Frequently Asked Questions

In these times of uncertainty and disturbance, self-care is no superfluous luxury, especially for all those who continue to work in sectors that keep society going. But also for all others who feel insecure and anxious because of the situation.

I continue to work as a coach and I am available to existing and new clients. Thanks to the technology I can offer you online coaching.

I've been coaching my international customers and people who live a bit further away via Zoom (a kind of Skype) for years. I have very good experiences with it and you get used to it very quickly.

So don't hesitate to contact me for an comforting coaching conversation.

Coaching can be done in different ways: face to face during a coaching session in my coaching space, in my garden room with sunny weather, via telephone, via Zoom (like Skype) or at the company’s premises if it concerns a corporate context. I also offer walking coaching in nature or other environment.

We can also vary the methods if preferred.

A lot depends on the type of coaching, the coaching package, whether you pay or your employer, ...During the intake session we look at the most suitable solution for your request and together we agree about the accompanying investment. 

Group coaching and workshops
The start of group sessions and workshops will always be announced in the Agenda  on this website. The exact participation fee will depend on the number of sessions in the series or workshop and whether it takes place on location or online. Workshops and group sessions only start when a minimum number of participants is reached. 

Team coaching and other services

Individual coaching journeys

If we have not agreed otherwise, I will always send you an invoice at the end of each month for the coaching sessions of that month. You always pay by bank transfer as I do not accept cash payments or payments by credit card. 

You pay a lump sum by bank transfer in advance for the whole series (exceptionally a divergent payment schedule can be agreed) or before the start of the workshop. You will receive an invoice. In particular cases an online payment possibility will be offered. 

Team coaching and otherservices

Invoicing and payment conditions are always mentioned in my proposals and will be agreed upon in a collaboration agreement or contract.

Again, there is not one answer and a lot will depend on the type of coaching you are having with me. 

For personal coaching and career coaching a typical session takes 60 minutes, all-in. This means that the welcome and wrap-up are also included. Other formulas are possible and depend on the package you choose. In any case, be sure to arrive at the agreed time.

Executive coaching and leadership development coaching packages are always tailor made. Regarding the duration of sessions we jointly agree what works best for you. 

I ask new coaching clients to commit for a minimum of 8 coaching sessions (8 hours). Moreover,  the time in-between session is important as I often ask you to start forwarding insights into action which in turn deepens your learning. 

I often compare a coaching journey to a long trip we are undertaking together. We travel in the direction of your chosen destination. However it is you, the client, who holds the steering wheel. I, your coach, am seated next to you, holding the road map or the gps. I encourage you and support you to maintain your course.

You can only gain so much from your coaching as you are prepared to invest in it your self. This often means a considerable commitment, but an even bigger fulfilment.

Clients who took a coaching journey in the past, sometimes choose to return after some time for a few refresher sessions or because they have a new change goal which they want to explore with my support. In these cases we consider together the frequency and the number of sessions needed. .

I have noticed that quite a few people do not have a clear view on what ‘personal coaching’ means. Everybody knows the sport coach or the wellness and fitness coach. I am often asked what is the difference between coaching and therapy, or between coaching and that other well-known service, consultancy.

What all these different approaches have in common, is that they help individuals to evolve to a desired state or situation: better (sport) performances, losing weight, healthier eating habits, career switch, finding a balance after burn-out or traumatic experiences, tackling disfunction due to mental or emotional problems, etc..

With sport and health coaches, certain types of therapy, consultancy, etc.. the service provider often sets the agenda and takes the expert role, whereby the client is more at the receiving end and follows the recommendations of the expert. With different (but not all) forms of therapy, the focus is on what happened in the past of the client and how this influences his/her current condition. The therapist has been trained to diagnose problems and works with the client to help the healing of emotional or mental wounds.

As described before, it is not the role of the coach to give advice or to help solve someone’s problem. Coaches are also not trained to make a diagnosis and do not focus on solving emotional problems. On the other side it is true that when clients make courageous life choices during a coaching process, they often experience a feeling of ‘healing’, the breaking of old patterns and connections, the escape from a limiting space and stepping into a new force.

Therapy is often about the past - healing wounds. Coaching is about the future. It's about creating a future that's different from the future that would have arrived by default if you had no coach and no sense of creativity and no commitment.

Absolutely and it is even the standard procedure with me. A taster or chemistry session is between 30 and 45 minutes and is without obligation and free of charge. We become acquainted, I listen to what you are looking for, I explain how I work, what my philosophy is and I also coach you shortly so that you can experience how I coach. And of course we also discuss particles and price. 

Shortly after this session - or at the end of it - you decide whether you want to start a coaching journey with me. On the other hand, if I consider that I am not the best professional to support you with your question, I will also tell you and possibly refer you to another coach or therapist.

For further information you can also read the answer on the next question 'How does my ideal client look like?'

The clients with whom I work best are very committed to bring about change in their life and/or work and are prepared to invest the necessary time and effort. It is not so important to me if you are a business woman or man, a company manager, a staying-at-home mom or dad, a creative, a student or without a job. What is important is that you are prepared to work on yourself, look into your behaviour, and take the responsibility for your life and your role in your world.

If you can see yourself in the majority of the following statements, there’s a good change that we will have a strong affinity:

• Are you determined to achieve your dream or vision, whether or not you know yet exactly what it is?
• Can you agree to continually strive to be fully honest and open with yourself and me?
• Do you have enthusiasm and commitment, and willingness to ask for and accept help?
• Do you understand what is it costing you NOT to achieve this dream or vision?
• Is achieving your goal important enough to you to invest a significant amount of your time, effort, and money?

What I offer is not for everyone. It involves effort, commitment, and courage – it occasionally involves some pain (but also a lot of fun, aha-moments and hapiness).

Does coaching change your brain? Scientific research into the ‘neuroplasticity’ of our brains clearly points in that direction.
More can be found in the article of Ann Betz ‘The Neuroscience of the ‘Woo-woo’.

I also encourage you to watch the videos with Rick Hanson such as this one Understanding Neuroplasticity. Rick states that you can use your mind to change your brain to change your mind for the better. This is self-directed neuroplasticity.

This video with Lori Shook – a Co-Active coach by the way – explains in a comprehensible way what happens in your brain. She starts from the example of the American presidential elections in 2016 and sketches the context on the brainy level of what happened.

Personally, I find these TED-talks very inspiring. They all deal with things of life which are also treated during coaching. Enjoy listening to them and become inspired!

Shonda Rhimes: “My year of saying yes to everything”

Celeste Headlee: “10 ways to have a better conversation”

 Judson Brewer: “A simple way to break a bad habit”