Coaching for Veterans
Veterans can benefit from working with a life coach in several ways, leveraging their unique experiences and challenges to achieve personal and professional goals. Here’s how a life coach can support veterans:
Transitioning to Civilian Life: Veterans often face challenges when adjusting to civilian life. A life coach can help them navigate this transition by setting goals, building a new identity, and finding purpose outside the military.
Career Development: Whether veterans want to start a new career, advance in their current field, or pursue further education, a life coach can help with career planning, resume building, job search strategies, and interview preparation.
Building Confidence: Many veterans struggle with self-confidence after service. A life coach can work with them to recognize their strengths, set achievable goals, and build self-esteem.
Managing Stress and Mental Health: Although a life coach is not a substitute for mental health professionals, they can provide support in managing stress, setting healthy routines, and developing coping strategies.
Setting and Achieving Goals: Life coaches assist in setting realistic, actionable goals, whether they relate to personal development, fitness, relationships, or other areas of life.
Enhancing Relationships: Veterans may face challenges in personal relationships post-service. A life coach can offer guidance on improving communication skills, resolving conflicts, and building strong, supportive relationships.
Exploring New Interests and Passions: A life coach can help veterans discover new hobbies, interests, and passions that bring fulfillment and purpose after military service.
Developing Leadership Skills: Veterans often have strong leadership skills but might need to adapt them for civilian contexts. A life coach can help refine these skills and apply them in new settings.
Creating a Balanced Life: Life coaches can assist in achieving a better work-life balance, setting boundaries, and managing time effectively to ensure a fulfilling and well-rounded life.
Accountability and Motivation: Regular sessions with a life coach provide accountability and motivation to stay on track with goals and make positive changes.
Veterans looking for a life coach should seek one who understands the unique challenges they face and has experience working with military personnel. It’s important to find someone who can offer tailored support and guidance.
The story of Daniel “Gunny” Miller,
The first sentence he ever spoke to me after I introduced myself to him was. "You can call me Gunny, what have you ever done for your country?"
At this stage of my life I had trained myself to beable to create an answer to any question quickly.
There in that moment I had to think.
My dad had served in Vietnam as did many of my uncles. When I had asked about joining, his response was "I served so you would not have to."
I thought no more of it until Gunny struck that nerve.
He became the first veteran that I have ever coached, and one of my oldest friends now 20+ years later.
He said I could share with you that in our conversations that we had over the years I have helped him to:
Work with and talk with the civilians in professional environments.
Recognize that his health issues not only required he revisit his VA benefits, but that I a civilian was proud to pay my part towards it.
We talked of the trauma that haunted him from his time in Somalia.
Gunny is a MARINE, and I do not think for a minute that he "needed" me to live his life, but he has convinced me to share that I our conversations have lead him to leading a better life.
I will always be thankful for Gunny in my life. He has brought humor, respect honor and perspective into my life that allows me the desire and ability and honor to do something (finally) for my country.