Claire Chabaud, a certified Coach talks with LAsThePlace.com about what personal experiences inspired her to become a coach. Her focus and areas of specialty have to do with Personal Health Awareness,  Empowering Discipline and Conflict Resolution. She explains how she uses the power of thought in her coaching process to improve the overall well being of her clients.

LATP:  On your path to finding coaching you started and stopped psychology training. What influenced that decision?

Claire Chabaud:  I wasn’t satisfied with the relationship between the therapist and client.  With my experience as a client and also being exposed to the world of psychiatry in the clinical setting, I knew something was missing.  I began exploring other modalities which resulted in my experiences with hypnotherapy and Chinese medicine.  It just seemed to me that conventional medicine and conventional wisdom wasn’t all there was, and became very interested in ancient philosophies.  When I came upon IPEC, it hit me and I said this is it; this is for me.  Because its principles resonated with me which encompass all aspects of the self including spirituality and the mind body connection which I have always been a proponent of.

LATP:  You’ve expressed how you’ve had a renewed interest in your French and Lebanese Heritage, how does your coaching relate to this? 

Claire Chabaud:  Being 1st generation and growing up in a multicultural household in a diversified city, I know how different views can create conflict and with my innate understanding for other cultures with the different influences, values and beliefs, I feel that it gives you an expanded awareness and a deeper understanding and tolerance for the diversity of the world in which we live. We all have our own belief system which translates into our values, and in coaching it is powerful to know that if you want change, you can change your thinking to create a new belief because “what you believe you can conceive.”

LATP:  What had the most impact on you as a historian in a psychiatrist’s office doing medical reviews?

Claire Chabaud:  It made me realize that at the core, we all want the same thing, to be healthy and happy and have loving relationships.  We are all human beings interrelated and connected being here for the purpose of a happy journey.

LATP:  What kinds of conflicts do you work on with your clients?

Claire Chabaud:  I help clients with their relationship issues, parent/child or family conflicts, problems with coworkers, and basically any issue involving relationships because we are always relating to each other in everything we do and, in turn, learning about ourselves in the process.  Energy attracts like energy so when we think and feel peace or conflict, that’s what we attract.

LATP:  In helping your clients with resolving the various types of conflicts that come up, what would you say helps in moving that process forward?

Claire Chabaud:  When a client is experiencing a conflict, I first find out how the client is feeling and what emotions it brings up.  This makes the client aware and connected to their feelings because so many times, our thoughts and feelings can be disconnected.  After a question and answer period, they can perceive the situation from an objective standpoint.  The client always has the answer within.  It is not a matter of right or wrong.  There are no mistakes.  Everything happens for a reason and is an opportunity to learn.  Each person has their own belief system.  I help the client realize there is an opportunity in every difficulty.  And in moving a client forward, it is also very helpful to have them visualize the desired outcome.  This is very effective because our thoughts manifest themselves into physical form whether we want it or not.  So becoming aware of our thoughts and shifting an unwanted thought to a wanted thought can change the outcome of a situation.  “The only constant is change.”

LATP:  As someone who beat breast cancer and is a coach, what suggestions would you make to someone who either has cancer or knows someone they love that is fighting that battle currently? 

Claire Chabaud:  First and foremost, I would encourage and assist that person to change whatever negative internal beliefs they hold to positive ones.  Our thoughts are so powerful that they literally affect our emotions and at a cellular level causing physical illness to develop or progress.  With a positive shift in thought and attitude, I believe a person can improve the quality of their life immensely.

LATP:  How has coaching affected your own relationships, especially with your son?

Claire Chabaud: Since becoming a coach through the IPEC program, I have experienced a deeper awareness of how we are all affected by the power of words and how we all have our individual styles of communicating.  By applying the coaching principles and techniques including consciously choosing our words and asking thought-provoking questions, it can literally shift a person’s thought process which in turn creates a more peaceful harmonious outcome in situations which might involve conflict.  And I have definitely noticed that in my communication with my son and family members, the response I get is remarkably improved because if something is challenging, I’ve learned to take a deep breath and respond rather than react.  This diffuses tension and creates a shift in energy.

LATP:  Two characteristics you have pointed out as important are honesty and authenticity, how have you seen these improve the lives of your clients?

Claire Chabaud:  Being honest and authentic is about being true to yourself.  Without these, relationships will suffer.  Most important is being honest with oneself and being authentic is crucial because it creates trust within relationships.  Clients’ lives improve by a shift in their attitude.  By being yourself, being relaxed and present in the moment, you’re being who you really are instead of something you’re not which is a product of the ego.

Claire does one on one coaching, both over the phone, and in person.  If you are interested in learning more about Claire Chabaud, you can find her listed under Conflict Resolution Coaching, Empowering Discipline Coaching or Health Coaching in the directory of coaches on www.ipeccoaches.com.  She is offering a half an hour complimentary session to those interested in finding out more about Coaching. For a healthy perspective on life and relationships, she encourages you to contact her at 818-760-2373 and her email is claireity7@gmail.com. 

Claire Chabaud was interviewed by Alanna Levenson, a published writer for www.lastheplace.com and she writes blog entries for www.ipeccoaches.com.