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 Alisha Hawrylyszyn Frank. Alisha is a NYU Certified Life Coach, Reiki Master, Meditation Teacher, Yoga Instructor and Writer based in La Jolla, California and New York City.
NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?
Alisha: I work with people of all ages. My youngest client is pre-teen and my oldest client has been in their 80s. I have a really vast clientele. It’s pretty much 50-50 from men and women, which is awesome because I’m never bored.
The bottom line is my clients are all looking for answers that are within themselves and I provide that for them, so that they can feel supported and judgement-free in a sacred space where they can come to their own conclusion.
NCA: What are some of the most common challenges that your clients are facing when they come to you?
Alisha: I would say negative perspective. They’re taking what they perceive as negative and I’m helping them find the light in that, so that they may change their perspective, shift their lives, and find peace and happiness.
NCA: What initially inspired you to want to get into this field and what kind of training or certification did you need to complete?
Alisha: I didn’t really know what life coaching was but I was already doing it in the work prior to owning my practice. Then I discovered what life coaching was and to be honest with you, I said to myself, “There’s no way in hell I’m doing that. I’m way too intelligent and I have so much more to give.” At that point, I was advocating for human rights for indigenous people at the United Nations in New York. And so, I just thought “No.” It was all ego. [laughing]
Basically, my whole life fell apart in a matter of 24 hours and I knew that I had to take this leap of going into an industry that I knew very little about. I went and had my training done at NYU which was a really beautiful program. Then I started my practice.
I know that there are a lot of good programs but I can only recommend the program that I’ve experienced which was NYU. I wasn’t really sure of how I was going to do it. I knew though when it was shown to me that that was the path I needed to take.
I believe in the greater love and I love people. Who gets to do that? Who gets to work with 6 to 10 people a day and then have them show their appreciation and gratitude to you at the end of the day? It’s just so magical.
NCA: In working with your clients, what would you say is the most rewarding aspect of the work that you do and on the flip side of that, what is the most challenging aspect of your work?
Alisha: The most rewarding aspect of my work is that I get to witness people’s growth. Even as I say that, chills are running through my body because it’s the most magical, beautiful experience. While I don’t take credit for it, I get to still see it and be a part of that. Seeing people especially when they come in like they’ve just crawled out of the gutter and then seeing them leave lighter, happier with a little pep in their step is like, “Oh yeah, we did it!” It’s amazing. It really is amazing.
One really, really beautiful aspect of my practice — and I’m smiling ear to ear right now — is that I’d say about 75% of my clients tell me they love me at the end of the session. When they’re leaving, they’re like, “I love you.” The thing is that I believe in the greater love and I love people. [laughing] Who gets to do that? Who gets to work with 6 to 10 people a day and then have them show their appreciation and gratitude to you at the end of the day? It’s just so magical.
In terms of the challenging aspects of coaching, I would say that when you are in the beginning of your practice in assisting clients — and this is why a lot of coaches get burned out — is that you start to take on your client’s shit and it’s not yours. Taking it on is only enabling them so that they’re not able to be independent. It’s really important that you recognizing that and having boundaries.
NCA: Can you think of a mentor who was instrumental in you becoming a coach and in what ways did this mentor help you thrive in your career?
Alisha: I would say my mother. She is just a really incredible woman. She’s very intelligent and has always been able to find the light in a situation. Because I had her on my team when I was beginning my practice, on those days or during those moments when I just wanted to give up, she was right there saying, “No, no, no, no. This is your purpose. This is what you’re supposed to be doing.” and cheering me on.
Literally, I wouldn’t be here today without her. [laughing] In more ways than one, she’s been my inspiration. She’s been so good to me and that encouragement that I’ve needed in so many different ways throughout my life but especially when starting the practice.
NCA: What is one piece of advice that you would give to somebody just starting their coaching career?
Alisha: Take the leap of faith. Jump. You will fall exactly where you need to be. You have to trust your intuition and you just gotta do it. I cannot tell you how many I speak to who don’t get that confidence until so much later in life and they look back at it and they regret it because they really did have all the tools, they have everything they needed at a very young age. My one piece of advice was just take the plunge. Jump in head first and just do it.
