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Coach Interview Series: Angela Hayes

by Brandon

Angela Hayes

Life and Relationship Coach

www.lifecoachroundrock.com

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 Angela Hayes. Angela is a Life and Relationship Coach based in Round Rock, Texas.

NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?

Angela: I specialize in working with couples but I also work with individuals and families. As a life coach, I typically work with couples to develop effective communication skills, decrease arguing, and increase closeness. As a psychotherapist, I typically work with couples where one or both partners have a history of trauma, substance abuse, or mental health concerns that are impacting the relationship. Couples also seek psychotherapy when poor communication and arguing have significantly damaged the relationship and healing that damage is an integral part of saving the relationship.

One of the reasons I think life coaching is an important part of the helping system is because clients are more likely to see a life coach in order to develop positive skills before things get that bad. It is the difference between going to the doctor for a respiratory infection when you just need antibiotics to support your immune system versus waiting until you develop pneumonia and need to be hospitalized.

I really love seeing clients succeed and create the life they are looking for. My job is to create hope and the client’s job is to create change.

NCA: What initially got you interested in this career path and what kind of degree or certifications did you need to complete, if any?

Angela: Like many people who go into the helping professions, I really enjoy working with people. I originally went back to college to become a psychotherapist. In the process of completing my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I was frustrated at the lack of focus or support in the therapy profession for people with more everyday life issues and for people with mental health concerns who were also impacted by everyday life issues.

I discovered life coaching through a friend who was working with a life coach and I believe that it really fulfills a necessary niche between people seeking support from family and friends and people who need support from a therapist to live their best life. I completed my bachelor’s degree and got certified as a life coach in 2014. I opened my private practice as a life coach and really enjoyed the work. I even questioned continuing with my program to become a psychotherapist but I became frustrated with the need to refer clients to a therapist due to the limitations of the life coaching scope of practice. I ultimately decided to complete the requirements for my licensure as a marriage and family therapist and added therapy services to my life coaching practice. This has allowed me to provide comprehensive services to clients.

NCA: What is the most rewarding part of your career and on the flip side, what is the most challenging aspect of the work that you do?

Angela: I really love seeing clients succeed and create the life they are looking for. My job is to create hope and the client’s job is to create change.

I think the most challenging part of the work is when I can see how amazing and strong a client is and they are struggling to see that in themselves. I wish I could give them the ability to look through my eyes but the real work is to ask questions that allow them to see that for themselves.

NCA: Can you think of a mentor who was most vital to your success as a coach? In what ways did this mentor help you to thrive in your career?

Angela: Finding a mentor that can help you develop your ability to apply your skills and can support your learning is important during the early stages. It is important to develop a strong sense of ethics and how to apply them in complicated situations. Having a mentor gives you an educated outside opinion of your cases. They can also help you avoid some of the business pitfalls that can cost you money and cost your reputation.

NCA: Finally, what advice would you give someone looking to get started in the career path that you chose?

Angela: The fit between the coach and the client is an important factor in successful services. I think finding a coaching modal that fits with your personality and beliefs about change is very important and being able to articulate that to potential clients and learning how that fits with their beliefs about change increases the chances of a successful match. You will not be a good fit for every potential client that calls you and being able to give those clients who aren’t a good fit an awesome referral to someone who might be is much better for your business. Unhappy clients are much more likely to leave you a poor review than happy clients are to leave you a good review so develop a thorough understanding of where your strengths as a life coach are and play to your strengths. Work to develop your weaker areas but play to your strengths for the good of your client and yourself.

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