Owner/Positive Psychology Coach/Writer/Speaker & Trainer
C O A C H I N G W I T H D R . C O L L E E N G E O R G E S
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Aswenavigatethecomplexitiesof themodernworld,theneedfor tailoredguidance,support,and empowermenthasneverbeenmore critical.Womenincoaching,bothas coachesandclients,areatthe forefrontofatransformative movementthatisreshapingtheface ofleadership.
Dr.ColleenGeorgesisonesuch establishedcoachwhohasdedicated hercareertoempowering individuals,especiallywomen,to realizetheirfullpotentialand achievetheiraspirations.
ThroughherinnovativeRESCRIPT coachingprocessandframework,Dr Georgeshasempoweredcountless individualstorewritetheirstories, fosteringpositiveself-talkand actionablestepstowardtheirgoals. Herfocusonincrementalprogress andemotionalwell-beingas measuresofsuccesshasprovento beagame-changerinthecoaching industry
Fittingly, in this issue featuring the Most In luential Women in Coaching to Watch in 2024, we have Dr. Colleen Georges on the Cover.
A FOUNDATION LAID
Dr.ColleenGeorges'journeyinto coachingisdeeplyrootedinher educationalbackgroundandearly experiencesinmentoring."Ihave mybachelor'sdegreeinpsychology, master'sanddoctoraldegreesin counselingpsychology,andI'ma LicensedProfessionalCounselor" shepointsout,emphasizingthe signi icanceofheracademic foundationinhercoachingwork.
Beyondherformaleducation,she hascompletedover30certi ications inlifecoaching,careercoaching, psychology,andleadership."I'm addictedtolearning,"sheadmits, showcasinghercommitmentto personalandprofessionalgrowth.
Dr.Georges'interestinthehelping professionswassparkedattheage of14whenshetookonher irstjob asasummercampcounselor.This earlyexperienceofmentoring ignitedalifelongpassionforguiding others.
Hertimeincollegefurthersolidi ied thispathwhensheworkedasa TherapeuticAssistant mentoring teensinfostercare."TheteensI
workedwithhadbeenthrough manytraumaticexperiencesin theiryounglives.Iadoredthemand mytimeworkingwiththemfurther fueledmydesiretodomissiondrivenwork,"sheshares.
FROM COUNSELING TO COACHING
Duringhergraduateyears,Dr. Georges'focusbecamecentered aroundcounselingandadvising
collegestudentsonpersonal, academic,social,andcareerissues.
“Ienjoyedworkingwithcollege studentssomuchthatIdecidedto advisestudentsfull-timeonceI completedmydoctorate,”she remembers.
In2007,sheenrolledher irst coachingcerti icationprogram;and in2008,shestartedasidehustle providingcareerandlifecoaching services.Accordingtoher, “Coachingseemedtotakeallmy
education,experience,passions, andpurposeandmergedtheminto theperfectcareerforme. ”
Bytheendof2010,Dr Georges' sidehustlehadturnedintoafull ledgedbusinessendeavor.She decidedtoleaveherfull-timejobas aUniversityDepartmentDirector andbeganrunningherbusiness. Re lectingonthistransition,she shares“Itwasoneoftheverybest decisionsIevermade,andI've neverlookedbackeversince.”
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As
RESCRIPT YOURS THECOACHING PROCESS
Asacareerandlifecoach,Dr.ColleenGeorges isblessedtobeworkingina ieldwherein shecanaccomplishherbiggestmissionin life: to help others see the good within and around them and use this as fuel to pursue their life and career goals with con idence, while boosting their joy, gratitude, and optimism.
ThispassionisthecornerstoneofherRESCRIPT coachingprocessandframework."Ibuiltmy RESCRIPTcoachingprocessandframeworkaround thismission,"sheexplains.
TheacronymRESCRIPT,whichstandsforReleasing Rumination,EngagingGrowthGoals,Seeking Strengths,ChallengingCatastrophizing,Restricting Regret,InvitingImperfection,PursuingPassion& Purpose,andThinkingThankfully,isa comprehensiveapproachtotransforminglivesby rescriptingself-talkandactions.
