The Relationship Prescriber's Frequently Asked Questions

Coaching is a process of partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative way that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. According to the International Coach Federation, coaching is “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” Successful coaching takes place when clients mobilize internal strengths and external resources for sustainable change.

Nurse coaching is a skilled, purposeful, results-oriented and structured client interaction that is provided by Registered Nurses for the purpose of promoting achievement of client goals. (Dossey, Hess, et. al, 2013). Nurse coaches promote and facilitate the growth, healing and wellbeing of the whole person by using coaching principles and healing modalities that integrate body-mind-emotion-spirit-environment. Nurse coaches are required to have several years of nursing education and experience as a foundation to developing their coaching skills. Nurse coaches integrate coaching competencies into any setting and specialty area of nursing practice to facilitate a process of change or development that assists individuals and/or groups to actualize their potential. Nurse coaches work with the whole person using principles and modalities that integrate body-mind-emotion-spirit-environment to promote health, wellness, and wellbeing while they facilitate their client’s growth and healing. Nurse coaches provide guidance and resources to the client who is the expert on their own needs and choices.

Registered nurses with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree are eligible to participate in the Integrative Nurse Coach Program though the International Nurse Coach Association. The program provides curriculum and supervision that prepares nurses to meet the requirements to take the American Holistic Nurse Coach Certification examination and gain the title Nurse Coach-Board Certified (NC-BC). Nurse Coaches have access to several support networks that assist them in personal and professional transformation as well as, provide referral and resources to meet the unique needs of clients and diverse patient populations.

Receiving “life coaching” services from someone who is not a trained clinician can be risky proposition. Currently, “life coaching” as such is not licensed or regulated in any state. Anyone can be a “life coach” with no license, no higher education, no supervision, no license exams, no supervised clinical practicum experience, no mandated continuing education, no state oversight, and no recourse in the event of malpractice or malfeasance. This is likely to change in the years ahead, in order to protect consumers in many or all states. The “coach certification” programs and “credentials” you hear about are given out by private entities; anyone can “certify” coaches, and this is not a state oversight or a legal recognition. However, by working with John DeOca, you’re receiving services from a doctorate prepared, double board certified nurse practitioner clinician who has completed a Master’s degree in clinical practice, who attends mandatory annual continuing education, who is clinically supervised by another nurse coach, and is a member of professional associations for nurse practitioners and nurse coaches and adhering to each organization’s Code of Ethics.

In the past, each of these professional roles has been distinct: Coaching – Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The coach is the expert at coaching, not necessarily the subject matter expert on the client’s topic of interest. Counseling – Counselors are trained to diagnose and help the client with emotional problems, their past, or their dysfunction, while the coach’s role is to assist clients with achieving what they want in the present and future. Mentoring – A mentor is a trusted guide, advisor, and subject matter expert who shares their experience while bringing the “mentee” up the ranks. Consulting – A consultant is an expert who is called on for professional or technical advice. They understand the problem and present solutions. Consulting is different than coaching because with coaching, most of the answers come from the client. However, in the last few years, these distinctions are becoming blurred. Coaches are beginning to offer ideas, solutions, options, and/or advice to their clients like consultants and mentors do. Counselors are using more strength-based approaches, with less analysis of the past and more focus on the client’s present, like coaches do. Mentors are realizing they are more successful when they incorporate coaching into guiding and supporting their mentees like coaches do. Consultants are finding they are more effective in guiding major change when they use a more facilitative style and a less expert-based one like coaches do. John’s work functions as a coach and expert and although these modalities can be employed during the session, it is important to note that a coaching session is not therapy.

There is no specific time frame when working on personal development and growth. Depending on the type of changes that you are looking to make and the variety of issues that you are attempting to work on, coaching can last from a few sessions to much longer. Packages are available on request but are not part of John’s coaching process.

Currently, coaching sessions are not eligible for third party reimbursement.

Our cancellation policy requires 48-hour notice of cancellation. Cancellation with less than 48 hours’ notice requires payment in full.

While John is a Family Nurse Practitioner, working with John in this role is not typical medical practice. Therefore if this a request, referrals can be me made to the appropriate physician or psychiatrist.