The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

by: Dwight Bain, LMHC  Every day coaches are asked questions… “How will this help me,” “How much does coaching cost?” but the #1 Question that coaches are asked about is the difference between the mental health field of counseling to see if it’s the same thing as coaching. Here is a quick overview to guide you through the process of being an ethical coach, while directing people in need of counseling to a qualified mental health professional.  Because a common area of confusion for people helpers these days is in making the determination between coaching or counseling. Both are important skills that can bring transformational life change to clients however they are not the same. More and more professionals are hearing about the growing profession of life coaching and may want to expand their skill set to offer more comprehensive services to meet the growing needs of their clients. Counselors can gain certification to offer coaching services, or a coach could g...

By Dwight Bain, Certified Life Coach One of my favorite sayings to share with people facing a major decision is "you always have options." Yet in challenging times people are often so frozen by fear from making a wrong decision that they don't make a decision at all and life passes them by. Think of how many events in life are complicated or missed completely because of the roadblock of being afraid to fail by making a decision and then making that decision work… Marriages that didn't happen because of a shy guy with cold feet Promotions that never occurred because of the fear of asking for it Scholarships left on a table somewhere because someone was afraid to fill out the paperwork Trips to exotic places that were always talked about but never taken because no one sat down to schedule it Relationships that failed because someone didn't decide to work on issues and quietly let things 'slip, slide away' Forgiveness that was never granted because someone ne...

By John C. Maxwell Almost nightly, the fate of the American health care system headlines the evening news. With costly inefficiencies plaguing the system, employers and workers alike have felt the pain of skyrocketing premiums. Politicians on opposite ends of the political spectrum disagree on the best policies for the future, but there seems to be consensus that the system isn't working well. I'm not advocating a position in the health care debate. I simply want to point out the headaches caused when we don't have good systems. What's true nationally applies individually as well. Broken systems lead to disorganization, confusion, and chaos whereas smooth systems allow us to move quickly and efficiently. The reason for this lesson is to help you understand the importance of developing good systems in your personal and professional leadership. The exact systems that work for me may not pertain to you. It's up to you to find the systems that will benefit you the most....

Coach Bill McCartney Chairman of the Board/CEO Dear Friends, Please join me and thousands of other men to hear about our vision for PK's future; Saturday March 14, 2009 we will meet in Orlando to kick off the vision for our 20th anniversary event. This event will RE-LAUNCH THE MINISTRY back to our roots as a catalytic event ministry that calls men to be better followers of Jesus Christ. This event is free, but you have to pre-register at www.PKOrlando.com As PK's founder, it is exciting and challenging to return as Chairman of the Board of Directors. I would like to speak on behalf of our PK team. Thank you for your commitment to Promise Keepers over the years! I want to take this opportunity to share with you how I believe God wants Promise Keepers to accomplish its ongoing vision of “Men Transformed Worldwide.” First, it's important to say that our Statement of Faith is our firm footing. Second, The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper remain central to what makes Promise ...

Dr. John C. Maxwell Maybe you know him. Meet Fearful Fred. He takes to risk like a cat takes to water. Fred is constantly undermining himself with a built-in fear of failure. Fearful Fred means well, but more than anyone on your team, he needs your support. Start by listening to him. Take Fred aside and encourage him to share his fears. Once you've identified his fears, try to help him determine why he has them. The next step is to help Fred tap into his desire to overcome his fears and succeed. As his leader, you must endeavor to help him harness that desire. As soon as Fred is ready to take the plunge, lead him in a project that will give him a win under his belt. To maximize Fred's chance of success, be sure to include the following elements: 1. Strategy: Begin by planning a project together; including Fred increases his ownership and confidence; including yourself insures success. 2. Structure: Once you have a plan, give Fred very specific guidelines to follow. Remember, F...

By Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor & Certified Life Coach The middle years of life create massive changes for men and women. Both go through a major shift physically, spiritually and psychologically. Women face more of a physical change as they go through menopause, while men face more of a psychological change during the time commonly referred to as the middle years, or simply, mid-life. The Bridge of Mid-life is not always a crisis Every man goes through a predictable series of physical and psychological changes. So it's helpful to view this process as a series of bridges that men have to cross at different stages of life, beginning in youth and going all the way to the senior adult years. All men will cross a bridge in the middle years of life, (somewhere in the 40’s or 50’s for most), but not all men will experience a crisis because of it. This bridge is positioned halfway through life, so it’s a time to mature into more of an elder statesman, family patriarch...

By Linda Riley, LMFT & Certified Sex Therapist Choosing an experienced therapist is essential if you want to experience positive results during your time in therapy. Here is a checklist of key issues to ask before you select a therapist. ___ Check the therapist’s education, credentials, knowledge and experience in dealing with your type of challenge or problem. ___How many years has the therapist been in clinical practice, and how long in this region of the country? (This shows that they are highly skilled and well connected in your region in case you need local referrals for other services). ___What is the therapist’s professional reputation in the community? Are they viewed as a leader within their industry, or just beginning their career? (Remember, experience counts when you are trying to rapidly solve problems) ___Does the therapist possess additional training, certifications, and credentials or are they quoted by the media or perhaps are recognized as a published author on th...