Praise

I'm writing to share my endorsement of Charlie Michelson and his services as a Certified Integral Coach. I started my coaching relationship with Charlie in September of 2019. I've found Charlie to be very professional in his communication, scheduling, and in his follow-ups after our sessions. In each session, I felt he was flexible enough to hold space for whatever topic I wanted to explore while also remaining mindful to return us to conversational threads we'd explored in previous sessions. Each meeting I felt like we were able to move the ball forward on my identified areas of focus.

Aside from his professionalism, Charlie is an astute observer. Within our first hour of coaching, he had pinpointed several aspects of my personality and worldview only my closest friends have identified and articulated to me. I found his style of integral coaching, which explores experience through the lens of the Head, Heart, and Body, to be really helpful in balancing out my usually cerebral processing. When he encouraged me to drop down into bodily sensations, I noticed my speaking slowed, my muscles relaxed, and my mind became less crowded. I started to experience more trust in my gut feelings and my path forward often became clear very quickly. This state flowed out into new behaviors and actions in my daily life.

Along with his competence, I also feel his unconditional positive regard for me. Although he has helped me challenge my old assumptions, narratives, and internal tape loops, he's done so in a way that always leaves me feeling validated and affirmed.

Charlie is a very gifted and effective coach. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

— DEREK ORTH

A short note to recommend Charlie Michelson as a professional coach. I am the owner of a small business focused on market research. Our work is the basis for training hundreds of thousands of physicians around the world on new medical procedures involving medical devices we have helped develop with Fortune 100 companies. Just this week, our work was featured in a major cardiology journal.

I was experiencing several challenges in the Spring of 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic and engaged Charlie as an executive coach. How fortunate.

Charlie is highly skilled at deep listening, asks provocative questions, and provides thoughtful feedback to a level I have not experienced with many coaches. Charlie understood my deeper challenges on a personal and business level and provided supportive, helpful coaching to facilitate my growth and decision-making during these difficult times.

His generosity of spirit and caring shines through his approach.

—TIMOTHY MCCLERNON, PH.D. / CEO, Managing Partner / People Architects, Inc.

My personal experience with Charlie, as a coach, began a year ago. First and foremost, he puts me as ease and creates a safe and non-judgmental environment. Sharing is difficult for me and Charlie’s calming presence and intentional listening opens the door for vulnerability.

My best friend died of cancer, my grandmother had a stroke and was unconscious, and a significant relationship ended, all within a 24-hour period. I was devastated. The story I told myself is that I had a purpose in caring for my dying friend and my grandmother, because they were depending on me. Charlie very simply asked me who had done that for me in my life and why. It was my grandmother, when I was a child, because she loved me. Eureka: My purpose came from loving people and not from them being dependent on me. For me, this is an immensely powerful reframing. This is just one example of Charlie’s coaching that [resulted in a] positive influence on my self-awareness that impacts my daily life and relationships.

Charlie is a brilliant listener who asks remarkably simple questions to guide me in reframing the stories I tell myself and the direction for future personal development.

— CARA BORNT-DAVIS, CBD Skeletal Solutions

Ya boy is going to the to get his masters in Applied Cognitive Psychology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands! Perks of the university [are] internships+ A HUGE TENNIS CLUB ON CAMPUS.

I think I mixed all my goals in one. How did this manifest?

Thank you Charlie for everything, mi amigo! The butterfly effect is in full force on this one. All because you left your wallet in my car…

To describe what hanging out with you has done to my confidence is easy. You have kept records of my achievements and made me acknowledge them, and for the first time in my life, I am mentally free. I cannot imagine my way of thinking before our conversations.

Thank you for the honesty, inspiration, and motivation, as a friend, client, and mentor. Can’t wait for what’s next.

— TAYLOR

My incorrect assumption…

I’m a highly-educated early-50s male who thought a career coach could help me sort through unexpected “mucky” feelings I was having toward my career and therefore other parts of my life. I rationalized that if I felt better about my career, then other parts of my life would fall into place and also improve. With Charlie’s help, I now see how my career fits into a much more interesting and important story.

The process…

Like all important progress, you get what you give. Through my coaching project, I needed to be open, honest and direct to give Charlie a clear view of how I saw my reality. These requirements don’t come naturally to me, but Charlie provided the most comfortable environment possible for me to let down my guard. He’s thoughtful, empathetic and engaging, and he pays attention to themes and subtle-but-important pieces of information.

My project…

On our final session, Charlie presented a concise, spot-on plan for using my specific characteristics to reframe my story – to look at the road ahead differently. He nailed my current story and presented an alternative that I could wrap my head around. I now realize that I was too close to my daily circumstances to see the possibilities of shifting my focus. Charlie guided that shift and provided me with a plan to move forward and upward.

A new approach…

What started with Charlie telling me he did not provide career coaching turned into a journey that provided me with practical tools that I continue to use. My project became a catalyst for continuous questioning, change and improvement. Once my orientation shifted, and I started to look at the road ahead differently, my perspective to the exact same set of circumstances made more sense and fit into my new plan.

—JEFF M.

We’ve covered many topics but the real gem he helped me clarify was that I love being alone. He helped me find some space and funny enough he tuned into my truck. And I love my Ford F-150 truck. He helped me clarify that it’s a great place for me to reflect and get some time just to myself to clarify what’s important away from family and my businesses. That way, when I go back [I can] be a strong version of myself. I highly recommend his holistic and insightful approach.

—HARGOBIND KHALSA, Co-Owner Casa Om, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

I have always felt that I could learn what I need to develop both personally and professionally through formal education, troubleshooting, and watching others. I never really put much stock in developed personalized coaching. Fortunately, I learned about this opportunity with Charlie when we met on a yoga retreat and he truly changed my mind and has become a monumental help in my development in self-awareness. Charlie does a fantastic job easing you into a session and consistently brings you back to how you feel based on the topic. He is clearly a constant student of his own practice, consistently learning what drives you throughout the sessions to continue to help guide you down a path to real breakthroughs in growth and mindfulness.

—NORMAN C.