For this assignment you are to complete an occupational Interview on an employee in a chosen human service field. (ATTACHED IS A SAMPLE INTERVIEW, THAT CAN BE USED). ?The attachmen

INTERVIEW (2)

Mike Duralia, personal communication, June 08, 2014 2

A series of interviews is being conducted in support of a thesis to be brought forth for consideration to the

School of Human Services at Amridge University in the summer of 2014. The purpose of the interviews

is to assess the viability of the occupation of Professional Coaching. The interviewees will consist of

employees and employers related to Human Services occupations and specifically the occupations related

to Professional Coaching.

Certified Coach Practitioner

Mike Duralia is a Life Coach in South Carolina. Mike understands that there is some confusion

in the United States about coaching, and he is glad to share his approach to coaching. He explains that

Life Coaching encompasses all of the aspects of coaching which helps an individual move along their

own unique journey. Despite the field being new and ambiguous to most of the public, Mike believes that

the profession is adequate for helping people get “unstuck”. Mike currently conducts Life Coaching

services independently as a secondary source of income. His approach to Life Coaching begins with an

individual assessment of clients using astrology, numerology as well as influences from nature and the

human body. Additionally, various maxims are used in his coaching, such as what he calls, the three

strike rule, “once is a fluke, the second time is a coincidence and the third time is a pattern”, “looking

over your life, taking the labels off of everything and seeing the common threads”. Mike holds a Master

of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University and is certified through the Certified

Coaches Federation as a Coach Practitioner. His professional career began by looking to establish

himself as a business executive but found that as he himself took a look at the “common threads” in his

life, he had always been a coach and a teacher. Through life situations and circumstance, Mike was

propelled to make his life-long role an official title in 2013 through pursuit and accomplishment of

certification.

Mike trained for two and a half days over a weekend and gained certification. Mike is clear that

he is “not a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist [nor is he] looking to work with people with deep

INTERVIEW (2)

Mike Duralia, personal communication, June 08, 2014 3

psychological problems.” It is his belief that “everybody needs a coach.” Mike explains the role of a

coach as an individual who brings forth what is already inside of a client of which they are not presently

aware. He explains that sometimes this process includes pointing out things to customers which they do

not want to hear, or that may cause them anxiety or distress. Mike understands this process as, “talking

about truths to get to progress,” and has a belief that life introduces people to signs of these truths, but

that we often suppress or ignore the evidence. He used the following analogy: “It’s like driving up to an

intersection, but the fog is so thick that you can’t see the [traffic] light.”

Mike doesn’t believe in accidents but does see a great value in process. Through encourgaging

people to do things differently (i.e. changing the process), he recognizes that there is potential for clients

to experience success and also meet failure. During our interview, Mike spoke about a general shift in

people’s mentality that he has witnessed over the years. He compared this change to the effects of

technological advancements with the internet—moving from dial-up to wireless. He has explained to

clients that planting grass seed doesn’t render grass within 24-hours; the growth process takes time. Mike

focuses his coaching on the journey of life versus the destination, and believes that, through this

enlightenment, individuals are in a better position to appreciate progress, which ultimately promotes

positive change. He also commented about coaching in organizations, stating that this type of coaching

should also focus on process. He believes that understanding and engaging employees affects

productivity, which affects consumers and productivity. In organizations that lack an atmosphere which

includes coaching, there is a loss of both awareness and happiness.

Mike admits that it is disappointing to not be able to help a particular client, but understands that

the services he provides are not for everyone. In this light, he feels like it is better for both parties to find

this out early in the process. Ultimately, Mike considers coaching to be a process of guidance. Clients

are left to decide whether to act upon the guidance and remain responsible for their own actions. For

Mike, coaching is about helping clients find their own answers.