Do people ever work with a life coach while working with a counselor?
Yes, absolutely. For some people it helps to work with a counselor to evaluate why they have certain behaviors and to discover how their childhoods influenced the way they currently live, while also developing new behaviors and patterns through coaching.

What happens in the first coaching session?
Typically the client and I take a look at where they are currently in their lives and why they sense a need for change. My goal is to help clarify the change and then together we create "homework," or action steps to propel them toward their new goal.

I also make it clear in the first session that our work together is not about me having all the right answers. Our work is about me getting in the trenches with them when necessary to find the best solution.

How long is a typical coaching session?
Sessions are typically one hour. And occasionally I will have 30-minute sessions, But these are usually reserved for individuals whom I have worked with for awhile and they simply want a tune-up.

I also do 30-minute sessions with individuals who have ADD, especially when it is challenging for them to stay focused for a full hour.

How long before I can expect to see a change?
You will certainly experience a change in attitude after the first session. But permanent life change can sometimes evolve slowly over a period of a few months. And it depends upon the changes you are making.

If you suddenly want to end your marriage, move to a new city, and change careers, we may want to work together for a while to smooth the transition. But if you want to heal an old relationship, then maybe it won't take as long.

What is your specialty?
I really like working with people who are in transition--people who are grieving the loss of a job or loved one, and people who are forced into change, or they feel a deep urge to change because they are at a crossroads.

I find these individuals the most satisfying to work with because they are more open and willing to do the work necessary for a new lifestyle. They know they cannot go back to the way life was before, so they are on a quest.

I also love working with people who are ready to clear the clutter in their lives. The clutter can be mental or physical, and it almost always brings us down. I think author Dorothy Parker said it best, "It's not the tragedies that kill us, it's the messes."

Why did you become a life coach?
For three reasons:

• There were times in my life when I really needed support, but I had a hard time finding it. When I started working with life coaches I made the greatest strides.
• Often when I lecture I feel the hour or two I have with the audience is too brief. Afterwards at the book signing people want to share their stories and talk about how to implement my ideas. I was frustrated that we did not have more time together. So, I started my coaching practice to have more one on one time with individuals.
• I really did not want to have a traditional therapy practice. There are many qualified individuals working with people to clear their past, but as for me, I want to look to the future.

How do you continue to grow yourself so that you become a better coach?
I have my own coach, Heather Hayward in Los Angeles. And I use Professional Organizer, Ruthann Betz-Essinger at www.justorganized.com. Besides that, my clients constantly challenge me to grow.

Tell me about yourself.
I am a Hudson Institute certified life coach. I have written two books and recorded four audio programs on living a joyful life. I hold a B.A. from the University of Alabama in Social Sciences. I am the Executive Producer of the Celestine Prophecy Movie. And for over 14 years I have lectured internationally about living a conscious spiritual life--often with my husband, James Redfield, author of The Celestine Prophecy.

As for my personal life, I divide my time between our home in northern Florida and in Alabama. I have been married to James since 1993 and I have two stepdaughters from James’s first marriage. Unfortunately I was unable to have children of my own, so I have a Coton De Tulear puppy named Toby, and a Ragdoll cat named Sadie.

We also have two outside dogs named Belle and Bandit. They are terrier/ birddog mixes and tough country dogs. Both have been bitten by snakes and have fully recovered.

Would you say a little about what you learned from being the Executive Producer of The Celestine Prophecy Movie?
I would say producing it a lot harder than I imagined. It was one thing when James and I self-published his book The Celestine Prophecy and had complete control over the process. It was another thing when we put the book in to film.

Trying to control the movements of every person involved with the production was like trying to hold on to a tornado. It is impossible. Creative people are drawn to the movie industry and they take pride in their specialty. So, as a producer I learned when to trust and let go. And I learned when to step in and become more active.

Would you produce again?
Phew, possibly. It would have to be the right project. And preferably it would be one of James’s books again.

As an author, do you have any books to recommend?
I do. For a fun fictional read I would recommend the Big Stone Gap series--or anything--by Adriana Trigiani / www.AdrianaTrigiani.com

Also:
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield / www.celestinevison.com
Healing into Life and Death by Stephen Levine
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
The Adult Years by Frederick Hudson
Leadership From The Inside Out by Kevin Cashman

To contact Salle, email salle@salleredfield.com