I filled out the online contact form and was contacted by Jill about coaching with Christine. I…read moresigned the necessary paperwork, completed the questionnaire about my goals/life/history, and was told to contact another woman, Carolin, in order to set up my first session. During this process I was not offered a phone call with Christine or any type of face-to-face time with her in order to see if we had chemistry to work together. It was very much like big-business... factory farming. The first time I spoke with or saw Christine was on our very first session together.. in her HOME (very strange!). There was no rapport built AT ALL between Christine and I before our first session.
In the paperwork that I signed, and the conversation I had with Jill, I was told that there are absolutely NO REFUNDS, and that I MUST commit to 3 months. I committed, 100%.
Part of Christine's package includes an unlimited email feature. Now, what I learned is that unlimited doesn't mean quality. I sent my homework assignments to her so that we could discuss them before the next meeting--this way, I wasn't wasting precious session time-- (each session is nearly $400/hour).. The responses were very generic--ra! ra! ra! type of responses, without much thought or time put into them. She would say, "Very good! Great Job! Now, let's discuss this more in your next session!" instead of discussing it via the "unlimited" email part of the package.
The sessions that I had with Christine were identical to therapy. (Think, "...and how does that make you FEEL?) Might I add here that a LICENSED therapist in my area is $100-$200/hour depending on location? So, why was I paying $400/hour for an unlicensed "therapist" when I don't even want/need therapy?
My expectation of a life coach was that we would be focused on the present/future, working together to create a PLAN. Instead, she wanted to dig up my history/past and talk about it and what's worse is that when I mentioned something from the questionnaire, she looked puzzled as if she hadn't even read it. I appreciate my history and my unique life but looking back only makes you trip over the present and future... in order to move forward in life, you've got to look ahead of you.
I wrote Christine an email expressing my disappointment in her therapy-like coaching and requested that she step out of her box, and try to work with me on the level that I need. I reaffirmed my commitment to the full 3 month period and anxiously awaited her response. What I received was an email congratulating me for being "strong and courageous" and telling me that she would refund my money and she hopes I will find myself another life coach. WTF? What kind of life coach quits on you? She was very nice about it (except that she quit, lol) and she DID refund me the REMAINDER of my sessions, but kept $776 for the two sessions I did with her. Honestly, I think if a life coach admits they can't help you and they quit, they should ultimately give you a FULL refund. Seriously.
This is no joke-- Christine quit on me two sessions in. Being a life coach implies you're qualified to help people with their lives-- ALL types of people, not just one type of person. I don't mean any offense to Christine, but I DO think people should know all of this before deciding to invest in her. What I discovered was that it wasn't an investment in ME, it was an investment in HER-- and it wasn't a good investment.