the lines of communication are always open. Motivation and accountability are significantly enhanced in the online model.

    • Confidentiality: No one need be aware you are seeking help. There is no risk of bumping into someone you know in the waiting room or being seen entering a practice by the neighbourhood/church busybody.

  • Stress management isn’t a ‘one-and-done’ fix and is very individual depending on your genetic makeup, conditioning and life circumstances. So the time required to tame and turn around your stress will vary from person to person.

    However, as explained above, my goal isn’t to make you dependent on me. I want to empower you to become self-reliant (with God's ongoing help) as quickly as possible.

  • I use a platform called Quenza, in which I create a personal, private account that you can access on a computer, or via a device through the app. Your account contains all your activities and lessons as well access to the Members' Library. We will communicate through the Quenza Chat function so there is no flipping back and forth between email, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc to stay in touch. Everything is in one convenient, highly secure location and is very user-friendly.

    Coaching calls are delivered via Google Meet video calls. Please note there is always an option to request audio only calls.

  • Immediately after you purchase a Package you will receive an invitation to create your Quenza account. Inside your private portal, you will find a Welcome Pack with complete instructions on how to get started.

    Once we are underway, you will have unlimted email access to me for support and guidance. We will also have regular check-ins via video calls (camera on or off as requested). Following these sessions, I will assign you relevant activities and exercises to complete before our next consultation. We will begin the subsequent session with a review of your answers and make adjustments to your program as required.

  • The level of email support depends on your package:

    • Website enquiry: Whenever it is convenient for me.

    • Silver: Clients can email once a week with a strict set of criteria to streamline the process.

    • Gold: Unlimited access to me with replies within 24 hours*.

    *Subject to a fair use policy.

  • No - and I will explain why. Most of the time, you fail to achieve your health, fitness and weight management goals due to a lack of consistency. The majority of diet and exercise systems work (to a greater or lesser extent) but the best program for you is the one you stick with.

    To ensure this, I use the principles and practices of Positive Psychology life coaching to assist you with goal setting, planning, time management, motivation, accountability and inspiration. You need to have these in place first for you to succeed in your physical endeavours.

  • Subscriptions are processed by the safe and trusted payment provider Stripe, which accepts all major credit cards. Your local currency will be displayed at Checkout.

  • Of course! If you are dissatisfied after the first session of any new Package, you are entitled to a full and courteous refund - no questions asked.

  • If you’ve got questions, I’ve got answers! Hit me up using the Contact form or book a free Strategy Session.