Dorothy Firman, Ed.D, CPC, LMHC

Certified Professional Coach, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Massachusetts; author" Brace For Impact": "Daughters and Mothers: Making it Work"; "Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul"; "Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul".

Psychosynthesis Coaching: a Path to a life of meaning, purpose and values.

  Taking Time for Me: Personal Empowerment Coaching

Dorothy's (Didi) coaching is designed to promote autonomy, better communication skills, self-esteem, and clarity about life’s purpose, meaning and values. Dr. Firman has been a spiritually-oriented psychotherapist in private practice for over thirty years and is now, for the first time, offering her coaching and educational process on-line to people interested in moving deeper into the understanding of who they are and who they want to be.

The coaching process involves a 10 session commitment that starts with the articulation of specific goals by the client, moves through a variety of exercises, on-line conversations, and “homework” assignments, and ends with a plan in progress for
meeting goals and continuing the process of personal and spiritual growth that has begun in the coaching sessions. “Taking Time For Me” requires a commitment by the client of approximately 20 hours, over a five to ten week period. By that time, desired changes will begin to become habits, plans and strategies that have momentum and create a sense of accomplishment and reward by their very action. These changes become the basis for lifestyle improvement, increase of personal wellbeing and a sense of empowerment.

The cost of “Taking Time For Me” is on a sliding scale from $1500.00- $1000.00 and includes ten 30 minute sessions with Dr.

Firman (via email or phone or both), as well as Didi's construction of personal exercises and homework assignments for the client and e-mail responses to those. Payment can be made via check or credit card.  To begin, contact Didi at: dfirman@comcast.net. Please put “coaching” in the subject box. You may also call her at 413-256-3020.

 Who will benefit from “Taking Time for Me?”

Professionals who are ready to take a next step in their professional lives. Artists of all kinds who are working towards putting their artistic endeavors into the world. Individuals considering a life change: marriage, moving, going back to school. Anyone with a goal, personal or professional, who wants support for maximizing the process of conscious choice. People who need an ally and a supportive structure for moving into a next phase of life.

Counseling and Coaching: What's the difference?

There are significant differences between the field of counseling (psychotherapy, psychology) and the field of coaching and these differences define why an individual would choose one or the other.

• Counseling addresses issues that span the whole spectrum of psychological need, from family of origin issues, trauma and psychological wounding to issues in present time in all areas of life, to issues of future orientation.
• Counseling may be long term, depending on the need.
• Counseling is done face to face in hour-long sessions.
• Coaching focuses more distinctly on the creation and manifestation of specific goals. Like the sports coach, from which this field has emerged, there is a desired outcome that is articulated and worked towards.
• Coaching does not orient itself towards issues from the past, though might reference those if they present as blocks to current goals.
• Coaching will typically be short-term.
• Coaching will not be appropriate for people struggling with deeper psychological issues, people needing trauma work. It has been said that coaching is for “the worried well” Another way to frame the intention of coaching is that it is for the
  goal-directed person.
  
  

Speaking and Workshops

Dorothy is available to speak or facilitate a workshop, or to do consulting on the topics of psychosynthesis and humanistic/transpersonal psychotherapy, the mother/daughter relationship and on learning to teach. She has run numerous workshops and groups, has consulted for a variety of businesses and given talks for colleges, organizations and businesses. She has also appeared on several television and radio shows to speak on a variety of subjects. If you or your group or organization are interested in having Dorothy give a talk for you, she can be reached by e-mail by clicking here or by phone at 413-256-3020. She can provide a list of past speaking engagements and references. She has worked with groups as small as half a dozen people up to large and full auditoriums She has spoken in informal "pillow on the floor" atmospheres to Podiums on large stages to the "expert panel" on the Oprah Winfrey show. Browsing the other pages on this site will give you an idea of the length and breadth of her experience in a number of fields. People find her warm and approachable with a healthy sense of humor.