"I empower artists, creative entrepreneurs and leaders in arts and culture to maximize their personal and professional potential."

 
Feeling stuck or at a pivotal moment? Are you struggling to focus on your true priorities, determine your next steps or lacking confidence to take your creative career and life to the next level or a new direction?  

Here's how I can help

My coaching practice is focused on supporting artists and creatives like you including: emerging, mid-career and established artists, makers, designers, entrepreneurs with arts-based businesses and leaders of cultural institutions and initiatives. Essentially, anyone who is dedicated professionally or personally to artistic expression, creation or production.

​

I understand the creative mindset and appreciate that there are many ways to build a career and life as a creative professional.

​

As your coach, I work alongside you as a thought partner to facilitate your self-discovery, increase your confidence and refine your focus on what is most important in your life, your creative endeavours or directions.

​

I can help you to:

​

  • Clarify your vision for your creative practice/career/business

  • Set specific goals and develop and implement effective strategies to achieve them;

  • Prioritize, focus and follow through to finish projects that matter to you;

  • Increase your confidence and develop habits to support your creativity and success;

  • Cultivate professional and personal relationships that support your endeavours;

  • Understand and push past creative blocks and fears that stand in the way of your ambitions;

  • Build a more sustainable, fulfilling creative career and balanced life;

  • Figure out what’s next and go for it!

 

How I Coach

Coaching with me is a creative and collaborative process! Every coaching relationship and session is uniquely created based on your needs and your desired outcome. Whatever your challenge, barrier or aspiration I’ll work with you to gain clarity, overcome hurdles and achieve your goals.

​

I empower you to grow your creative practice, arts-based business or career from the inside out and build a more sustainable and fulfilling life as creative professional. 

​

Our coaching conversations are focused, thought-provoking and structured to support you to determine plans and take the actions that you decide are right for you. I work collaboratively with you to build our relationship based on trust, candour and action planning and ask questions to help you to identify blocks, challenges and opportunities in your life. My job is to support you to make better decisions and be stronger in your professional and personal relationships, provide a neutral ear, champion you and build in accountability to keep you on track to move forward toward your goals. I feel fulfilled when I see my clients are acquiring self-awareness and building confidence and strategies that will serve them far beyond our coaching relationship.

​

I offer customized coaching plans with the option of a set number of sessions or a monthly coaching rate (typically based on two 45 minute sessions per month). I provide additional support via email or text between sessions if you have questions, want to share accomplishments or need additional encouragement.

​

I coach virtually via phone, Zoom or Skype or in person.

Services

 
1:1 Coaching for Artists and Creatives

Results oriented collaboration and partnership to help you to:  Clarify your creative and personal goals | Cultivate confidence & self-esteem | Manage stress | Navigate change | Enhance your personal fulfilment | Build a sustainable creative career and balanced life.

Career Direction and Professional Growth:

Assess your strengths, talents and passions | Explore options for career direction and professional growth |  Figure out what’s next and go for it! | Establish action plans and accountability.

Leadership Development:

Identify and focus on your key priorities | Increase your effectiveness | Build your awareness of your authentic leadership style and your impact on others.

Business Coaching for Creative Entrepreneurs:

Clarify and articulate your vision | Identify goals and opportunities | Focus on priorities to move forward | Develop and implement strategies to build your arts based business and income  | Market your artwork, products and services authentically.

​Summer Coaching Package Offer 

Six sessions - Save $180

Offer ends July 31

Book a FREE 30 minute Consultation
Group Coaching Programs:

A series of customized one hour meet ups structured around specific topics or themes determined in collaboration with participants. I bring interactive activities and stimulating questions in response to the topics identified to facilitate self-discovery and discussion with colleagues in group and break-out formats. Format includes weekly check ins and goal setting/action steps to support specific individual goals and projects. Limited to 6 participants. Register as an individual for upcoming dates on offer or contact me work with your organization or group to set up a customized program.

Upcoming 4 Week Group Coaching Program 

Mondays 1pm - 2pm EST   |  June 7 - June 28 | Registration is Full!

Mondays 4pm - 5pm EST   |  June 7 - June 28 | Registration is Full!​

Stay tuned for next Group Coaching program dates!

Learn about Group Coaching
Professional Development Workshops:

Interactive workshops designed to empower artists to build their capacity to move forward in their independent creative practice or arts-based business. I host workshops independently and more often in partnership and collaboration with arts-based organizations.

During Covid-19 all workshops will be presented on-line.

Learn about Workshops
OFFERS and Options for Artists and Creatives During Covid-19:

Are you struggling to focus, rethinking priorities, direction, daily routines and self-care as a creative professional?

