Hello fellow Sprouters!
My name is Ian Chittle and I am excited to be a part of the exceptional movement in individual, family, and community wellbeing brought by Sprout Wellbeing. To compliment my fiancé, Tessa’s, wide array of holistic health coaching, exercise, and corporate wellness services, I am providing life coaching. Many of my lifelong interests, activities, and training culminate in this work.
As a child and adolescent, I played lots of sports and always enjoyed playing outside and being active. I also would often sit around my parents and their guests- interested in their conversation, interactions, and lives. Throughout my undergraduate years at UC Santa Barbara, I spent much of my time swimming, hiking, running, and camping in the mountains around Santa Barbara and the Bay Area of California for fun and stress reduction. I pursued a B.A. in Psychology and began an academic study and individual/group practice of mindfulness meditation for relaxation. After completing my B.A, I quickly bounced around from job to job. From working as a classroom counselor for severely emotionally disturbed children, I then worked in a restaurant to explore my interest in the culinary arts. Working in the restaurant kitchen wasn’t quite as fun as cooking at home, so I then went back to school to get my M.S. degree in Counseling Psychology, so I could pursue the work I really wanted to do. The training in this program was very influential in my working philosophy (which I will explain more below). I worked with families, teens, and children to overcome difficulties such as feeling unmotivated and stuck in un-helpful patterns. I specialized in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as Stress Management (specifically my Master’s thesis focused on progressive muscle relaxation, exercise, meditation, humor, cognitive-behavioral techniques).
I am currently working towards a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology, focusing my research on mindfulness-based stress reduction for reduced stress and increased well-being. My hope is to live out my passion of helping others- providing support and guidance in order for people to realize and create the life that they would love to live. My other main passion is somewhat different, yet involves experimenting with creating the most healthy and delicious pizza imaginable. I hope that you will join me in this journey and we can realize our passions together!
What is Life Coaching?
Life coaching has a history that stems from organizational psychology and it was used as a motivational tool in the corporate world to enhance business and create work/life balance. People who were not feeling fulfilled in the lives they were leading hired life coaches. Now, there are more than 10,000 life coaches of various types practicing in America. Life coaching differs from many traditional forms of therapy in that the focus is on present issues and forward action, rather than insight into past conflict. I personally appreciate life coaching because it does not focus on dysfunction and diagnosis of people, rather I choose to bring a focus on identifying people’s strengths and abilities. Much like a traditional coach trains an athlete towards success, I provide support and guidance as you practice and master a skill. You become increasingly aware of current patterns, discover a better picture for the future, and actively pursue that improved life. Obstacles are identified and a plan is created to remove them or get through them, so you can more easily reach your goals. The specific focus can be on whatever you set as goals, whether it be stress management, relationship issues, work/life balance, etc.- you name it and you are on your way.
A life coach is helpful because it makes us do it. It is easier to set goals with a life coach, and when things get difficult- a life coach is there for support and to hold you accountable for reaching your goals. In a session you can expect that I will listen deeply and empathically, ask powerful questions, create encouraging action-oriented dialogue, and create action. I help you to increase awareness, develop personalized goals, build a detailed action plan, journal, and report on progress. You become successful with support and accountability.
“Common Factors” research highlights the ingredients across all healing professions that lead to success for clients. The most central common factors for growth and improvement is engaging in a genuine alliance with a clinician, the clinician being attuned with client progress, and the clients own ability to progress. I help clients by engaging in this process and providing perspective, stimulating creative thought and facilitating the discovery of their own answers. A life coach is for the outwardly healthy person that wants more out of life. We enter into a co-creative, egalitarian, and active partnership where I guide and instill motivation for reaching your goals and passions. I know that everyone has the innate knowledge, skill and ability for living the life that they desire and I am here to help you along the way!
