Most of us are used to muddling through our issues and decisions with the occasional advice of friends and colleagues. But there can come a time when we don’t have the right resources to draw on or it is too much of an imposition to ask the people we know to help us sort through our alternatives or to develop more options.

An expert can help. And perhaps counter intuitively, the expertise you need is not of another vet. A business or career coach is someone whose expertise is not your profession, but someone people turn to, to help them sort out and imagine new options. A coach can help you establish options, sort out priorities, help you determine what else you need to know, get you ready to get in touch with your contacts and do other research so that you can successfully set and meet your objectives. Broadly speaking, the difference between a coach and a therapist is that a therapist looks back so you can address old issues. A coach looks forward to see how to make what you want into a reality.

There are as many different styles of coaching as there are coaches. Your job is to interview a handful and decide who you would like to try out. Below are some considerations in choosing a coach who is right for you. May have some familiarity with vets or with your sector (Working in a partnership, in a hospital, on your own, etc.) Ask about their process and whether they have a standard process or not, tell them about where you are in your process and ask them generally how they would approach it. Ask or read about their background. This information may be on their website. Coaches use many different models for payment. You can ask about hourly or session rates, coach accessibility between appointments, minimum numbers of sessions, if any. Some coaches with high minimums will provide a free session to begin. Take advantage if it!

Bottom line the coach has to feel comfortable to you. Is this a person who you could trust? How much do you want them to challenge you? In the end of the day, trust your gut. You will always know best.