Deborah S. Mayer, president and owner of Crossroad Solutions Coach, Bio:
Deborah is a professional certified coach with training in leadership coaching at Georgetown University and Adler Professional School of Coaching-Arizona and is recognized by the International Coach Federation (ICF).
Deborah coaches one-to-one and leads interactive workshops and retreats on life, transition and leadership development for both deaf and hearing communities.Deborah demonstrates a remarkable commitment to her clients’ growth and achievements. Deborah is a local and national educator, facilitator and a strong advocate for deaf children’s and adults’ rights. Deborah has a bachelor’s degree in deaf education from the University of Tennessee and a master’s in deafness rehabilitation and counseling from New York University. She holds professional certifications in rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation administration from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling and the Post-Employment Training-Administration of Programs Serving Individuals who are Deaf, Late-Deafened and Hard of Hearing program (PET-D) at San Diego State University. Deborah is certified as a Deaf Mentor in Illinois and Parent Advisor in Missouri trained in the SKI-Hi Curriculum. Professional experiences include director/counselor in programs for deaf/HOH students at Lehman College and LaGuardia Community College, both in NYC, and outreach specialist for Relay Missouri. She provided MCPO/PEPNet with consulting, informational and training services. She taught graduate courses at Maryville University. Deborah loves learning, traveling, cooking, dancing, family life and beach walking.
Tell me about your job– how did you get into this line of work?
I entered the coaching field when as a deaf parent, I saw how effectively and quickly my deaf child enthusiastically responded to coaching techniques by a Parent Coach over traditional counseling approaches.
I work with deaf and hearing individuals, families, groups, teams and leaders. Coaching sessions are anywhere in person, through videophone, webcam or video relay. I also give presentations, workshops, retreats and training sessions.
If you are stuck at a crossroad in your life and dont know how to move forward, that is where coaching comes in.
An advisor, counselor, psychiatrist, social worker or therapist usually focuses on the past to define current problems and tells you what to do. This is the old do-as-I say approach that deprives you of personal achievement. A coach enters a partnership with you. You coach walks with you to discover the greatest in you. You will be empowered to create your own action plan and move forward to a fulfilling and meaningful life.
What is the best part of your job?
Reaching out to more people and see satisfying results.
What are some of the challenges of your job?
Geographical location and being visible.
I find myself dealing with different people from all walks of life. Not one person has the same goal or desire to change.
What was it like growing up deaf/hard of hearing?
My generation was different than today’s generation as my deaf teenagers grew up with technology advancement. We didn’t have captions, TTYs or even pagers. Cochlear implants did not exist yet. Education was through touch, feel and see.
What advice would you give a deaf/hard of hearing person who is looking for a career like yours?
I would advise deaf/ hard of hearing person to acknowledge if they are either people oriented person or hands on person before they take this job. The person would love being with people and understand the human mind and emotions with training in Human Services field before taking on coaching work.
Comments
5 responses to “Deborah Mayer, Life Coach”
how does a person go about getting a life coach?
thank you
I searched for life coach but when I came across to you it seem more fitting. I am hearing impaired, working as a supervisor for USPS. Employed there for 13 years and supervisor 5 plus 2 years as a sub supervisor (what they call is 204B). The longer I am at this job the more responsiblities have grown. I am kinda stuck now as the rule was 22 employees per supervisor and I do way beyond that.
So how do the life coaching for the Deaf/hearing impaired done? I rely heavy on email. I can communicate ok over the phone.
Deb
I have been in the public eye and in the world of Special Ed as a student,teachers aide,lecturer,and co-host of a Celebrity Golf Tourny with my father Harvey Korman on Behalf of the Marianne Frostig School for 22 years.Iam trying to find a venue here in San Diego as I look for work to volunteer and do fund raising with the hope that I can make a substantive contribution to the lives of parents and dhildren who are disabled.I wasn’t suppose to survive brain damage at birth so for me to be a parent of child 43 years later is such a profound reminder that life shouldn’t be taken for granted and when you get a second chance you dont dishonor it by underachieving.My son Scott and my wife Trish are validations of that second chance and the best way to honor them is to give them every ounce of my humanity,humility and passion for life.
Hi Deborah, I was mistaken to click the report to remove your name oh my goodness. I will request you my request to welcome my facebook. I precious you smile. I want to take a course next January to March. I am looking for payroll and used my credit card. I would not find where is exit credit card. Please resend me at Eveleenc@rcn.com. Thank you Eveleen
I am currently a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing in NC and grew up mainstreaming in public schools being the only identified HH kid! I am now seeing frustrations as a teacher noticing that today’s kids are much are different with their motivation and drive for success. I would like to become a Life Coach for parents of middle/high school kids as they transition into the real world and not prepared. How do I go about getting started to create a job as a “transition specialist” for our small population of students and I would like to write a book for children & parents to help their teenagers deal with social & academic pressure. Please help and love to chat with you more about this grand idea I have!