What to Expect
Career Coaching Services
Your career is a vital and central part of your life. But still just a part. It needs to work in the context of other parts of your life: your relationships, your priorities, your material circumstances, and, most importantly, your inner “self.” As a therapist, marriage counselor, ex-businessman, and career coach I am perhaps uniquely able to help move you in a direction that meets all of the above needs, not simply one that “makes sense” given your previous experience or in response to whatever testing results you may have obtained.
First, we will agree on as precise a goal for our work as possible.
Second, I will ask you to give me all of the background relevant to the issue(s) we are addressing. Of course the extent of this background will vary according to the challenge.
If you are seeing me for a fairly straightforward issues, such as developing a more effective job search strategy, improving your resume, or interview coaching, the background information I need will be fairly brief and we can dive right in to solutions.
If, on the other hand, if you are coming to me with more complex problems (e.g. uncertainty as to what career paths to explore, feeling stuck in your job search process, lack of self-confidence) the intake process will be more extensive*.
I am often asked how many sessions work with me will involve. The answer depends first on the complexity of the issue(s) we are handling, and second on the amount of time, energy, and effort you are willing to devote to the process. For the simpler issues two to three sessions usually suffice. For more complex issues, the average number of meetings is six to seven, although this can vary widely.
As to how frequently we should meet, that again depends on both the nature of the issue(s) and your time / resources / motivation (I often assign homework which in some cases might take several weeks to complete). We might meet weekly for a couple of times, then space sessions out. Or in a “crisis” situation (salary negotiation, upcoming interview, negative performance review) we might meet a couple or three times in the course of a week or two if necessary.
The average charge per 50 minute session ranges from $300 to $500, depending on the complexity of the issues, time of day, day of the week, and whether insurance is filed and reimbursement received**.
I guarantee to ALL of my clients that if for ANY reason they feel they have not gotten their money’s worth from sessions with me there will be no charge. That’s a situation I have encountered only three times working with close to two thousand clients. I am absolutely confident that the investment you make in our work will provide you with results worth many times the outlay.
**If the work we do involves a significant emotional component (e.g. addressing anxiety, lack of confidence, confusion, procrastination, distractibility, etc.), and if you have a PPO health insurance plan that covers out-of-network mental health sessions, I will file your claims for you and you will be reimbursed directly by your insurance carrier. Only licensed mental health professionals may do this; career counselors or life coaches can’t.
My 4-Stage Process:
Develop Your Profile
Jim helps you build a concise narrative capturing everything relevant: who you are, what drives you, and where you want to go.
- Professional history, key experiences, defining traits
- Core strengths and preferred work environments
- Salary range, location, company size, and your real decision criteria
- Your values
Identify Promising Options
Jim identifies paths with clarity including responsibilities, entry points, challenges, and genuine trade-offs.
- Compensation outlook and growth trajectory
- Transition pathways and entry requirements
- Key advantages and honest trade-offs of each path
Evaluate and Prioritize
Jim assesses each path against your strengths and constraints. A prioritized shortlist formed based on logic and AI feedback.
- Alignment with strengths, interests, and real constraints
- Comparison across fit, feasibility, and long-term upside
- A focused finalist list for real-world validation
- Conversations with people doing the actual work being considered
- Research and AI provide validation of choices
Getting the Job
Jim ensures that your networking outreach, resume, LinkedIn profile, elevator speech, and interview performance are superior.
- Network outreach and targeted introductions
- Independent research and industry trend analysis
- Informational conversations with people in those roles
Client Reviews
I had the privilege of receiving career consulting from Jim before my big move to California, and it’s no exaggeration to say that his guidance was a turning point in my professional journey. His approach is both thoughtful and insightful. Thanks to him, I clearly understood what I wanted in my career and confidently worked…
I am so incredibly grateful for Jim’s guidance during a challenging career change. His insight, feedback, and support were essential to my success in landing a dream job. From helping me chart a new course and finding a new passion after burning out in a draining career, to coaching me through final interviews, he was with me every step of the way. I cannot recommend him enough!
I have been fortunate enough to work with Jim on clearly defining my career goals and creating a pragmatic plan towards achieving them. Jim provided uniquely tailored support, solution based strategies, and a collaborative approach towards improving my leadership skills. Jim’s insight and experience provided invaluable perspectives on my career challenges and aspirations; leading to well-constructed and actionable steps to achieve my goals. During my time working with Jim, I experienced grow…
Ready to Begin?
The first step is a complimentary 15–20 minute conversation — completely free, no obligation. Fill out the form and Jim will be in touch personally. No pressure, no scripts, just a genuine exchange about what you need.
Phone
(202) 667-0665
Jim@DCLifeCounseling.com
Main Office · Alexandria, VA
2405 Brentwood Place
Alexandria, VA 22306
Part-Time Office · Washington DC
1633 Q St., NW, Suite 200
Washington D.C. 20009