Stress Doc’s ™ Stress & Change Resilience Counseling-Coaching-Consultation

I’m adding a new shingle to my speaking and training activities:

Stress & Change Resilience Counseling-Coaching-Consultation
Crisis Intervention-Burnout-Relation Tension-Loss-Grief
Phone-Electronic-Skype-In-Person

301-875-2567
www.stressdoc.com
stressdoc@aol.com

Please spread the word and do email or call with any questions, ideas, etc.

Mark
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Stress Doc’s ™ Credentials/Experience

·         Successful Phone Counseling-Coaching-Consultation experience (see testimonials below)

·         Long-standing Stress Resilience Expert-Speaker-Trainer for many government agencies, institutions, companies, associations, etc.

·         Stress & Violence Prevention Consultant for US Postal Service

·         Stress Resilience-Humor-Team Building Retreat Leader for US Military

·         Critical Incident/Trauma & Grief Debriefing Consultant

·         Crisis Intervention/Brief Treatment Adjunct Professor for Tulane University Graduate School of Social Work

·         Author of Practice Safe Stress ™:  Healing and Laughing in the Face of Stress Burnout & Depression, The Four Faces of Anger:  Transforming Anger, Rage& Conflict, and Resiliency Rap:  The Wit & Wisdom of the “Shrink Rapper” ™

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Overview of the Phone Consultation/Coaching Process

A recent phone coaching session with an owner of a small IT company in the Mountain West (I’m in Columbia, MD) once again reminded me of the possibility and power for distance connection in our digital age.  This business owner was having difficulty dealing with the behavior pattern of a sales employee -- aggressively immature and self-centered – who recently helped her land a big contract.  She was also burdening herself with unrealistic if not perfectionistic expectations regarding client performance delivery demands.  (Of course, hers is an ultra-competitive industry.)  She was straining her brain and body from “bending over backwards” too many times.

This business owner had read one of my popular articles on burnout.  (See attached.)  She recognized the signs of energy drain as well as diminished focus and increased confusion, and emailed asking for a consultation.

Initial Consultation and Subsequent Coaching

First, there was a free 15-minute consultation to: a) help me understand the problem basics and b) make sure we both believed working together made sense.  Mostly I listen and ask questions, and, finally, provide a summary and an initial action plan.  We both thought there was a good match and a 30-minute coaching session was set up later in the day.

Basically, the coaching session helped this owner:  a) realize that the employee was engaged in disruptive behavior that was not just affecting her health but also her leadership presence, b) understand that being “too nice” perpetuated the problem, c) recognize some similar interactional patterns with family members, and finally, d) gain communication-management skills (including documentation of the employee’s disruptive behavior and, literally, provide words the business owner could say) to give this employee a chance to change her communication behavior or face termination.  I also suggested offering a couple of company-sponsored coaching sessions for this potentially valuable employee.

Email Thread

After the coaching session, there was a brief flurry of emails (no extra charge ;-), beginning with this observation:

Was thinking about the initial contract with your clients.  Since you have a track record of on time/high performance delivery, would it be useful to add something like this?:

“High Expectations and Contingency Tweaking”

Inform (your clients) ahead of time regarding the need for a schedule or operational tweak, so you both don't get caught in 11th hour changes; also less rush confusion, missteps, etc.  I suspect you can word this more aptly than I.

MG

[My motivation was to help the owner reduce some of her self-imposed expectation-performance pressure.]
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The coaching client’s response:

This is really great! Thank you!
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My reply:

Great; one more thing:  if I say something that's not so great or seems “off the mark,” as it were, or that you just don't agree with, please don't let it slide; tell me; thanks; it will be useful for us both.
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And then a closing client response to my message:

Sure, will do! I'm already on my way to getting work done. Thanks so much for your help. I will definitely be in touch for a follow up appointment.
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Coaching Logistics & Testimonials

In general, sessions will be for 30 or 60 minutes.  We begin with a free 15 minute consultation to determine if there is a basis for a mutual, productive working relationship.  Fees to be determined.

