Life Coaching with Dianne Edleman, PhD 

My practice as a life coach, which I offer to my established spiritual directees, is different from spiritual direction, but very much related to spirituality. It is focused on helping individuals be more mindful of their minds, in a way that frees them to realign with and demonstrate the Spirit within.

It's actually an ancient practice.

As long ago as the 5th century BCE, the Buddha posited a metaphor, known today as “the second arrow,” that describes the tendency of individuals to slip into the undertow of reactive patterns of thought or emotion. 

The first arrow is when a person is struck by a painful experience, such as physical illness, loss, insult, or disappointment. 

The second arrow is an overlay of suffering created by reactive mental and emotional responses—resistance, self-pity, anger, rumination, fear, or the self-told story that “this should not be happening,” for instance. 

An untrained person, the Buddha said, is struck by both arrows. A trained person still feels the first arrow—pain is inevitable in human life—but does not add the second. 

Drawing technique and content from my doctoral studies, I offer training in recognizing, confronting, and reducing the effect of over 200 "second arrows," those reactive overlays of thought, attitude and emotion that distance and disable one from the Spirit within. 

When practiced diligently, this process enables one to return, in the moment, to a more pleasant and purposeful state of equanimity, from which one is able to communicate, solve problems, and exercise creativity more effectively.

As I mentioned earlier, I offer this life coaching program to established spiritual directees as an adjunct service to spiritual direction. Generally, it takes between twenty-four and thirty sessions to work through the accompanying material, ideally twice a month. 

After that, one may choose to engage in follow up coaching sessions if and as needed.

Regarding fees, I work on a sliding scale of between $95 and $125 per hourly session, and charge a nominal fee for printed materials. Fees are paid in advance of sessions, through mail, bank auto-pay, or Zelle, or when we meet in person. 

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance of sessions to avoid forfeiting payment.

If you are interested in this type of coaching in addition to spiritual direction, please reach out to me through the form to the left.

I look forward to hearing from you. 

-- D.E.