Our main objective here at the National Coach Academy is to enable aspiring coaches to reach their full professional potential. One of the most effective ways to educate students about the world of coaching is by offering them a window into the world of real, practicing coaches and showing them all the different ways coaches make a difference in the lives of their clients.
We hope today’s interview adds another insightful glimpse into the dynamic world of coaching.
Today we are interviewing Shelley Warren. Shelley is an Astrologer and Life Coach based in Marina Del Rey, CA.
NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?
Shelley: At Shelley Warren Astrology, I, of course, do astrology charts for clients. I offer coaching either weekly, once a month, or once every three months. It really depends on what the client needs.
Clients typically find me when they’re going through a major transit, which is their first Saturn return or second Saturn return or their mid-life crisis transits, which are astrological cycles that occur for everybody. They say, “Oh my God. My life’s falling apart. Can you help?”
My readings are technical but they’re also based on the spiritual essence of the chart. The cosmic chart is like your spiritual path. My clients want to understand the meaning of life or how to get a spiritual practice together. They’re all ages but my ideal client is someone who’s interested in metaphysical, they feel it and they know something’s coming up. It’s like, “Okay, I need to get an update because some crazy things are going on and I know it’s coming.”
NCA: In working with your clients, what would you say is the most rewarding part of that process and on the flip side of that, what is the most challenging aspect of the work that you do?
Shelley: The most rewarding is when they get it. They get that Aha moment and they understand themselves better. One of the things I love about astrology is it gives a clear picture of their challenges and assets in the chart. My goal is always to self-empower. The more you understand yourself, the better you are able to go out and make a difference on the planet and the world. When clients get it and they go, “Oh my God. Thank you.” That’s always the most rewarding — it is the Aha moments that the clients get.
The most challenging one is when they don’t listen. [laughing] They end up coming back and saying, “You told me to do this and I didn’t do it.” Then it’s like, “Okay. We’ll try again.” I always have patience and compassion for them. It’s clear what the situation is, and I can help them navigate through it, which is always rewarding.
One of the things that I think makes for a powerful coach is that the coach has to have their own personal experience. If you don’t know what it’s like to be at the bottom, you can’t be empathetic and relate to the client.
NCA: What initially got you interested in this coaching niche?
Shelley: Back in 1992, I had my own personal 9/11. My life just completely fell apart and I got blindsided by my husband. I was actually in the fashion business and owned my own hat company. I was on a whole different path. When your life falls apart, you start to look at ways to build it back.
I went to an astrologer at that time. She helped me through it and then, I just made that decision, “I’m going to learn this. I’m not going to be blindsided again by anyone. That’s when I started my path back. In addition to Astrology, I did a lot of personal empowerment classes. The Landmark Forum and coaching at The Landmark Forum SELP Program, I started seeing how astrology, combined with other personal development programs, could help empower other people who are going through situations. That was the beginning in the 90’s.
Astrology is quite challenging to learn and it takes time. It’s really like peeling an onion. I just started throwing all of my experiences together and then I went through a spiritual training. It was with Agape, which is a Science of Mind Church here in Los Angeles. I went through practitioner training which is counseling and coaching and looking at things from a very spiritual point of view. I have combined those two sciences — the technical of astrology and the spiritual of understanding the cosmic force.
Personally, this is why I’m doing it. I think it’s the most powerful, accurate way to move a client from where they are to where their calling is, or where their heart is, or what they came here to do. That’s what makes it so magical when the client finds that path.
One of the things that I think makes for a powerful coach is that the coach has to have their own personal experiences. If you don’t know what it’s like to be at the bottom, you can’t be empathetic and relate to the client. But, if you have been able to work your way through very hard times, we call them challenging transits in Astrology, you know you can help and empower others.
NCA: What is one piece of advice that you would give to somebody who is just starting out in their coaching career and maybe a little apprehensive in moving forward?
Shelley: It’s an excellent question and I absolutely felt that when I first got started. One of the things that I know coaches rely on is their own intuition. Put your agenda aside and really listen to the client. Listen to your inner voice for their personal guidance.
Your inner voice and spiritual guidance is never wrong. When you start to overthink it, you say what you think they want to hear but you need to ditch that. Have your own personal practice so that you’re centered and ready to hear your client, able to listen to both sides — your higher self and your clients voice.
Being present with your client, not thinking about what you are going to say, but really hearing where they’re at would be the best advice I could give to beginning coaches.
