Meet the Coach

My name is Michael Johnson and I'd like you to think about making me your Coach.

Education

I earned a Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology from San Diego State University and the University of Missouri a Columbia.  I wrote my dissertation on the Psychology of Humor.  

Experience

I began working with people for more than 25 years ago.  In addition to Coach and therapist, my professional experiences include business owner, facilitator, interviewer, organizational consultant, psychological evaluator, researcher, teacher, trainer, university professor, and workshop leader.  I have consulted with law enforcement agencies, fire departments, treatment centers, and businesses of small and medium size.  I have conducted forensic evaluations in criminal and civil matters, led mock trials, testified in court, and taught 15 different university level psychology courses.  Presently, in addition to my Coaching and therapy practices, I am a frequent featured speaker in the Austin area recovery and growth community.  

Professional and Community Activities

	Member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) since 2001.  (The ICF is the world's best known and respected Coaching organization.)
	Member of Coachville - the world's largest coaching organization.
	Member of the American Psychological Association
	Member and Chair of the Highland Village Board of Ethics (until 2003)

Personal

I live in hills outside of Austin, Texas with my wonderful wife and partner.  She left life as a vice president with a Fortune 500 company and to found a contemporary retail arts and crafts business in Austin called Authenticity Gallery.  We have two nearly grown children - both have finished college and one has married.  Our eldest dog died in our arms the day after Christmas leaving us with two wonderful dog friends.  So we will be interviewing for a third. 

My Path to Coaching

My psychological training is rooted in the human potential movement.   I believe there is much more to therapy than removing symptoms - there is growth, authenticity, self-actualization, and working to exceed your goals.  Over time the "medicalization" of psychology developed with it's emphasis on sickness, diagnoses, and the meddling constraints of managed care.  It became difficult to do self-actualization work in a medicalized atmosphere.  

I was ripe for a paradigm change when the convergence of counseling and therapy, organizational consulting, and human potential work morphed into the role we now call Coaching.  Coaching rejects the focus on illness and dysfunction and instead embraces health, possibility, and growth.   So I joined the ICF and started studying Coaching.   I found a purpose and energy in the coaching role that I love.  It is a wonderful complement to my life.  

About Me

I am a playful, open, creative, accepting, receptive, bright person.  I help to create an open, freewheeling, tolerant, yet focused atmosphere.   I am intuitive and analytical in my understanding of people, problems, and life.   I able to be in that extraordinary zone where the distinctions between work and play disappear and I feel centered and comfortable being rather than relying on doing for my sense of well-being.  I listen keenly, ask good questions  and point out what I see going on.  I value authenticity, autonomy, clarity, connection, creativity, growth, mindfulness, play, truth, and wisdom.  My clients describe me as funny, centered, casual,  spiritual, accepting, active in my approach with people, and relaxed.

How I Work

Wise, growth oriented people know that they are bettered through focused, positive interactions with others.  That is were Coaching begins because no one can turn around fast enough to see themselves.   I deliver insightful, engaging, and effective Coaching.  

Developing mindfulness is an essential ingredient to making life richer and more meaningful.  Most of the time people run on habit.  Habits are fine and economical ways of operating but they do not allow you to take in new information, challenge assumptions, change directions, or be creative.  Increasing mindfulness opens the doors to those goals.  

As self-knowledge and self-awareness increase you begin to understand how to get out of your own way, stop reacting automatically, choose differently, and shift your view.  Parallel to that process, in Coaching we also undertake to discover your unique talents and deepest values.  We achieve this in conversation and activity.  I listen without judgment and respond honestly, providing constructive and positive feedback about the obvious and the not-so-obvious patterns in your thinking, feeling, and actions.  

By bring these elements together, you come to feel you can live in abundance and fulfillment.  You see and understand how to take actions to move forward meaningfully.  You create and implement a personal development plan and move forward into work that you love.  The same transformations allow you to meaningfully address negative relationships and other drains on your energy that have blocked you from enjoying the easy flow of a peaceful, successful life.  You leave Coaching with a creative inner structure for developing common sense and real life strategies that enable you to solve problems in a way that makes your life better.

People Come to Coaching...    

	Often having recently experienced a major life change or crisis such as - death, illness, job loss, empty nest, critical birthday, change in financial status, completing a major project, etc.
	They are people who want more out of life.
	They are courageous enough to seek help.

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. -- Albert Einstein

The Issues and Concerns People Bring to Coaching Include…

Business Partnership Coaching
   Career Change and Development
      Coaching College Students 
         Emotional Intelligence
            Empty Nesting
               Family Communication
                  Forgiveness
                     Giving and Receiving Feedback
                        Goal Setting
                           Health and Well Being
                           Integration of Self
                        Life Balance
                     Lifestyle Management
                  Personal Goals
               Play and Fun

            Procrastination
         Resistance to Change
      Retirement
   Spiritual Development 
Teamwork at Work and at Home
 

About Ethics

I have read the materials of a good many other Coaches.  Most are honest, well trained, professionals who make reasonable claims about themselves and the results of their services.  Others, however, claims that they can provide a kind and quality of service unlike that available from anyone else.   It is unlikely that any person can do what no one else in the world can do.  It would be unethical for me to make such a claim.  I believe deeply in myself and I would like to be your coach and, in my experience, the people I work with make meaningful progress in their lives.