Washingtonian Article – Chopra Careers

What Can I Expect From The Counseling Process?

Here are the details you need to know:

My fee is $250 for a fifty (50) minute session. You will be invoiced after each session. I accept all major credit cards. I do not offer sliding scale fees or discount packages.
The number of sessions varies, depending on the goal of our work together. For most clients, the initial piece of work will take between 3 and 6 sessions. There may be additional work we need to do together, or I may refer you to a resume writer and/or job search coach.
I recommend that our first 2 to 4 sessions be scheduled at weekly or biweekly intervals. I use an online scheduling system and you will be able to select appointments that work with your schedule. Sometimes either your schedule or my schedule will preclude weekly meetings, and that’s fine. After our first several meetings, you will have more substantive tasks to complete between sessions to help achieve your career goals, and at that point, the frequency of our sessions will likely decrease.
I see clients during the business day between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET. I don’t offer night or weekend hours.
I now work exclusively by video and phone. My practice management software, Simple Practice, automatically sends you a link for the video session when you schedule an appointment. Some people experience “zoom fatigue” from being on-camera for much of the workday. Please know that I am always happy to turn the camera off.

That’s an overview of the process, but I know you’re likely to have additional questions about your specific situation and needs. That’s why I offer a free 15-minute introductory phone call so that you can tell me what you want out of the process, and I can explain how I would work with you and answer any questions. Click here to schedule a free phone call.

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What Does Your Success Look Like?

People often ask me who succeeds — in making a career change, starting a business, or landing a job. The short answer is that anyone who keeps trying eventually succeeds. The longer answer is that successful clients cultivate a set of attitudes that support their efforts.

The good news is that anyone can incorporate the attitudes described below into their life, and one of the goals of our work together is to help you to more readily adopt these attitudes. These are the key to your career success:

“I am committed.”

I recognize that making a career change or finding a new job takes time and effort. I know that I need to set aside time to achieve my goals, and I know where I will find that time in my schedule. I understand that the amount of progress I make is directly related to the amount and consistency of effort that I put forward.

“I will practice resilience.”

I know that the ability to keep going in the face of disappointments and setbacks is a critical skill. I recognize that a career change or a job search will engender many uncomfortable emotions, from fear and anxiety to sadness and anger. I understand that feelings are real, but they are not facts. I know that emotions will pass, and I will practice holding onto my goals despite the waves of emotions that wash over me. Resilience is a skill, and I can use my career process to improve this skill.

“I will be open and curious.”

I will cultivate a state of openness to possibilities. I will not assume that I know everything. I will not predict the outcome of events, but will move forward with an open mind, curious to see how things will go this time. I will be willing to learn about new ways to do things. I know that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome” and will focus on trying new and different things.

“I will be compassionate.”

I know that I am human, and to be human is to be imperfect. I will be compassionate towards myself as I go through this process. I will give myself permission to make mistakes, and I will recognize when I am blaming and shaming myself. I also understand that the many people I will interact with are human, too, and that their failures towards me are not judgments of me. I will strive to be kind and gentle with myself and with others.

“I will be responsible.”

I know that I am not to blame for everything that goes wrong in my life, but I also understand that I often play a part in the things that happen to me. I will take full responsibility for my life, and the decisions that I make for myself. I understand that power and responsibility are forever linked, and that if I do not accept responsibility for my life, I will not have the power to lead the life I desire. I will accept the consequences of my actions, and that includes understanding that I have played a role in the many positive and successful things that have happened to me.

THE COUNSELOR’S ROLE

These are attitudes to strive for — none of us manage to approach the world from these mindsets every minute of every day. My role as your career counselor is to help you develop and strengthen these characteristics: to identify the small and doable steps that you can implement immediately that will expand your confidence in your ability to approach the world with these attitudes.

With practice, you will develop new pathways in your brain for compassion, commitment, resilience, curiosity, and responsibility. My task is to keep you focused on your goal, point out when it seems that you are off course, and support you on your journey.