Marina Francis

Life Design & Career Coaching

About Coaching

If you're like most people, you'll find your life greatly enhanced by your experience with a trained Professional Coach. I can help you to first learn and then practice the skills you'll need to bring clarity, focus and structure to your visions, and to create the results you really want in your life.

Will Coaching Help Me?

You Can Benefit from Coaching if You:

Think about making changes in your life, but don't really know how to go about it, or whether you'd be successful at it.
Sometimes lack direction, focus, or motivation in one or more areas of your life.
Feel stuck, or in a holding pattern, in your work or relationships.
Are facing a major life crisis or change such as career, relationship, health, death and financial upheavals.
Would like to be happier and more fulfilled, and enjoy your life more.
Get overwhelmed with the everyday "shoulds".
Are having problems with other people or with money.
Would like to be healthier and have greater energy.
Would like to feel more organized, relaxed and in control of your life.

How Does it Work?

My Coaching Approach:
Coaching flows from our jointly created agreement to look forward in the same direction towards the things you most want to create in your life right now, and to then create the actions to bring this into being. Together, we bring sharp focused clarity to what we discover is what you really, authentically and truly desire. Not what you used to want, or what you "ought" to want. Our work together is very results-oriented, and builds on your most natural strengths. From our very first appointment, we recognize that in your life, your point of power is now, not "back then" or "as soon as". Coaching asks for responsibility and commitment, and I support you in that every step of the way.

Since 1998, my coaching work has benefited folks from many walks of life (see Testimonials) with both personal and work-related visions:

Individuals
Couples
Adult family members
Close friends
Intentional Community Members
Business Partners / Co-Owners
Small Business / Special Interest Groups

Where will we work?

If you're within comfortable (your definition!) driving distance from Hood River, Oregon, we'll work in person. For Portland area residents, that drive is a little over an hour, although clients have been known to travel much farther, finding they enjoy integrating and reflecting on that day's work while driving.
If you're farther afield as many clients are, we'll work on the phone with just a few guidelines to create the focus we'll want for appointments.

How long will it take?

I'll be able to answer this more accurately for you after we've had our initial consultation, and I've got a sense of what you want right now, and how I can help you most effectively. Typically, we'll commit to a group of eight weekly sessions of about an hour. You'll also do some practice work on your own throughout the week, usually an hour or two. This allows us the time to build your solid foundation; you'll have plenty of time to practice what you're learning each week, and I'll be able to customize for you as we move forward based on your new insights and clarity.

What does it cost?

Your weekly investment in yourself will typically cost less than a good dinner on a Saturday night. When you make a deep commitment to yourself and the work you're contemplating, the rewards you reap will re-pay you continually, outlasting the most delicious of dinners! Many clients, even months and years later, have shared with me that their time in Coaching was extremely well spent, and worth many times the dollars it cost them. We'll talk specifically about fees during our initial conversation, and I'll give you some options to think about then.

How do I start?

We'll start with an initial consultation of 30 to 60 minutes. I'd like to hear what's uppermost on your mind that you want to work on, learn a bit about your background. I'll want to address the questions you've got, and just generally get to know each other a little. If we each feel we have a fit for a good working relationship, we'll go from there! Just call or email for a consultation time.

Your Point of Power is Always Now!

This consultation is free of charge, and I encourage you to schedule it now to discover how to begin creating what matters most to you in your life. Even if you're not sure you're ready for Coaching right at this moment, you'll learn a few things right away in our conversation that may help you right now, and you'll also have a much better sense of what Coaching can do for you when the time's right. There isn't any pressure, as my philosophy is simply this: "If it's not right for both, it's not right for either" !