Catharine Ecton, ACC, CPCC
Tell us about your background.
I help clients in transition to create a plan to help them to lead the life they want because I know first-hand the challenges of change. I moved over 15 times in the US and around the world. During those years I raised a family, started and ended jobs, went to graduate school in a foreign country, learned new languages, and created and re-created plans for a fulfilling life wherever we lived. Sometimes those plans were difficult to make and often they were difficult to execute. These changes forced me to grow and stretch beyond my comfort zone into areas that proved exciting and stimulating. The unexpected results gave me insights into my personal values and life goals. As a coach I use this experience and learning to encourage others who want to do things differently, who may feel stuck or who are relocating.
What brought you to coaching?
As a FabOverFifty woman I have the opportunity to use my education and life experiences to show others that change is possible at any point in life. It is never too late to go in a new direction. I am the person who inspires and stimulates such action.
Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?
Everything informs my coaching. I have had a rich and exciting life that continues to evolve in unexpected ways. Learning and challenge are important values for me and I have had my share of both over the years. In my coach training and busy practice I have discovered that self-enlightenment is the greatest contribution an individual can give to the universe.
What is your mission as a coach?
I want to help clients focus on individual goals for a fulfilling life. Together, we discover personal values and develop insights that will take clients on their transition journeys. My mission is their mission. My step-by-step approach includes the exploration of documented stages in transition: exhilaration, alienation, re-organization, adaptation.
What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?
I love the clients who find themselves in a transition, either by personal choice or imposed by circumstances, and want to create a purposeful and balanced life as they enter another stage. I also enjoy people who are dedicated to making changes because of personal circumstances or who are stretching into new areas of learning. I have expertise working with clients from other cultures who are experiencing culture shock in a new environment. That builds on my experience as a cross-cultural trainer with the Department of State in Washington, D.C.
Self-enlightenment is the greatest contribution an individual can give to the universe.
Tell us about your workshops and presentations.
I have given several teleseminars on Thrive in a New Culture and Your Transition. I am an experienced trainer and have assisted in coaching workshops sponsored by the Coaches Training Institute.
Where and how often do you meet with your clients?
I coach most of my clients by phone for an average of two hours per month for three to six months. I also meet one-on-one with clients who live in the Washington, D.C. area.
Waht is the most important thing a new client should know about you as a coach?
I am energetic, I have a great sense of humor and a lot of wisdom. I bring warmth and empathy to the coaching relationship while being demanding and non-judgmental about client choices. I am passionate about this work.