FAQs

Coaching is a thought-partnership designed to help you get clarity, uncover possibilities, and move toward your goals. It’s not about someone telling you what to do - it’s about you discovering your best way forward with support.

ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.

Therapy

While coaching is forward-focused, therapy/counseling tends to deal more with past issues in which you may find yourself stuck and struggling. We may occasionally discuss something that has occurred in the past, for the purpose of clarifying the present, but your coaching will not focus on resolving the past. A simple rule of thumb to know whether you should be coaching or counseling: If your past is an issue, counseling is your best option. If your past is simply a fact (regardless of whether the circumstances were difficult or negative), you are probably ready for coaching. If it appears that there is an issue for which you may need counseling, I will suggest it. With the support of a counselor or therapist, some individuals choose to engage in coaching and counseling simultaneously, but with a focus on different areas of life for each service.

Consulting

Consultants provide solutions and strategies. A coach focuses on helping you walk your unique path to success. As the client, you are responsible for the results you receive as a result of coaching. I help you discover how to become more of who you need to be to achieve those results and identify what you may need to do differently. A consultant takes responsibility for a specific project, acting as a specialist, providing specific deliverables and knowledge.

I believe in your ability to fully experience your potential and will provide a safe, consistent space for you to develop your potential.

Mentoring

Mentors share advice based on their experience.

As a coach, I focus on the development of YOU, and your unique path in particular. A mentor guides you towards a specific path of development. I am more interested in helping you onto the unique and rich path that is meant for you – which may be quite different than the path I have taken, even though the purpose of our paths may be very similar.

My job as your coach is not to tell you what to do, but rather to help you uncover the answers that lie within you. Consider me a catalyst for your success.

Plenty of people can tell you what to do to reach your goals, and that might get you part of the way there. But a coach helps you unlock your own unique strengths, insights, and inner drive. That’s what allows you to reach your full potential - often further than you (or anyone else!) could ever imagined.

The short answer: all kinds of people. Coaching isn’t limited to one type of person or one stage of life - it’s for anyone who wants to grow with intention.

• Career changers who are figuring out their next step or pivoting into a new field.

• Executives and leaders who want to sharpen their leadership skills, make better decisions, or manage stress at the top.

• Entrepreneurs who need clarity, focus, and accountability as they build or scale a business.

• Professionals “stuck in the middle” - people who aren’t unhappy, but know they’re capable of more and want to break through to the next level.

• Students and young professionals seeking direction, confidence, and career clarity early on.

• Parents and caregivers who are balancing multiple roles and want to thrive, not just survive.

• High performers who are already doing well but want to go from good to great.

• Other coaches and helping professionals who understand the value of having their own thought partner.

Some clients come to coaching because they feel lost or overwhelmed. Others come because they’re ambitious and want to maximize their potential. What they all have in common: a desire to grow and the willingness to invest in themselves.

Not at all. Coaching isn’t just for crises - it’s for clarity, growth, and intentional progress. Many clients work with a coach simply because they want more: more impact, more balance, more fulfillment. Wanting those things is easy but actually creating them is where it gets tricky. Fear, doubt, or old patterns often get in the way. That’s where coaching helps you move from wanting to doing in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.

The first step is recognizing that there is a goal that you want to achieve, but for some reason, you have not been able to achieve it on your own. You are hungry for change and ready to make it happen.

The next step is booking a Discovery Call to see if we are a good fit. Not every client is a good match.

On the Discovery call, I will ask you a lot of questions to best understand you and your needs.

We typically meet weekly or biweekly via Zoom. You and I will agree on dates/times during our Discovery Call.

Sessions are structured conversations focused on your goals. Between sessions, you take action steps, do various exercises and/or reflect on insights.

It depends on your goals!

Some people do short-term (3–6 months) for a specific challenge, while others stay with me longer for ongoing growth and accountability.

Sessions are either 45 or 60 minutes in length on Zoom.

My clients often tell me in the first session that they feel more Confident, Optimistic, Hopeful, and Capable of achieving their goals. They leave with specific action items and immediately start making progress.

I am BIG on accountability. This is not just fluff - it’s time to get to work and DO THIS!

I am extremely confident that you will see progress starting with your first session.

For those looking for a very specific goal in their career journey, I now offer Power Hour sessions. Learn more here.

I will ask powerful questions, listen deeply, challenge assumptions and help you generate insights that evoke awareness and move you forward in new ways. You’ll leave each session with clarity, energy and next steps.

I often tell clients that I “hold up the mirror.” That means that I reflect back what I’m hearing and noticing - your words, patterns, and shifts in energy - so you can see yourself more clearly. I’m not afraid to ask the tough, honest questions that friends or colleagues might avoid. This kind of clear reflection sparks self-awareness, fresh insights, and empowers you to make powerful, intentional changes.

If you’re motivated to grow, open to new perspectives, and ready to take decisive action, coaching can be a great fit! The best way to know is to try a session and see how it feels.

Successful coaching requires two essentials:

1. A genuine desire to grow or change

2. A willingness to be coached

It sounds obvious, yet I’m often asked whether coaching works for people who aren’t interested in change. The answer is simple: it doesn’t. Growth is a choice. Coaching can unlock it, but only if the individual is ready and willing.

It’s true: “Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes.” When you are tired of not getting results that you want, and find yourself stuck in old patterns, I will help you change that!

Anyone can technically call themselves a coach, regardless of training or experience. This is unfortunate because it creates confusion, inconsistent quality, unmet expectations and skepticism - making it harder for people to trust and benefit from professional coaching.

As a Certified Personal and Executive Coach, I have:

• completed rigorous training in coaching techniques and frameworks

• adhered to a professional code of ethics and standards

• logged over 800 coaching hours + 100+ hours ICF training + 10 hours ICF mentor coaching

• committed to ongoing education to keep skills sharp

Choosing a certified coach isn’t a guarantee of results (same is true with any professional), but it does provide confidence that you’re working with someone who is trained, accountable and committed to professional standards and ethics.

Yes. As an ACC certified coach with the ICF* I follow strict ethical guidelines around confidentiality, similar to therapy or counseling.

*The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the world’s leading organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession. It sets global standards for coaching ethics, competencies, and accreditation of training programs.

Why it matters: ICF credentials signal that a coach has completed rigorous training, adheres to a strict code of ethics, and demonstrates proven coaching skills. For clients, it’s a mark of quality and professionalism; for coaches, it’s a recognized pathway to credibility and ongoing development.

I have several offerings and together we decide what is right for you.

Think of it like hiring a personal trainer: you could work out on your own for free, but having someone guide you, push you, and keep you accountable helps you get stronger results, faster and more effectively.

Coaching is an investment in accelerating your growth and reaching your goals faster and beyond what you thought was possible.

Email me at jacqui@jacquiporter.com to discuss what type of coaching package may be right for you. Or book a free 30 minute Discovery Call to see which of my coaching programs is right for you!

My clients experience real, lasting breakthroughs in their personal and professional lives.

Here’s a sample of what my client’s have achieved through coaching with me:

• Overcoming career gaps

• Finding satisfying careers that align with strengths and values and provide true fulfillment

• Starting businesses

• Pivoting into a new industry

• Launching books, apps

• Overcoming imposter syndrome

• Improving leadership skills

• Landing interviews and getting job offers after trying unsuccessfully on their own for months

The best way to see the impact of coaching with me is through their stories. Visit my TESTIMONIALS PAGE to read how partnering with me has helped clients gain clarity, confidence and achieve meaningful success in both their personal and professional lives.