Phone Counseling Testimonial

Oct 12, 2013

I am so glad you are offering your services to many. You are an insightful man who helped me to have clarity and find my strength in chaos. I honestly believe that "God" put you in my path. I am still unsure of my future but I do know that I made the right choice. Without your understanding, patience and knowledge, I would not have been able to make that move. I may have slip-ups but I hear your voice and your words in my head and you continue to guide me.

A
Long Island, NY
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Phone Coaching Testimonial

Oct 30, 2007

Hi Mark,

What growth has occurred since our work several weeks back.  I am most certain you were a gift to me during those months of coaching together.  As I remember, the most memorable character trait to me is your ability to blend courage and personal understanding; as one who has experienced suffering and risen to overcome.  Only one who has experienced the depth, could so acutely and masterfully, handle the heart of one suffering, to guide, to point out, to encourage voice to feelings.  Mark, Thank you, for your accurate assessment, time and again.  I am grateful beyond words.  I appreciate your flexibility in time zones and the presence with which you showed up is just solid.  I enjoyed your humor that you inflected with such appropriateness.  It means so much to have had you 'in my corner' through such an ordeal I found myself in.

My health has turned for the best and I deeply believe it has all to do with my state of mind.  As Victor Frankl observed over 40 years ago:  "Those who know how close the connection is between the state of mind of a man -- his courage and hope, or there lack of -- and the state of immunity of his body will understand that the sudden loss of hope and courage can have a deadly effect."

I am well.  I have had several courageous conversations.  There is movement.  Don't be surprised if our paths cross again ~ smile.

T
Associate Certified Coach, Speaker, Stunt woman
Valencia, CA
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In-Person Consultation Testimonial

Dec 7, 2010

Hi Mark.

It's been ages since we talked/met but I will always give u credit for referring me to Dr. B, recommending a low dose of anti-depressant, etc...I do give myself credit for seeking help and finding you in the first place...

It's been over 10 yrs but I've gone farther since than I'd ever dreamed....I got hired by my (large) client to do internal recruiting, moved into a semi high profile Human Resources generalist role for 2 yrs, then transferred to our federal human capital consulting practice...along the way I began facilitating various training workshops (from behavioral interviewing techniques to technical training on applicant tracking software to coaching skills…Wanted to drop a line to reconnect and say thanks again for steering me onto a path that led to my current path...in which I feel both challenged and successful!

Happy holidays Mark!
C

NoVA
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For more information, call 301-875-2567, or email stressdoc@aol.com.

 

Speaking & Educational Videos-Essayshttp://www.stressdoc.com/media_downloads.htm
Google blog: http://www.blogger.com/home

2.5 min 3 Steps to Overcome Procrastination Video -- http://vimeo.com/73783964
2 min Shrink Rap Video Link: https://vimeo.com/69053828
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Mark Gorkin, the Stress Doc ™, www.stressdoc.com, acclaimed Keynote and Kickoff Speaker, Webinar Presenter, Retreat Leader and Motivational Humorist, is the author of Practice Safe Stress and The Four Faces of Anger. A former Stress & Violence Prevention consultant for the US Postal Service, "The Doc" is also a Team Building and Organizational Development Consultant as well as a Stress Resilience/Wellness Consultant for the international corporate wellness/insurance brokerage group, The Hays Companies. Mark leads highly interactive, innovative, and inspiring programs for corporations and government agencies, including the US Military, on stress and brain resiliency/burnout prevention through humor, change and conflict management, generational communication, and 3 "R" -- Responsible, Resilient & Risk-Taking -- leadership-partnership team building.

Email stressdoc@aol.com for his popular free newsletter & info on speaking programs and phone coaching sessions.

Stress Doc Mantra: "Think out of the box, perform outside the curve (the Bell Curve), and be out-rage-ous!"
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