Coaching

Moving forward in hope

Through the questions of coaching, I help you access your internal wisdom to move from a place of stuckness to a place of hope.

What do you call your stuck place? For me, it’s the no place.

When life has thrown one too many curve balls for me to navigate, I often find myself in what I call the ‘no place’. When I’m stuck there, well-meaning family and friends offer advice or suggestions for ways to make progress. And I promptly shut all these options down with a no. Because none of them feel right to me. They don’t feel authentic. They don’t offer me what I need in that particular circumstance. 

Little did I know that what I really needed in those times was coaching. Not advising or mentoring or advice giving or even a book or podcast to help me out. What I needed in those times was someone to hold space for me to breathe, ask me questions to clarify what was really going on, and trust me to figure out what I needed in those moments.

What is coaching?

There are three main pieces of coaching:

  • holding space

  • deep listening and

  • thoughtful questions

 In a coaching session, you are given time and space to name where you are. All your stuckness, your hopes for the future, the places where there is friction. I will listen deeply to what you are saying, and even to what you aren’t saying, and let your words inform my questions.

Coaching has a future orientation. We seek to make progress, ease tension, and loosen the hold of difficult situations.

Areas of expertise:

  • Vocational and spiritual discernment

  • Navigating chronic illness

  • Personal and spiritual growth

  • "Jo is an exceptionally effective coach. She listens deeply, asks insightful questions, and has a way of helping me get unstuck without ever pushing or oversimplifying. Her approach is compassionate and steady, and our work together has helped me move through rough spots with greater clarity and confidence. I value both her wisdom and her presence."

    —The Rev. Nikki Collins, Coordinator, 1001 New Worshiping Communities PC(USA), Chattanooga, TN

  • "I came into coaching with specific areas I wanted to work on and no idea how to get started. Through our sessions, Jo worked with me on the practicalities of the project at hand to get a concrete plan with accountability. In addition, we looked at how I got stuck as well as tools I can implement next time I find myself in a similar situation. I'm so glad to have Jo walk with me along this journey!"

    —The Rev. Dr. Frances W Rosenau, Pastor at Culver City Presbyterian Church, Culver City, CA