Partnership is so much more than a type of relationship. It’s also a mindset and a way of understanding oneself relative to others — that we are all connected, and what affects one, affects all.

Conventional culture leads us to view others as potential (or actual) adversaries or competitors — even when we’re members of the same group (i.e., family, company, community, etc.). This worldview affects even our most intimate relationships, depriving us of the abundant connection one can feel when life is viewed through the lens of partnership.

The goal of Partnership Coaching is to reclaim that abundance by developing advanced partnership skills that you can apply to any relationship or community you belong to:

• Family (spouses, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc.)
• Close Friends
• Workplace Teams
• Learning Communities
• Communities of Purpose

You decide which partnership(s) you want to focus on, and I will give you tools and insights for navigating whatever challenges you’re facing, so you’ll develop your partnership superpowers while improving your actual partnerships. My job is to make sure you leave each session feeling empowered and equipped to improve the quality of all your partnerships.

The enduring benefits of Partnership Coaching include increased creativity, courage, purpose, inner peace, love, freedom, and FUN!  And if your career work involves coaching, I can help you learn Partnership Coaching skills to extend these benefits to those you serve.

Coaching for Parents

For more than two decades, I’ve been teaching growth-oriented parents the art of Partnership Parenting:  creating joyful, mutually empowering parent-child partnerships without the usual assortment of punishments, rewards, self-sacrifice, and other control tactics. I also have extensive experience supporting parents of self-directed learners.

Our natural desire to give our children a good start in life is a powerful catalyst for personal growth, because we can’t give what we don’t have. Our kids need us to demonstrate successful maturation, not merely talk about it. Parenthood energizes your desire to grow, and coaching harnesses that energy so you can develop your full potential. This sets the stage for being of service and making a difference well beyond parenthood.

If your goal is merely to change your child’s “problem behavior,” you probably won’t enjoy working with me. Partnership Parenting doesn’t work when parents are too attached to behavioral outcomes. With me as your coach, you’ll learn that any behavior can give you insights into your child’s needs — and your own needs — and you can use those insights to make your partnership stronger. Behavior will improve as a result, but your wonderful parent-child partnership will be the true reward.

Parents who benefit most from working with me are often those who know clearly what they don’t want their parenting to look like, and they have a general sense of the partnership values they do want to enact, but they need support and guidance to embody those values and enact their vision.

My parenting-focused clients have a wide variety of values as there is not “one right way” to do Partnership Parenting. That said, there are certain interests and approaches that are easier to align with partnership principles, including…

• Conscious, holistic, nonviolent, noncoercive, natural parenting
• The Continuum Concept or attachment parenting
• Nutrition and alternative health paradigms
• Alternative and self-directed education
• Creativity, freedom, and responsibility
• Parenting as a spiritual practice

In my circles, thinking outside the box is the norm, and you can be confident that I won’t judge you for being “weird” — even if you and I are weird in different ways!

Coaching FAQ

What’s your coaching background? — My “About” page describes my path to coaching, as do some of the articles and videos posted here.

Can anyone hire you for coaching? — I work with people from all walks of life, including individuals, couples/partners, and small groups. However, there are a few considerations:

• Age — I work with adults and generally don’t coach minors. When kids need coaching, I teach their parents how to coach them.
• Language — I have worked with people from many different countries. Anyone who understands and speaks English fluently can work with me.
• Mental health — Anyone who has major psychological or emotional issues should work with a qualified psychotherapist/healer prior to working with me.
• Faith — The power of partnership comes from the practice of unconditional love, which is ultimately a faith practice. Such faith may or may not include religious beliefs, but at a minimum it’s the belief that love itself is a kind of “Higher Power.”
• Open-mindedness — I support free speech, the right to hold heterodox views, and the power of nonjudgmental acceptance.

How do we meet for sessions? — We meet “virtually,” usually by telephone for audio sessions, or Zoom for video sessions. (Facetime, Signal, etc., are also options.)

How many sessions do I need? — If your goal is to work through a specific challenge, one or two sessions may be all you need. To develop partnership skills that you can adapt to any challenge, I recommend ongoing weekly or bi-weekly sessions for at least three months. Many of my clients start with one or two, and later decide to have regular/ongoing sessions. Regulars who feel confident in the skills they’ve developed can reduce the frequency of sessions or shift to scheduling sessions on an “as needed” basis.

How long is each session? — Usually about an hour, sometimes longer. (Note: I charge by the session, not by the hour.)

How much do coaching sessions cost? — The regular session fee is $200 (USD). A sliding scale is available for clients on a tight budget. (Call me for details.) Low-cost group coaching may also be an option. You are welcome to contact me for an exploratory consultation, free of charge, prior to scheduling a formal coaching session.

How do I pay for sessions? — I accept all major credit/debit cards and BTC through my secure payment page. Payments are made at the end of each session. Prepayment for multiple sessions in advance is an option for those who prefer the convenience.

What about refunds? — My goal is to deliver a truly valuable service that improves your quality of life. If you don’t feel satisfied by the end of your session, I won’t even charge the fee. Even if you change your mind after you’ve paid, you can request a refund within 30 days of payment and it will be granted, unconditionally.

How to Schedule a Session

The best way to get started is simply to reach out by email or phone (voice or text), and let me know what days and times work best for you.

Feel free to call me without an appointment — to discuss coaching options, set an appointment, or even start an unscheduled session immediately. I spend a lot of time doing “interruptible” work like writing and research, so don’t hesitate to call during my work hours. (If I’m not interruptible you’ll get my voicemail.)

If you feel inspired to unleash the power of partnership in your life, with my support, I’d be honored to serve you.

~ Scott Noelle