Professional Coaching
Professional coaching is available and useful for exploring areas where one might feel stuck or need direction, discovering new insights, providing accountability, and accelerating growth. Coaching is defined by the International Coaching Federation as, "Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."
About Coaching
Who is eligible for coaching?
Professional coaching is available at no charge to all benefit-eligible GVSU faculty and staff.
Is there a cost?
No! Professional coaching is voluntary, confidential, and free.
What should I expect from a coaching session?
Your professional coach will partner with you in confidential conversations, ask questions to bring clarity, and you help create action steps to work on between sessions. Coaching is about learning through the process and generating forward movement. In coaching, you can expect:
- To create a trusting relationship
- An exploration process
- Goal setting
- An accountability partner
- Individualized conversations
- Time dedicated to you
Is professional coaching similar to counseling?
Professional coaching is not:
- Counseling
- A mentor who shares their experiences
- A friend who provides advice
Interest Form
Interested in engaging in professional coaching? Fill out the Professional Coaching Interest Form.
Note: Coaching is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and spots are limited.
Meet Your Coach
Heather Gulgin
Heather Gulgin is an Associate Certified Coach, accredited through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and has over four years of experience working with a variety of clients.
She first utilized coaching in 2019 to develop a Personal Mission Statement and experienced the benefits that coaching can provide for personal and professional development. Thus, she decided to invest in learning coaching skills. After becoming Mastery Coach certified in 2020, she also completed additional training to coach leaders. Regardless of what your goals are, Heather enjoys meeting and supporting people in their journey, and has observed in others the positive benefits that coaching brings.
Coaching aligns with Heather's values of integrity and learning, as it provides a judgement free process and the opportunity for self-discovery.
In her free time, she enjoys playing pickle-ball, photographing bald eagles, golfing, and riding jet-ski.
Testimonials
"Working with Heather through the open coaching model was a great opportunity to explore and discover. She posed thoughtful questions and made sure I took time to pause and appreciate the discoveries I was making, as well as celebrate milestones and accomplishments. It was an enriching experience that allowed me to dig deeper into my personal goals and solidify ways to work towards accomplishing them. Heather served as a partner in my success and helped me to remain accountable to my goals."
"Heather helped me discover and narrow down my professional goals. I had so many ideas without direction. We discussed the convergent brainstorming stage by narrowing down a couple of options. She was always active listening and demonstrated this skill within each session. I was excited to meet with her due to the accountability of the tasks I would place on myself. I needed to ensure I did my work due to the time she gave me."
"Heather's coaching led me to the bottom-line issues and hurdles that had been preventing action to that point. She helped me find clarity. Her coaching helped me identify and draw out hope and conviction once buried by "I can't" and "What if" beliefs. She directed me to the strengths and experiences from my past that will serve as tools moving forward. I walked away with total conviction that not only could I attain the goals and dreams I carry - but that I've done it before - I will do it again. I highly recommend committing to the coaching process with Heather Gulgin."