Name: Sharnise T.
Age: 51
City: Wilmington, DE
Job: Health Administrator
Pre-Coaching Concerns:
Sharnise, a recent breast cancer survivor, was feeling overwhelmed by the physical and emotional challenges of recovery. She wanted to return to her normal life but felt lost and unsure about how to navigate the process after her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment flipped her world upside down. Her primary concerns included:
- Physical limitations:
Dealing with fatigue, reduced mobility, and a body that didn’t feel like hers anymore.
- Emotional well-being:
Managing anxiety, fear, and body image issues.
- Social reintegration:
Rebuilding relationships and returning to social activities.
- Career goals:
Balancing work demands with recovery needs
The Coaching Experience:
The initial coaching sessions (1-3) focused on creating a solid foundation for Sharnise’s recovery:
- Goal setting:
Establishing clear, achievable goals for physical, emotional, and social recovery, starting with daily walks with her neighbor.
- Self-care plan:
Developing a personalized self-care routine to address fatigue, pain, and emotional needs. Previously she loved reading, but often felt too tired, so she wanted to set up a plan to begin re-incorporating books into her week.
- Body image acceptance:
Exploring strategies, such as affirmations, to improve body image and self-esteem.
- Stress management:
Implementing relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and promote overall well-being, such as yoga and meditations.
Sharnise’s experience:
“I felt so lost after treatment and had no idea where to start to begin to feel like myself again. I needed support figuring out what I needed to do, and accountability to actually do it.”
As Sharnise’s physical and emotional strength improved, sessions 4 and 5 focused on rebuilding her social connections and exploring career options:
- Social reintegration:
Facilitating gradual re-entry into social activities and rebuilding relationships, focused around a new Bunco group.
- Career planning:
Assessing career goals, exploring accommodations, and developing a return-to-work plan. Sharnise and her coach worked together to organize her thoughts and needs so that her conversation with HR was productive.
Sharnise’s reflection:
“I was worried about how people would react to me after treatment. My coach helped me feel more confident and prepared to reconnect with others.”
In the final coaching sessions (6-8), Sharnise and her coach worked on building resilience and maintaining long-term well-being:
- Resilience building:
Developing strategies, such as a positive outlook and rewriting negative thought patterns, to cope with setbacks and challenges.
- Journaling:
Incorporating mindfulness techniques and taking time for awareness with journaling, which enhances emotional regulation and reduces stress.
- Healthy lifestyle:
Promoting a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep to support Sharnise in feeling her healthiest and happiest.
“This coaching experience has been invaluable! At my first session, I didn’t know what I wanted or needed, I just knew I needed support. My coach was so incredibly empathetic, friendly, and knowledgeable and she really helped me understand the bigger picture and held me accountable to small changes. For the first time in a long time, I feel empowered to take control of my recovery and live a fulfilling life.”