Career Counselling and Coaching in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.

Work. Getting up, dressing and then beginning the crawl back to that monotonous chain gang, that my office and work life now represents to me, while putting on my happy face and lying to myself that everything will be better tomorrow. Does this sound familiar? Or perhaps you love your job, but an exciting yet risky new venture has opened doorways to roads and lands yet unchartered that you never considered before, and now you feel stuck between what is good and what could be better? Maybe you know what you want, or how you want to earn a living but face indecision or a multitude of stress from external influences. I can help you navigate these foggy waters, and find the way safely to shore.

Maybe as a child you dreamed about having a great life of abundance and achieve greatness. At that age, you were a winner and you would stand up and defend your dreams against any challenges. Unfortunately, lots of people may lose some of that winning spirit growing up and the champion in you may have slowly dimed. Maybe you do set goals and you do have an idea of what your purpose and direction in life is. This simply is not enough for you to experience the abundance in life that you deserve. You have all the potential to radically make a difference! It is already deep inside of you and waiting to be used. Together, we will work toward using that amazing potential.

Career counseling offers guidance and clarity for navigating professional challenges, transitions, or decisions. My approach focuses on understanding your values, strengths, and goals to create a personalized plan for your career path. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities, managing workplace stress, or seeking advancement, we’ll work together to develop strategies that align with your aspirations. Clients benefit from increased confidence, actionable insights, and a clear sense of direction to achieve a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Determining what you want to do with your life, getting back into the work force, and changing careers can be difficult. I can assist in setting short term and long term goals, as well as creating an action plan to get you on track to working towards achieving the career you desire. We can determine what your obstacles are, where your fears and conquer them together. We are often our own barriers to getting what we want. Let's determine what is holding you back. I will provide you with support and encouragement in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.

My approach to career counselling and planning is taken from the now famous resource Designing Your Life. We apply Design Thinking to reframe obstacles to opportunities in creative ways that may be impossible to imagine now. Then we design plans to give you the inspiration and practical experiences that prove what career decision will bring you the greatest happiness, fulfillment, and reward.

Career counselling can help to move forwards in your career development it can also be helpful for those deciding about further education or training. Depending on your goals, we may discuss any career questions and provide you with resources to assist in your search. If you are interested, during the sessions we may identify your interests and skills, discuss various job searching techniques, assistance with interviews and coaching if you need any assistance making decisions.

Its been suggested that over our period of working life, we will undertake at least 3 significant career changes. These transitions are seen as one of life's more significant stressor events. Sometimes such a commitment can seem overwhelming. If you are at that point in your life and considering a job/career change, you may want to seek guidance from a professional counsellor. We can help identify issues at hand, and alleviate the stress of managing such a significant life event. The advantage to using the services of a counsellor is that we can be objective, and respectful as to your immediate needs, and therefore help problem solve around how to best manage/prepare for what is to come.

I adopt a client-centric approach focused on empowering individuals to navigate their professional journey with clarity and confidence. Through personalized assessments, goal-setting, and exploration of individual strengths and values, clients gain a deeper understanding of their career aspirations. I provide guidance on strategic decision-making, skill development, and effective job search strategies to align their career paths with personal goals. By fostering self-awareness and offering practical tools for professional development, clients benefit from a transformative experience that not only enhances their career trajectories but also promotes a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

I understand that life transitions can bring about a sense of uncertainty, especially when it comes to your career path. In our career counseling sessions, we'll take a holistic approach, exploring your skills, interests, and values to help you make informed decisions. We'll also look at practical aspects like resume building and interview techniques. While change can be daunting, it's also an opportunity for growth and new beginnings. Together, we'll work to not only navigate these transitions but to also turn them into stepping stones for a fulfilling career and a brighter future.

Vocational satisfaction makes a significant difference in overall life satisfaction. When skill and personality don't unite in your career then life can become dissatisfying and disappointing. When skill and personality match then passion generates confidence leading to a life mission. James can help you identify your leverage your ability and capacity to face career challenge for change.

Do you experience anxiety or stress when you wake up, thinking about your work day? Do work issues affect your personal life, invading your thoughts at night? If so, it might be time to explore a career change or career improvement. Job stressors can also exacerbate underlying stress, like anxiety and depression. These require a specific focus, in addition to exploring your career satisfaction and future path. Contact me for more information about how I can help.

It is one thing to embark on a new career path, and a whole other to find the sweet spot of purpose, contribution, vitality and practical stability that leads to a really fulfilling vocation. The latter requires the courage to allow, shape and stay with a vision and the skills to navigate the inevitable peaks and valleys in confidence that are natural to the process. It is necessary to develop the ability to structure your own time toward your goal, maintaining the stability necessary to take new opportunities and creative risks. I offer coaching for those motivated to move into this place.