ThisframeworkwasinspiredbyDr.Georges'2016 TEDxTalkandfurtherdevelopedinherbook RESCRIPT the Story You're Telling Yourself,aswellas inherworkbooks,the RESCRIPT Daily Gratitude Journal and RESCRIPT Daily Goal Getting & Productivity Planner
Dr.
Georgesbeginshercoachingprocess withanassessmentofherclients' self-talkthroughtheRESCRIPTQuiz, lifeandjobsatisfactionassessments,anda pre-coachingquestionnairetounderstand theircoachinggoals.
"Weworkonbecomingawareofnegativeselftalk,itstriggers,andhowtorespondbackto it,"shestates.Clientsalsoassesstheir schedules,responsibilities,andstrategiesfor creatingtimeblockstodedicatetogoalrelatedactions.
Followingeachsession,Dr.Georgesprovides clientswithanactionemailoutliningtheir focusareasandresourcestogetstartedand completed.Progressisreviewedweekly,with adjustmentsmadeformaximumachievability. Hercoachingapproachnotonlyhelpsclients achievetangiblesuccessbutalsofosters resilienceandapositiveoutlookonlife.
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MEASURING SUCCESS
Dr.Georgesevaluatesthesuccessof hercoachingengagementsby focusingontwokeyaspects: behavioralchangesandemotional well-being.Sheasks,"Arethey changingtheirbehaviorsinsmall incrementstowardstheirlarger goalsandaretheyfeelingbetter thanbeforecoaching?"These questionshelpherassesswhether herclientsaremakingprogressina waythatismeaningfuland sustainable.
Inadditiontothesebroader measures,Dr Georgesalsolooksat
andtangibleoutcomes,sheensures thathercoachingengagementsare botheffectiveandimpactfulforher clients.
Talkingaboutthevisibleresultsof hercoachingprogram,sheshares “Myclientsaccomplishsome incrediblethingsthroughcoaching, includingre-careeringinto ields thatsparktheirpassions,launching six- igurebusinesses,starting,and completinggraduatedegrees, leavingtoxicrelationships,running marathons,andoneclienteven wrote,performed,andsoldouta one-womanshowoffBroadway!I workwithsomanyresilientand
With16yearsinthebusiness,she hasbuiltarobustreferralnetwork andaloyalclientbase."Oneofmy greatestjoysishowmanyentire familiesI'veworkedwith,"she shares,emphasizingthedeep connectionssheformswithher clients.
However,coachingdoescomewith itschallenges,primarilyrelatedto clients'fearoftheunknown.she explains,"Sometimes,aclientcan getsostuckinfearofwhat'sonthe othersideofchangethatthey freezewhenitcomestimefor biggeractionstowardstheirgoals." Shecitestheexampleofclients
“Success lies in both the small ways we move towards our goals, as well as the moments we fully achieve them."
speci icoutcomesrelatedtoher clients'individualgoals.For example,sheconsiderswhetherher clientsaregettingjobinterviews, enrollingintrainingprogramsfora careerchange,dedicatingtimeto importantrelationships, incorporatingexerciseintotheir dailyroutine,adheringtoawork shutdowntime,orlaunchinga websitefortheirnewbusiness.
"Successliesinboththesmallways wemovetowardsourgoals,aswell asthemomentswefullyachieve them,"shebeautifullyexplains.By focusingonincrementalprogress
remarkablepeople.”
NAVIGATING CHALLENGES
Talkingaboutthechallengesone facesasacoach,sheclaimsthatthe rewardsofhercoachingworkfar outweighthechallengesshehas facedovertheyears.
Fromabusinessperspective,she attributesmuchofhersuccessto herearlyadoptionofsearchengine optimization,whichhashelpedher websiterankhighinrelevant searches,reducingtheneedfor extensivesocialmediamarketing.
hesitatingtosubmitjob applicationsdespitebeingwellprepared.Insuchcases,Dr.Georges focusesonhelpingherclients concentrateontheimmediatestep ratherthanworryingaboutthe uncertainfuture."Wecan'tpredict thefuture,butwhenitarrives,we canassessthesituationtomake informeddecisions,"sheadvises.
