The Professional Islamic Life and TransitionCoaching Service for Muslim Women
The Professional Islamic Life and TransitionIf I can’t use Paypal in my country, can I still register for coaching with CoachAmal?
Coaching in General:
What is life coaching?
It’s a process that helps people to work out what it is that they themselves want from their lives and how they can work towards achieving it. It helps them to articulate their dreams and aspirations, clarify their purposes and goals, and then helps them achieve new outcomes in different areas of their life: spiritual, personal, professional, relationships, health…
As coaches, we use a personalised combination of methods, tools, and techniques, some of which have been selected from management and leadership theories, and others from behavioural therapy and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), to assist clients in reaching their individual goals.
For instance, when I've coached women who want to feel more connected to the spiritual side of their lives, I've used - among other tools - visioning, to enable them to work out what exactly that would mean to them, and then goal planning, to help them decide upon the steps they need to take to work towards their vision. When I've worked with women who have become distanced from people they were close to, I've used tools such as strategic questioning, reframing and dialogues to assist them to understand what has happened and work out what to do next. Each person is unique, as are their situations, so the most appropriate combination of tools and techniques have to be chosen for each person.
What is the difference between a life coach, counsellor and a mentor?
Coaches are future-focussed sounding boards and motivators, who support clients to identify and meet their own goals. The coach’s job is to ask probing provocative questions, provide insights and motivation, really listen, give honest feedback, and then help their clients to develop strategies to achieve their goals.
Although the aim of coaching is similar to mentoring and counselling - in that it is designed to support clients to lead better lives - a coach isn’t an expert in all the fields that their clients may want to work in, as a mentor would be. Their expertise lies in the skills and techniques they use to bring out the best in their clients.
The main difference between coaching and counselling is that coaching is very future-focussed. Coaches are not therapists or consultants for psychological problems. They only touch slightly on a client’s past, if and when it interferes with their progress towards their goals, as opposed to counselling which tends to focus on resolving the past.
What is the basis of life coaching?
The techniques, tools and exercises that are used in coaching are based on: NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming), behavioural therapies, management and performance training, and personal development techniques and tools. One of the most well-known coaching tools is the Wheel of Life or Lifewheel. You can try this technique out for yourself - the Wheel of Life is included in my coaching self-assessment: Is Coaching for Me? (which you can request from the top right of this page).
With CoachAmal, all these coaching tools are used within an Islamic framework. Deep hypnosis, which is sometimes used in coaching, is not used at all during our coaching sessions, as it is seen to induce an altered state of perception during which a client is suggestible and may make decisions that they would otherwise not choose to make if they were fully aware. Islamically “the pen is lifted” from those who are not aware of what they are doing.
What is a life coach?
A lifecoach is someone who has been through an accepted training in the use of the tools, techniques and methods of lifecoaching to help healthy people improve their lives in areas such as personal relationships, spirituality, health, family life, finances, education, career or business. Coaches can also assist clients in coping with stress, time management, goal setting, and aspects of change, such as increasing self-confidence or deepening self-understanding, enabling the clients to lead more balanced lives that reflect their own personal values, beliefs, and priorities.
The role of a life coach is not to tell their clients what they should do; instead they support them to work out what it is about their life that they want to change, what they would like to be doing instead and how to make that transition. The coaching relationship is an ongoing, supportive non-judgmental partnership, with the outcome depending largely on a client's commitment to action and being prepared to step out of their comfort zone to change past behaviour patterns in order to reach their goals.
CoachAmal's Services
How do you coach people?
For one-to-one coaching, I call my clients at the time we have agreed upon for the appointment. If they have internet access, a microphone, and can use Skype[i], I call them through Skype, otherwise I call them on their landline. In addition to their computer or phone, all they usually need during the call is a pen and paper.
The call usually lasts around 45 minutes, and it's a dynamic, intensive coaching session. During the call I support my clients in making the changes they want in their lives. This means that, rather than telling them what to do - other than the exercises I suggest that we do - I help them to work out what they want to change in their lives and how they can make those changes through the use of various coaching tools and methods.
Sessions include elements of goal setting (SMART - Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time-bound - goals), accountability, motivation, support, challenges, brainstorming, acknowledgement, validation, focus, and they are a sounding board for client's hopes, dreams, and aspirations. At the end of each session, they go away with goals to be working towards over the next couple of weeks or until our next session.
How long is a normal coaching contract?
A typical initial coaching contract is usually for three months, with twice-monthly coaching sessions. This enables most clients to learn and be comfortable using the skills and tools that they gain through coaching, and to be able to apply them to new situations that they come across later. This period can be shorter (one month) or longer (a year or more), with agreement, based on what would benefit the client most, although the aim is always for the client to work to develop themselves and not to be dependent upon their coach.
Can you guarantee that I will achieve all my goals through coaching?
I can’t guarantee that you’ll achieve all the goals that you would like to, as that depends on how much effort you yourself make towards achieving those goals, how honest you are with yourself (and me), and finally, what Allah has decreed for you.
However, if you come to coaching committed to making sustainable changes in your life, with a willingness to step out of your comfort zone and you’re ready to make an effort to reach your goals, I guarantee that you will see significant changes in your life; many of which may be unexpected!
Practical Matters:
How can I register for coaching?
You can go to the Services page and request an exploratory session to see if coaching suits your needs. Click the ‘Request’ button and then follow the instructions. This session is offered at a discounted rate, which will be refunded if you decide to register for further coaching sessions.
Alternatively, you can choose to immediately request one-to-one coaching sessions with CoachAmal by writing to me through the Contact Us page. I suggest that you consider making a commitment to having around three months of coaching initially. This will enable you to have a decent period of time to make any changes you make sustainable.
Once you have finished the initial coaching contract, you may then choose to have follow-up sessions, either once or twice a month or on an intermittent on-demand basis, depending on your needs. If you don't want to make a commitment to regular sessions at that stage, you still have the possibility to request one-off sessions, should you feel the need for further support in achieving your life goals.
If you would like to commit yourself to a period of coaching longer than just one month and you're able to pay in advance, a discounted rate can be offered.
If I can’t use Paypal in my country, can I still register for coaching with CoachAmal?
Of course you can! If you live in a country where Paypal isn’t available[ii], you'll shortly be able to register for coaching through Moneybookers. These are the two preferred methods of payment for those living outside the UK. UK residents may pay by BACS transfer. I'm also looking into other methods to make it easier for you to pay your fees.
Can I change the type of service I'm receiving?
If you want to change the service that you are receiving, please discuss your proposed changes with CoachAmal first. But, yes, it is possible to change your service within the terms of your agreement.
I am a non-Muslim, can I have coaching through CoachAmal?
Any woman is welcome if she would like to have coaching through the service.
I am a man, can I have coaching through CoachAmal?
CoachAmal only offers same-gender coaching and only has facilities to offer women-to-women coaching at present. If you're a man who would like coaching, please contact us and I’ll try to put you in touch with someone who may be able to offer you same-gender coaching, if that is what you are looking for.
When are your coaching hours?
My coaching hours are by appointment only on Sunday: 11.00am – 8.00pm and Monday to Thursday: 3.00pm – 9.00pm GMT. However, as I work with people around the globe, I can be a little flexible with this where necessary.
If you still can’t find the answer to your question, please contact us.
[i] If you don’t have Skype already, you can download it from here
[ii] Check here to see if your country is covered by Paypal.
Wondering if coaching is for you?
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