Cherie Carter-Scott, Ph.D. - Master Coach
I have been coaching all my life. I started coaching professionally
and
receiving money for it in 1974. In 1976 I taught my first Coach’s
Training in San
Francisco. I believed that people have their own answers to their
life challenges,
that they possess the personal power to make those answers become
reality, and
that people can have their lives become the way they truly desire.
These were
and are the underlying principles of the MMS coaching method.
2004 marks the
30th year that we have been coaching clients, and teaching others
how to become
MMS certified coaches.
The Process
The process is catalytic for self-discovery in that people discover
their own answers to confusing situations. The environment needs to be
safe, supportive, and empowering in order for people to find out what
they truly want.
The process is similar to opening an oyster and finding a pearl inside,
or compressing and polishing a piece of coal and revealing a diamond
within. The treasure or answer always resides within, but it is often
camouflaged by layers of confusion, doubt, uncertainty, and fear. The
challenge is penetrating through the layers of "I don't know'
and piercing through to the "I knows". The process is ultimately
simple and infinitely profound.
The coach asks open-ended questions, suspends judgment, creates a
safe environment encouraging the client to use his imagination and
explore his fantasies. He has no agenda, nor does he know what is next,
or what is best for the client. The coach doesn't give any of his own
good ideas.
People who believe in themselves manifest their dreams, and those
who don't, sell themselves short. It isn't enough to help people find
out what they want, it is essential to support them in believing in
themselves, in knowing that they deserve to have what they want, and
are able to have their dreams come true.
The programs focus on the individual and his/her ability to
grow and flourish in life. In addition, the programs help people
interact more effectively, both on and off the job. In one-to-one
sessions the same essential issues are addressed:
How can I have what I want in my life.
How can I have the job that utilizes my abilities and skills,
gives me a sense of satisfaction, and rewards me monetarily.
How can I have the primary relationship that I want?
How can I have the home environment that I want?
How can I have the body that I want?
How can I feel good about myself?
How can I have my business be the way that I want it ?
How can I design the life that makes me feel like my dreams have
come true?
The process has three parts:
1) determining and/or clarifying what you want
2) strategizing an action plan
3) being supported in the realization of the dream.
The process is session specific, focused, results oriented and
short term. There is a definite beginning, middle, and end to every
coaching project. The coach is not so much interested in the "why" or
the "how" as the "what". The most frequently
asked questions are: What do you want? What does it look like? What
will it take? What do you need to do to get there?
The process is not therapy, but rather therapeutic. It is not
long term, but short term. It is not process oriented, but solution
oriented.
In fact it is relevant to note the
differences between MMS and Therapy:
THE MMS APPROACH MOST TRADITIONAL THERAPIES
THE
MMS APPROACH |
MOST
TRADITIONAL THERAPIES |
| •
short term |
•
long term |
| •
task oriented |
•
process oriented |
| •
results oriented |
•
process oriented and results in the long run |
| •
client has specific objectives |
•
client comes and talks about how he is |
| •
a problem solving approach |
•
focused more on unearthing root issues |
| •
conducted on an 'as needed' basis |
•
scheduled on a regular and ongoing basis |
| •
no previous knowledge is needed |
•
previous knowledge is needed |
| •
self directed process |
•
other directed process |
| •
no directing, advising, suggesting |
•
advising, suggesting, and directing is O.K. |
| •
client has his own answers |
•
therapist knows or interprets treatment, plan or conceptual
framework |
| •
behavioral |
•
cognitive/analytical |
| •
intuitive |
•
variation in methods |
| •
asks |
•
asks and tells |
| •
draws out |
•
permissive and allowing |
| •
active |
•
open-ended |
| •
engaged |
•
no agenda |
| •
empowering |
•
supportive/can be empowering |
| •
independent |
•
dependent/independent |
| •
self motivated to learn and grow |
•
positive parents |
| •
action oriented |
•
feel better |
| •
client makes the choices |
•
therapist makes decision on where to go |
The MMI process of coaching is to therapy as a paramedic is to a Doctor,
or a paralegal is to an attorney. Both are necessary, do not duplicate
each other, but rather fulfill different functions.
The people who come to MMI see a clarity about their lives which enables
them to focus, strategize, and actively pursue the action plans which
will produce their desired results.
Clients have various objectives. Some of them are:
• to formulate goals and objectives
•
to strategize lifelong dreams
•
to resolve old issues
•
to clear up communication breakdowns or blocks
•
to solve problems
•
to get perspective on a specific situation
•
to have a sounding board
•
to have a judgment free environment to say the unsay able
(especially if they are highly visible personalities)
•
to get "unstuck" from old behavior patterns
•
to expand to the next level in their lives
•
to breakthrough an issue which he has been unable to conquer
alone
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