Hiring a coach is a big commitment. I wanted to offer you some input from my clients so you can hear from them what it’s like to work with me.
I interviewed Nicole, a client that I’m working with around intuitive eating and body image, and asked her a few questions. With her permission, I transcribed our conversation and I’m sharing it here.
TW: What made you want to work with me?
Nicole: You seemed really kind. This is hard stuff. Also, in all transparency, I was like, is she going to be too touchy feely? Is she going to be telling me to drink certain herbal teas and that'll save my life? I was a little nervous about that. I predict in a year, or even less, intuitive eating is gonna hit, it's gonna hit a tipping point. And you're going to be like this front end person. You might not feel like you're the front end person, but you really, really are. So I think that's gonna happen. And we're gonna be like, oh, yeah, we knew that.
TW: What were some worries or concerns that you had with working with me before we started?
Nicole: I was worried, as I've done many different diets. I didn't think it was going to be a diet, but I didn't really know what it was going to be. And that's been a fun thing to expand, that has expanded over time. So I didn't know what it was going to be. And how much was going to be expected of me.
I find that there's a lot expected of me, but it's done gently. And it's done at my pace. It's not every week coming here going, and saying, “I didn't do what I said I was gonna do, I failed”. But it's not judgmental. It's just like, let's talk about that. It would be really hard for me if you were full of what I should do.
You're very good at saying “you might want to”, or “here's something that you might want to try”. That's so different from “here is what you should really do”. It allows me to make the choice. You have great things to offer and I can pick the things I like that work for me.
TW: What’s your favorite part of this work?
Nicole: I enjoy thinking about the wins. And often I find I didn't think I had any wins and then I did. Sometimes I think, oh, I don't have any wins and within five minutes of talking to you, I'm always like, like, yes I did. It's a very empowering feeling. It’s stretching a muscle. The more I do that, the better I get at that.
TW: What’s the biggest transformation you've had with working together?
Nicole: I definitely eat more real food. And recognizing that I actually like a lot of foods. I didn't realize that I did. I eat a lot of different foods now.
I would say feeling successful, even though I still have so far to go and many things to do. That is such a nice feeling. It's what keeps me coming back. It's not Pollyanna-ish. It's not a job. It's like, I believe it when I come here and talk to you and I have a good thing happen, or I don't, it's real.
TW: Is there anything surprising about working with me?
Nicole: The thing that surprises me is that I am still this engaged and interested and motivated. And probably even more as time goes by. And I think that comes with building a trusting relationship, too. Just feeling like, wow, this is really valuable. I can’t wait to talk about what was good this week, there are things that are positive. And then the next week that builds on that. But even on a bad week, I take something away. And that's a gift.
TW: Is there anyone that you would recommend me to?
Nicole: This is very feministic work. Not that you wouldn't work with guys. But for me, it feels very much in that vein, and there's something there that other feminists would speak to them.