ABOUT ME
Successful coaching is all about a good fit between you and I. Read on to learn more about my story, my beliefs, my training, and who inspires me to do this work.
By the way, on this site, these are my words and my photos, because I'm just as real and human as you are. An example of an Appreciative Inquiry mindset is the belief that there is beauty everywhere, you just have to learn to see things differently. That's why my photos are not perfect, they're meaningful, because they're mine.
MY STORY
Hi, I'm Alex Arnold (she/her). I'm originally from France and I moved to the U.S. at 21. Since then, I've been through many transitions: marriage, adoption, divorce, starting graduate school in my 30's, shifting career at midlife, starting a business, getting a puppy, discovering that I am a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), learning to trust my intuition, getting back on a horse, becoming a climate coach and the host of The Quiet Activists online community. I've learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move ahead in spite of it.
You can read more about me in this interview.
In a nutshell:
I am introverted and highly sensitive
I am overwhelmed by the climate crisis
I have made it through many transitions
I believe change is possible
I trust science and intuition alike
MY INFLUENCERS
Another lesson I've learned is that you can't do it alone. We all need a tribe. Here are some of my influencers:
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Susan Cain, celebrating introverts with her book Quiet
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Julie Bjelland, a Highly Sensitive People cheerleader
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Shirzad Chamine, Positive Intelligence (PQ) guru
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Carol Dweck and her work on fixed vs growth mindsets
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Martin Seligman, father of Positive Psychology
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David Cooperrider, father of Appreciative Inquiry
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Jane McGonigal, introducing me to gaming principles with her book SuperBetter
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MY TRAINING
For us to succeed, there needs to be a level of trust. To help with that, you may want to know that I don't take my role as a coach lightly. Hopefully my training shows just that.
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I completed an ICF-accredited Climate Change Coaching Training program through Climate Change Coaches
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I earned an ACC (Associate Certified Coach) accreditation through the ICF (International Coaching Federation), which sets the highest standards in the industry.
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I completed a two-year coach training program rooted in Positive Psychology through MentorCoach.
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I abide by the APA’s (American Psychological Association) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
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I hold a Master's in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University
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I also hold a Master's in Human Relations and Organization Development from Champlain College
MY CONTRIBUTIONS
To get a taste of my style, here are some of my articles and webinars:
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A Practitioner’s Journey to Living With Climate Change, the first of a series of four articles on the topic of Climate Change in the Journal of Appreciative Inquiry, Feb 2023
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Appreciative I(nquiry)mprov, a fun read about the similarities between improv and Appreciative Inquiry, published in the August 2022 issue of the Journal of Appreciative Inquiry.
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Jamming with Love, Hope, Growth and Resilience, International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry, May 2022
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A Gift Basket for the Planet, an appreciative review in the International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry, May 2022
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Climate Anxiety meets Appreciative Inquiry webinar, Climate Coaching Alliance Global Festival, March 2022
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Climate Anxiety meets Appreciative Inquiry webinar, International Coaching Federation Coaching Week 2022
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Lifting the Cloud off Climate Change, contribution to the HSP blog on Juliebjelland.com, Apr 2022
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WBON Member Spotlight, contribution to the Vermont Women Business Owner Network's blog, Apr 2022
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The Systems Thinker, an appreciative review in the International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry, Feb 2022
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From Physical Place to Virtual Space, an appreciative review in the International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry, Nov 2021