Whenaclientisnotmaking progress,Dr.Georgesemphasizes theimportanceofbreakingdown theprocessintomanageablesteps andaddressinganyunderlying fears.Shereassuresherclientsthat
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theyaremoreresilientthanthey oftenbelieveandthattheyare nevertrulystuckinanysituation. Byinstillingcon idenceintheir abilitytoadaptandmakechanges, shehelpsherclientsovercome obstaclesandmoveforward towardstheirgoals.
EMPOWERING WOMEN
AvaluethathasguidedDr.Georges throughouthercareerisherdeeprootedcommitmenttoempowering women.Shehasservedasa therapistatawomen'scounseling center,workedasanadvisorata women'scollege,taughtawomen's leadershipcourseatRutgers Universityfor14years,andfocused onwomen'sempowerment coachinginherbusiness.
Asacoach,Dr.Georgesempowers herfemaleclientsbyguidingthem tovaluetheirvoice—theirwords, wants,wisdom,andwill.She emphasizestheimportanceofselfcompassion,validation,hope,and encouragementintheirself-talk,as "ourwordscreateourworlds."One ofherfavoritestrategiesisfostering adailygratitudepractice,which helpswomenfocusonwhatthey arethankfulfor therebycultivating joy,hope,andcon idence.
Anotherkeyaspectofhercoaching ischallengingcatastrophizing.She teachesherclientstofocusonwhat theycancontrolinasituation,take action,andthenletgoofintrusive thoughts.Shealsoencouragesthem tocraftphrasesthatshutdown negativeself-talk,remindingthem oftheirresilienceand achievements.
Empowerment,accordingtoDr.
Georges,alsoinvolvesexpressing one'sthoughts,feelings,values,and beliefs,andmakingone'sdesiresa priority.Sheadvisesagainstletting "shoulds"dictateactionsand encourageswomentocreateand claimthelifetheywant.'Mymotto is,'Don'twait,initiate',urgingher clientstotakeproactivesteps towardtheirgoals.
Shealsostressestheimportanceof acknowledgingandhonoringone's uniqueaccomplishments,avoiding comparisonswithothers,whichshe seesas"adisempoweringthiefof joy."
Finally,shecoachesherclientsto asserttheirwill—passions, intentions,and determination—withcon idence. Sheencouragesthemtoowntheir powerinallareasoftheirlives,as allowingotherstodictatetheir storycanunderminetheir autonomy."Whenwelivewith intention,wecancreateamazing thingsinourcareers,relationships, health, inances,timemanagement, self-care,andbeyond,"she concludes.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Movingahead,Dr ColleenGeorges planstoexpandhercoaching practicebyofferingmoregroup coachingexperiencesinthecoming years."Althoughindividualsessions willalwaysbeatthecoreofmy business,I'llbeevolvingmy coachingpracticebyofferingmore groupcoachingexperiences,"she clari ies.
InJanuary2024,shelauncheda12monthgoal-gettinggroupwithnine women,featuringmonthlyvirtual
meetings,aWhatsAppgroupchat forongoingsupport,andanonline resourcecenterwithstrategiesand worksheets.
Thegrouphasalreadyseen signi icantachievements,including creatingmorningroutines,setting boundaries,startingcerti ication courses,andlaunchingsmall businessplans.Encouragedbythe successofthisgroup,Dr.Georgesis consideringstartingshorter-term groupslaterintheyear.
Inadditiontogroupcoaching,Dr Georgesplanstoincreaseher speakingengagements."I'vebeen receivingmoreinvitesforkeynote speeches,soIplantodomore speakingengagements,"sheshares. Hercommitmenttoempowering individualsthroughcoachingand speakingengagementsre lectsher passionfortheworkshedoes, whetherinone-on-one,small group,orlargegroupsettings.
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