Coaching Archives - Christian Counseling Pasadena

The Benefits of Effective Listening for Relationships

The Benefits of Effective Listening for Relationships

By Jennifer Kooshian|2024-09-30T12:59:20+00:00March 18th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Relationship Issuse|

One of the many gifts that comes from being in a relationship with others is being known, understood, and loved. Our world is a big wide place, and it’s easy to feel like just another statistic, a faceless part of the crowd, another worker in the organization, or just another neighbor or citizen. In our closest relationships, our individuality is seen and appreciated, and that makes all the difference in the world. As our closest relationships are precious, it matters that they become spaces where we truly do hear others and are heard. That is why being a good listener is one of the best gifts you can ever give someone. Who doesn’t appreciate the fact that someone has truly heard them and understands their concerns? However, being a good listener is easier said than done, as we have many unhelpful habits that get in the way of effective listening. Understanding effective listening What exactly is effective listening? At its core, effective listening leaves the other person feeling like they’ve been heard, that their concerns and questions were understood, and that they’ve had an opportunity to express themselves as they intended. That’s a lot to accomplish through listening, but it is possible. When we engage in communication, whether in expressing ourselves to others or in receiving their words toward us, a lot is going on in that interaction. When you speak, you do so through your communication style, which is a combination of the words you tend to use, your tone of voice, how much eye contact you give, and the gestures you tend to employ. That communication style can be aggressive, assertive, passive, passive-aggressive, or manipulative. When it comes to listening, a lot is going on there, too. Your body posture, whether you are maintaining eye contact, whether [...]

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Goal Setting: 8 Reasons Why Goals are Important

Goal Setting: 8 Reasons Why Goals are Important

By Joanna Kucherera|2024-09-30T12:49:29+00:00January 2nd, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

Most of us have dreams. We all look at life and have a picture of what we want our future to be. These dreams and wishes can only become a reality when we put in the effort that’s needed to achieve them. This is where goal setting comes into play. Goals are defined as dreams with a deadline and a plan. It is how we choose to live and prioritize our time and resources toward those things we want to achieve and be. There are different types of goals a person can have for themselves. The reason for that is as our lives become more complex, we now need to be intentional about how we allocate time toward different aspects of our lives. Below are some types of goals people can have: Social goals. Personal goals. Financial goals. Health and wellness goals. Professional goals. Academic goals. Spiritual goals. Personal development goals. Though they might not all be at the same level of priority, all these goals are important for a person’s wellness and functioning. Goal setting is important because it can help make all these aims attainable and not overwhelming. Why is goal setting important? Getting into the habit of setting goals is important for many reasons. Below are some to consider. Bringing a sense of control. Goal setting brings everything into focus. You feel empowered and in control as you plan and develop systems that can help you achieve your goals. You are not leaving everything to the universe but working as much as you can for the future you want. Encouraging discipline. When you have goals, you become more disciplined in your life choices and in how you distribute resources. You can prioritize your behavior and channel your energy where it is needed. Having timelines and deadlines [...]

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Light for Your Path: Bible Verses About Hope

Light for Your Path: Bible Verses About Hope

By Jennifer Kooshian|2024-09-30T12:59:04+00:00December 21st, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Some say that the past is the best predictor of future behavior. While that can be true in some instances, those of us who are in Christ have a new nature. It is out of this true identity, knowing who we are and to Whom we belong, that we can experience enduring transformation and hope (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 12:1-2). Consider the following Bible verses about hope to find some encouragement. Bible verses about hope The changes we encounter in our relationship with Jesus are informed by the Word, the ultimate Authority, which has the power to shift what is seen and unseen, in this present world and the one to come (John 1:1). That can be a source of encouragement and hope to light an otherwise obscure path, comforted in that we do not have to remain the same, locked into old behaviors, beliefs, and ways of being (Psalm 119:89, 105). We can find hope and continue growing into who God desires us to be. With Scripture, we can draw inspiration and encouragement for navigating challenging times with Bible verses about hope. The words of the prophet Jeremiah urge us to delight in God’s steadfastness with each sunset and sunrise (Lamentations 3:21-26). Our Father is faithful, providing us with new mercies to envelop us amid every threat. Between the poles of each day, the Psalmist reminds us that the praise of the Lord will sustain us in and through all we endure (Psalm 113:3). These verses are the beacons that point to hope so that we can emerge from our past, abide in our present, and advance into our future with God. While we all endure troublesome circumstances just as Jesus forewarned, the hope the Bible comforts with is not limited to the change of temporal conditions (John [...]

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Can You Recognize Effective Coaching?

Can You Recognize Effective Coaching?

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-30T12:56:20+00:00August 25th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

You have heard of the idea of getting coaching for various challenges that have come up in the workplace, but how will you know the difference between effective coaching and the opposite? In this short article, we look at three tangible outcomes that may accompany effective coaching. On a personal level, the opportunity to benefit from coaching will promote an individual’s personal growth and improvement over time through self-development. From a company-wide perspective, there are several ways to structure as well as measure effective coaching. A short list of these may include promotion, performance, better coordination inside and outside teams, and higher retention rates. These are useful to measure effective coaching once the program has ended, but how can you evaluate the program while it is still in progress, and how are improvements seen in the working week? Effective coaching outcomes and indicators Better personal performance. A high-performing employee can see the broader picture, and so more easily collaborates with other team members and with those of different skill sets. The development time required for such a person is shortened through focused coaching in areas such as project planning, strategic thinking, or influencing others. To effectively examine and improve these areas the coach needs to be able to communicate their technical expertise of personality factors that influence these competencies, such as emotional intelligence, imposter syndrome, and ego. Those receiving coaching come to understand what areas they need to work on, and then how to do this while staying true to themselves so that the personal growth continues after the coaching sessions are ended. Improving team coordination and outcomes. When a leader is coached, it is not only their performance that will improve, but their team will also benefit from higher outputs. Effective coaching will facilitate a high-performing leader’s desire [...]

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Key Signs of Spiritual Growth and Maturity

Key Signs of Spiritual Growth and Maturity

By Kate Motaung|2024-09-30T12:57:40+00:00July 11th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Every living thing grows, and that’s no less true of our spiritual lives, which require spiritual growth. New life in Jesus needs to be nurtured toward maturity. One of the images Jesus uses to describe the relationship we have with God in this new life is that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. We are vitally connected to Him and draw our life from Him, allowing us to produce fruit in our lives (John 15:1-8). God is the gardener who prunes the vine to make it more fruitful. That fruit is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV). How do you discern if you’re growing spiritually and are becoming more mature in the faith? There are a few ways you can tell. Signs of spiritual growth and maturity Becoming more like Jesus. The Christian life is all about becoming increasingly like Jesus. The apostle Paul said that the goal of his ministry was to “present everyone fully mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28, NIV). Hardships and trials are part of the way our faith is tested and proved, and it’s how we develop Christian character, hope, and stability (James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Romans 5:3-5). The more we become like Jesus, the more we’ll possess the same outlook He did, love people as He did, be as joyful as He was, and also encounter persecution and rejection as He did (John 15:18-27). If you find yourself having greater compassion and love for people, especially for the people who hate you, then you know you’re becoming more like Jesus. He fully lived out the ethic of blessing those who persecute you, and of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves – He died on the cross to save His enemies (Romans 5:8). [...]

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