I can help! I’m continuing to offer1 FREE 30 minute virtual coaching session to any artist or creative who needs a boost, group coaching options, as well as reductions of up to 20% off rates and packages for 1:1 virtual coaching through July 2021.

Learn About Offers & Options
 

My Background    

My professional experience has evolved over three decades of working in leadership positions in small design and arts based businesses and non-profit arts organizations working side-by-side with artists and creatives to support them to strategize direction, negotiate collaborations and partnerships, realize creative projects and implement business plans. Over the course of my career, I have collaborated with and mentored individuals to achieve hundreds of artistic projects and business initiatives.

 

I have a special passion for working with artists and creatives. Because of my own personal and professional background and experience I understand the creative mindset, the context, challenges and possibilities of building a sustainable and fulfilling career and life as a creative professional. My experiences of working with artists and entrepreneurs is in fact what lead me to pursue coaching at a professional level.

CredentialBadges_PCC_Grey.jpg

I am an Internationally Accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Co-active Training Institute® and a member of ICF Toronto.

 

Testimonials

"No matter where you are in your career in the arts sector, Chris can help you refine your personal brand, and create an action plan that is unique to you and your needs. Chris is a great listener: she asked about my career goals, my strengths, and my personality, and used these as the foundation for my personalized coaching. I mentioned in an early session that I'm a strategic planning nerd, and sure enough, she had me create a strategic plan for my career. I loved it! The result is that I feel well-equipped to take advantage of professional opportunities as they arise, and to use my strengths to lead with confidence."   Barbara
“I started working with Chris at a time when I was experiencing insecurity around the trajectory of my artistic career. During a few months of coaching, meeting every other week, I have made some major moves. My new path is set in a direction I feel very confident with. Chris asks the right questions leading me to focus and prioritize. She is a phenomenal listener and her keen observations have helped me look at problems in different ways encouraging me to activate solid decisions. I am a better artist today because of the coaching I received from Chris.”  Irene
“Chris' coaching helped me develop and redesign my art practice. More importantly, I was able to turn inward to understand my own values, and strengths. As a result I feel a permanent shift in my outlook and perspective. This shift has allowed me to become confident and purposeful, and has empowered me to take control of my career as an artist. I feel now self-guided in a direction that is fulfilling, honest, and in line with my values. Chris is an amazing coach and the results are absolutely invaluable."   Justine
“I worked with Chris Mitchell for the last year and found her help and guidance exceptional. She helped me hone in on things I wanted to change about my work environment and how to re structure not only the format of my workplace but how to re think and adjust my perception of it so that I could embrace what was happening with a more positive mindset. She also helped me clarify my goals as an artist and own my potential and expertise in that field and own my accomplishments. I would highly recommend working with Chris for Business or Artistic aspirations to set clear goals and have an incredibly positive and insightful guide by your side."   Sarah
“Chris Mitchell brings a winning blend of listening, compassion, insightful questions and imaginative strategies to her  coaching practice.
Working with her, I have been able to develop new perspectives and map out practical goals as I embark on new creative ventures."   Mark
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Chris and left with a more focused direction, a sense of "I can make this happen" and a plan to do so. Chris's extensive background working with artists/creatives in a variety of disciplines gives her a greater understanding of our practice(s). I find her kind and patient (with a great sense of humor) , and great at motivating me to look inwards and move forwards. A great investment in you! "    Sheri
“Working with Chris Mitchell has been a very empowering experience. Holding my long-range aspirations in mind, she has helped shape immediate goals into a series of sharp and focused tasks and bolstered my performance by gently pushing me to reach just beyond where I might have stopped otherwise. Chris is an incredibly attuned listener who brings powerful support in a gentle and humble way. I am very fortunate to have her in my corner.”   James
“Chris' coaching was invaluable at a time for me when I had totally lost touch with my creative pursuits. With her help, I not only reinvigorated my love and passion for creating music, but also was able to overcome the anxiety I carried from feeling out of touch with my craft. For me, her coaching carried affirmation, encouragement, and support and I always felt at my best after a call with her. She will help you self-actualize the solutions to your problems, but also help you realize you had the ability all along.  Emma 
“I am deeply thankful for the productive time I have shared with Chris. Her compassionate and insightful methods helped me to galvanize, clarify, understand, and implement meaningful growth in my art practice. Moreover, her guidance in deeply connecting these actions to my personal values and aspirations has revolutionized my approach to teaching and I am newly able to imbue this excitement and deep connection in my pedagogy."  DS
 

Contact    

Send me your questions or contact me to set up a free 30 minute 1:1 private conversation to learn more about coaching and explore if we are a good fit.

Thanks for connecting!

Photo Credit: nettiephotography.com
​
Back to Top