Pillar One || The Journey Begins

Every process of change has a beginning and at Cornerstones it begins with a very intentional question. That is, "How do you want your life to look differently when you leave Cornerstones?" This first step is important because it allows the client the opportunity to dream without the implicit pressures inherent in many of the past questions asked to our residents about their plans and future. For many of our clients this is the first time they have had the opportunity to think about what they want their life to look like outside of the sometimes overwhelming demands, expectations, and responsibilities. Once a resident has begun to envision new destinations for themselves, we then start building a blueprint for the present. To that effect our clients are tasked with writing a Wellness Vision that will act as a roadmap to their success over the next 9-12 months. The Wellness Vision asks them to explore their personal goals and what they are currently doing to support them. They are then engaged to evaluate their degree of commitment to change and the support system in place to scaffold this. This Wellness Vision is revisited throughout their journey in our program and is a living document that evolves with the client.

Pillar Two || Counting Victories

Building self confidence and intrinsic motivation is a crucial element of the work that our coaches do at Cornerstones. Our process is based around the idea of recognizing our clients’ victories based on the work they have done, the commitment  shown to change, and the courage they demonstrate in facing obstacles. The first victory at Cornerstones is the decision to commit to change. While this commitment may waiver after a resident begins the program, the effectiveness of our coaching model allows our clients to create an arsenal of positive accomplishments in their everyday lives that they can use to reflect on in moments of self doubt and struggle.

Pillar Three || Learning Your Language 

The way we talk about ourselves and the obstacles we face is a decisive factor in how we move toward our goals. At Cornerstones we coach our clients to learn a language of self worth, self compassion, and self confidence. We coach our clients to speak to their strengths and focus their language on the life that they want and deserve. We also coach our clients around the language of nonviolent communication that allows many of them, for the first time, to communicate in an effective way that allows them to establish healthy social relationships. As we coach our clients in these skills, they are more able to look at their future with hope and to believe that they can achieve the goals set for themselves. We also coach around a core element of our program called PATH. This challenges our clients to do some deep self reflection and then to push themselves to take on new challenges.

Pillar Four || Self reflection 

Self reflection is a fundamental element of our coaching process and guided by the Wellness Vision our clients create. It's reviewed repeatedly and referenced during moments of doubt. When a resident is faced with a challenge, they often reflexively resort to action and avoidance, rather than self-reflection. Our coaches encourage our residents to utilize moments of struggle to introspect rather than just act. This leads to a more mindful approach to decision making, which at times can lead to a course correction. For example, perhaps a client comes to us determined to go back to a path that is education based but once they begin to explore what actually drives them, they choose to change to a vocational direction. Our coaches support them during these processes by asking them to evaluate their steps, their commitment, and to rewrite their Wellness Visions. Changing course can be a highly rewarding and self-actualizing experience that teaches a sense of meaning and enhances purpose in their lives.