1:1 support.

Whether you call it coaching or consulting or constructive collusion, I'm happy to support folks on their creative journeys through custom one-on-one sessions.

I can support you with:

personal statements & creative storytelling
portfolios & case studies
deep self-inquiry and reflection exercises
creative problem-solving
building new habits

I can show up as a:

teacher who gives helpful assignments
coach who asks helpful questions
design/research consultant who provides helpful frameworks

okay, tell me all about it

Why I think everyone can actually benefit from a coach, even though parts of the coaching industry are completely bananas.

So, yes — if you’ve been listening closely to Instagram’s favorite influencers, it would appear that approximately 134-485% of the global population is either talking to a coach or calling themselves a coach. There are, of course, sketchy reasons for this — lack of standardized regulations, absolutely chaotic pricing structures, suspiciously attractive pyramid schemes... But there are also good reasons: when practiced with care, coaching can be a beautiful, flexible modality that brings people closer to where they want to be, on their terms.

I started my journey into the coaching realm with one eyebrow raised, but during my training I was quickly won over by the client-centered philosophy and the deep, reflexive ethos of this work. I also quickly saw how my skills as a designer (thinking of creative and generative ways to convene around problems) and a researcher (spending hours and hours interviewing people with great care) and a teacher (creating compassionate spaces for growth and insight) transferred seamlessly to coaching.

So, one 10-month training program and a national exam later, I am officially a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. And after years of hosting university office hours, ad hoc mentoring, and pro bono practicum sessions, I’m delighted to finally make 1:1 support sessions an official part of my practice.

I’m especially excited to work within the realm of creative wellbeing, helping people (re)connect to the purest of purpose and wiliest of whim. I’ve helped students and new grads represent their work on the way to landing their first jobs. I’ve helped wellness professionals and community leaders imagine new experiences for their clients and collaborators. I’ve helped talented professionals think through challenging problems in their industries. And I’ve helped a lot of people of all kinds reflect very, very deeply on the things that are most important to them.

Whether you’re working on something extremely specific or are looking for general support, I’m here to listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and maybe assign you some weird homework prompts, if you’ll let me.

Some examples of things we might work on together:

starting a new project or side hustle
integrating past work & creative histories / identifying takeaways
managing time / energy / focus
considering a vocational change / going to school / entering the workforce
addressing writer’s block / creative burnout
cultivating sustainable creative discipline / creative habits
finding joy / play / inspiration sourcing
crafting portfolios / personal statements / professional websites
deep reflection / self-exploration
exploring storytelling / self-presentation
setting up creative environments / inspiring spaces
self-expression / defining a personal style

Some examples of things that would be best handled by someone else:

deep explorations of the past and/or surfacing lots of traumatic material (this important work is better left to a licensed therapist — coaching tends to focus on facing problems in the present, rather than digging into their origins)
very specific advice on how to get a particular job, or break into a particular industry (there are people who specialize in this, depending on where you’re trying to go)
very specific advice on how to get a bigger following, go viral, drive traffic to your website, etc. (again, there are better places to learn these things)
very specific advice in general (see FAQ below)

If you’re curious about working with me 1:1, please fill out my inquiry form and let me know how I can help. Read on for more detailed info.

submit an inquiry

What are your credentials and why do they matter?

I completed my initial training through the Headspace Training Institute, where I graduated in Fall of 2023 as a certified Mental Health Coach. From there, I completed my practicum hours and took the national exam from the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches to become a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Unlike for therapists, you don’t need any official credentialing to legally practice as a coach. However, coaches who do choose to get credentialed are held to certain competencies and ethical standards in order to maintain their standing (see below). You can check my certification here.

But what does “coaching” actually mean?

Everything and nothing. It’s a word that people use differently, so if you’re looking for a coach it’s a good idea to get clear on what they mean. When it comes to a standardized coaching practice (as per the NBHWC), there are a few important things that distinguish coaching from other modalities like mentoring and therapy. You can think of a coach as a collaborator in helping you draw out and map your inner motivations and strengths to the changes you want to make. Coaching is:

client-centered — you are the expert in your own life, and you set the agenda for what you want to work on
based in unconditional positive regard — any person in any life circumstance is worthy of attention, care, and support, and all people have the capacity to learn, grow, and overcome challenges
grounded in self-discovery — you’ll hone in on your goals and action steps through reflective practice, deep curiosity, and powerful questioning
non-hierarchical — again, you are the expert in your own life, and this is just a collaboration designed to meet you where you are

What is considered out-of-scope for a coach?

Coaches who are credentialed have to follow strict standards of practice. In these contexts, coaching is not:

diagnostic or prescriptive — it’s out of scope for a coach to diagnose anyone with certain medical or psychological condition or to decide any sort of treatment plan (though a coach can support a client in maintaining a plan from another healthcare professional)
therapy — while we’ll often talk about thoughts and feelings, coaches focus on how these patterns are affecting you in the present and how to move through them (rather than digging deep into the origin stories of why you’re feeling the way you do)
advice-giving — a coach isn’t there to tell you what to do (once more, with feeling: you are the expert in your own life!)
for everyone all the time — sometimes, a different approach might suit you better, and a good coach will help you get connected with that resource

So, will you coach me how to coach coaches in order to become a hot coach making 18k a month working from home, coaching coaches to coach coaches?

Yes. Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

What happens in a typical session?

Sessions are tailored to your unique needs (and before we start working together, I’ll collect information from you so I can be prepared). When we meet, we’ll get caught up on what brings you in, then we’ll spend some time exploring the issue together. The rest depends on you and what you bring — for some folks, we’ll talk about goals and action steps. For others, we’ll use more time to dig into things like values, motivation, strengths, barriers, etc. There is an element of improvisation to it, and we figure it out together. At the end of session, you'll likely leave with some goals to work toward or "assignments" to complete.

Where do we meet?

Virtually! On Zoom! But if you have leads on a teleportation device, let me know.

How do I know if I'm ready? Do I need my goals figured out?

It’s ideal to show up to session with a solid idea of what topic you want to work on, at the very least. I'll send you some materials prior to our first session to help with this. But the great thing about coaching is that it works for whatever stage you’re in — whether you’re just starting to explore something new, or whether you’ve already set some goals for yourself. Come as you are!

What if I just want to talk to a designer/researcher? Do you consult?

I do! But since this would likely result in me occupying an advice-giving position of expertise, I'd take off my coach hat and put on the stereotypical black-ribbed designer beanie (or the Sherlock Holmes researcher cap). I'd be happy to discuss your project from a service design and/or qualitative design research lens.

someone to talk to? burning questions? career change? existential crisis? vocational musings? need eyes on your portfolio? need a kind word? trying to figure something out? how about a new personal statement? need some encouragement? want homework?someone to talk to? burning questions? career change? existential crisis? vocational musings? need eyes on your portfolio? need a kind word? trying to figure something out? how about a new personal statement? need some encouragement? want homework?someone to talk to? burning questions? career change? existential crisis? vocational musings? need eyes on your portfolio? need a kind word? trying to figure something out? how about a new personal statement? need some encouragement? want homework?

trace manuel.

I'd love to hear what you're thinking:
tm@tracemanuel.com
or send a booking inquiry