If we want to play piano, we go to a piano teacher. When we want to get physically fit we get a fitness trainer. To be better at life, why not see a life coach?
Natalia Vavilina is a Professional Life Coach. Natalia, who was raised in Russia and now lives in the Baltimore area with her husband and two daughters, came to the United States ten years ago. Having a background in psychology, Natalia was aware of such a thing as life coaching, but thought that this type of opportunity was not available to her in America. It turned out the opposite was true.
Natalia searched the internet and what she found would significantly change her life. “When I learned of a chance to take the 16-hour course to become a Life Coach taken via the Internet, I took advantage of such a great opportunity, she said.” First of all, I understood that coaching was something that I had already been doing for years. Secondly, I was very impressed with how well the course was structured and how all was straight to the point, precise and without the unnecessary overhead.”
A passion for learning new things, Natalia became a Certified Professional Life Coach through (FIA) Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching. Now, five years later, she is training others who want to gain the knowledge, tools, techniques and confidence to begin coaching.
Natalia’s mission as a life coach is to guide clients to uncover their true potential so that a new journey of passion and purpose flows freely. “Therapy involves a lot of processing,” she said. “It’s not unusual for someone to be in therapy for years, often obsessing about things that happened perhaps decades before. Coaching focuses on the solution. It’s important to know a client’s background and history, but coaching is specific to the challenge rather than transforming someone’s personality.”
The coaching industry is booming. As the desire to find fulfillment in all areas of our lives increases, people in all walks of life seek a coach to help them achieve their goals. Corporate CEOs, small business owners, community leaders, politicians, couples and individuals no longer want to settle for ordinary, so the number of people seeking a coach grows.
According to a recent study, there are 47,500 life coaches worldwide and 15,800 in North America. On average, they charge $214 per session, and make $47,900 per year. The industry brings in an annual revenue of $2 billion.
Life coaches help their clients identify and pursue goals through a steady rotation of encouragement, brutal honesty and perspective. Coaches generally fall into two categories — personal and professional — but a growing number of niche coaches advise on anything from weight loss to empty-nest syndrome.
“I love to help people see things differently,” says Natalia. It has always been important for me personally to be self-actualizing. If the world had more people taking personal responsibility for their life situations, they would be ultimately happier, more successful in career, family and society.”
Natalia meets with her clients one-on-one. “I love working face to face with my clients. You can feel the energy build in the room as the session develops. I also deliver coaching sessions via Skype or telephone for clients who live further or to fit in with busy lifestyles. My clients vary from business owners, busy moms juggling careers and family life to people who just feel ‘stuck’ and are not sure where to start.”
Research studies have shown that approximately 80 percent of the things we intend to do will not get accomplished without someone or something holding you accountable. “I help them get from where they are today to where they want to go, wherever that may be for them,” says Natalia. “That requires me getting very clear on what they want, very clear on what their obstacles will be and have been. I don’t need to be an expert in their goals, I need to be an expert in helping them think differently.”
Natalia says anyone can take the FIA proven techniques and processes and apply them as a coach in any of the following: life, addiction, relationships, faith-based, troubled youth, conflict, career, business, team building, executive, geriatric and weight loss.
“Training coaches and improving one’s life gives me a feeling that I have fulfilled my mission to help people achieve new horizons in their lives” explains Natalia. “I am very grateful to have had such a wonderful opportunity to share the best coaching system.”
Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching is the brainchild of Berry Fowler, the man behind the world renowned Sylvan Learning Centers. Realizing the need to reach the Russian community, Fowler appointed Natalia as the Director of their Russian Division.
“I’ve translated the course to Russian,” explains Natalia. For the past four years hundreds of people from different cities and countries have taken the course in Russian.”
The online courses are conducted by various coaches who live in different countries and territories such as Russia, Luxembourg, and Gibraltar. Along with providing the coaching courses, the Russian Division issues a magazine about coaching and conducts conferences where the alumni and invited guests share useful information that helps to improve the quality of life in different areas.
“Everyone who comes to the FIA program is very positive, always looking for an opportunity to help others, and concentrated on their personal growth and development,” says Natalia.
“The system is appropriate for newbies in this area of expertise, beginners who receive not only full understanding about coaching and how it works, but also get a complete packet of tools, a systematized coaching system, practical experience, and, most importantly, a clear understanding that they now can help people and do it on a professional level.”
Natalia adds, “the most important factor in becoming a great coach is a genuine desire to help others. If they have that, we can teach them the rest.”
To find out more about (FIA) Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching, please log onto www.fiacoaching.com or call 1-888-314-0114.