What is mojo?

The brief answer is "energy." 

For the whole gantzeh megilla about the etymology of mojo, check out The Meaning of "Mojo."


What is mojotivity® ... and why is there a little  ®  after it?

Mojotivity® is the synergy between your mojo and your best qualities, like creativity, spirituality, productivity or connectivity.

When your mojotivity is manifesting, you're firing on all your cylinders, and feel as if you are capable of doing the big things that you dream about doing.

The ® means that I've registered the word mojotivity and it's now my legal trademark.



Why do you call your work The Mojotivity Way?

I use the phrase The Mojotivity Way because I think of our work together as a journey or a process -- a transformative path.  The Mojotivity Way can be a path that you stay on all your life, even if I am just present for a small portion of it.




How many sessions will I need?

This is immensely subjective.  I've had clients who got what they wanted in one session.  I've also had clients whom I've seen for almost a decade.  

When you come for something specific, like a phobia, or weight loss, you might just stick around just long enough to get the result that you are looking for.  On the other hand, you might really resonate with my approach, and feel that you want to explore many life issues with me.

Time and money is saved when you use self-care practices on your own.  I will teach you how to do the practices, and will help you to make progress between sessions.

You may also stop and start, taking a break after meeting a particular objective, and then returning later when other issues pop up.  The most important thing to remember is that it's always up to you!






Do long distance sessions really work?

Phone and Skype sessions are fantastic: you don't have to drive ... you can sit in your favorite recliner ... you have all the conveniences of home, including your cat on your lap, and your dog at your feet. (Unless the dog barks -- then you might want to put him in another room.)

Before I started doing phone sessions I was quite skeptical about them.  How will it work if I can't see my client?  But I received requests from people who lived way to far to drive to northern California (New Zealand anyone?) and often there was no one near their home who did what I do.  So I gave it a try ...  and I found that it works really, really well.  When I can't see my client, my hearing and sensing seem to improve proportionally.

I didn't Skype until very recently, when a long-term client moved from the Bay Area to the mid-west.  She wanted to continue our work together, and she really wanted to SEE me.  She was already a Skyper, so she taught me to Skype.  (We went into different rooms in my office, and Skyped at each other until I got it.) 

I discovered that Skyping has almost all the advantages of both phone and in-person sessions.  The only disadvantage I've found is that it seems to crash a lot, but then it comes right back.


What is the best time to reach you by phone?

You can reach me at 510.601.MOJO, between 10 am and 6 pm, Pacific time (California).  If I am with a client or out of the office I will get back to you as soon as possible.  When you leave a message, please speak slowly, leave your name, number and email address, say your phone number twice, and spell out your email address.

You can also reach me by email.


Who makes the phone or Skype call?

You make the call unless you are in the US or Canada, and do not have unlimited calling.  If that is the case, let me know and I will call you.  If you are outside the US or Canada, I recommend using Skype, which is free no matter where you are.

(Before we start our session, please turn off all beepers and buzzers and ignore call-waiting.  A headset is helpful because you may want to take notes. Land phones seem to give better reception than cell phones, although I have had clients who did their sessions sitting under a tree in the woods. Just make sure you pick a spot with good reception!)


What do sessions cost?

For workshops, classes, events and trainings the specific price will always be listed.  For individual work, I have customized packages that we can discuss when we do our free consultation.


How do I pay you?

Thank you for asking!  If you are coming to see me in person, you can pay by check or by cash.

If we will be working together by phone or by Skype, then you can either use PayPal or mail me a check -  in advance.  (You don't even need to set up an account with PayPal in order to use it.  Just make an appointment with me, tell me you want to pay using PayPal, and I'll send you what they call a "Money Request."   Then PayPal will guide you through a simple process.)




Why do you use so many different techniques, and which ones will you use with me?

Aaaah.  Good question.  I use many different techniques for a few reasons.  

One is that over the years I have gotten really excited about a wide varieties of techniques and approaches.  And I found that I benefited from each of them, and so did my clients.  So I keep them in our mojo-bag. 

I have also noticed that clients respond differently to different methods.  And some really want to learn to use a variety of techniques.

Overall, I would say that I am "Focusing-Oriented" in my approach, meaning that, whichever techniques that I am using at any time, I am doing them from a Focusing perspective.  You can find out more about Focusing here.  


You say that you work with bright and creative people who want to find their way without losing their edge.  What do you mean by "bright & creative"?  

I knew someone was going to try to pin me down about that!  And I have trouble articulating this, but I'll try. 

I think everyone has a kind of affinity circle.  Someone I know calls this her "tribe" and someone else refers to "my peoples."  The people who collect around me, and who benefit most from my work tend to be rather intelligent, very curious, often talented (although they may be very blocked in manifesting this talent), sometimes (although not always) rebellious or quirky, and often highly sensitive.


And what do you mean by "losing their edge"?

The bright and creative people that I work with have often delayed getting help because they were afraid that counseling or coaching might rid them of their uniqueness, their quirkiness, their creativity.  They were afraid to be "sanded down." 

Sometimes people have come to me after experiencing other helping professionals who seemed to be labeling them, putting them into categories, or trying to help them to adapt in such a way that they felt like they were losing themselves. 

To read about one such client, check out Lindzey's story.

You say that bright and creative people are often highly sensitive.  What do you mean by "highly sensitive"?

A highly sensitive person is someone who is more affected by their physical and social environment than regular folks. Highly sensitive people, therefore, are more easily overwhelmed than others.  

Sensitivity and creativity are often on the same continuum, if not on the same chromosome.

What do you call yourself -- a coach, a counselor, a therapist?

Aaaaaaargh!  I've been struggling with this for 30 years, and just last year I decided I would call myself a Life Sherpa.  Since I don't know anyone else who calls themselves that, there's no one to argue with me.

Therapists are licensed to diagnose and work with DSM-IV (soon to be DSM-V), and to take insurance ... and that's not me.  Coaches do all sorts of helpful things, but I associate coaching with "pushing," and "holding feet to fire."   And I don't really push.

On the other hand, a Life Sherpa is a guide, someone who has explored the territory and who can help make your journey more successful, and that feels right.


Why do you make up words?

Sorry about that.  They just come to me.   For more about the made up words, please check out the glossary.




Since this site is squeaky new, I'll bet I've overlooked something that's really important. 
If you're puzzled by anything, or need more information ... I hope you will resist the impulse to  squelch your curiosity ... and hope you'll let me know
what I could be doing better.


Also ... please become part of my bug brigade! 
As you read the rest of this website please be on the lookout for bugs and bloopers, and let me know if there's anything I've excluded ... or if there's anything that I've included that is confusing or wrong. 

I'll be especially grateful if you'd inform me of any misspellings ... links that go to nowhere, or to Mars ... or any other gremlins.

_____________________

"Joan's work is like having an eraser that simply removes problems.

Once you work on a problem you can easily forget that it was a problem, because it's completely gone!"

Cathy Hedgecock,
journalist