I'm Justin Leff, a Canadian who helps others with goals of self-improvement through Behavioral Awareness coaching.
What does that mean?
Whether we fail to stay on task, are overcome with stress and hesitation, or are stuck between our decisions and motivations, it all happens for a reason. The struggle comes in figuring out where that behavior comes from and how to respond once you do – and that is what each session is about helping you succeed with.
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I help you by challenging thoughts, exploring beliefs, and providing both strategies and insights from psychology. This kind of adaptive work is how we develop more effective thinking, navigate challenges, and improve your mental health and resilience.
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Effective change is more than just seeing the surface of a problem and powering through with the 'best' strategy. It involves digging into your specific patterns and tailoring the solution to you. Getting you out of your own head is how we can identify your blind spots, teach you the right skills, and reduce the unwanted behavior.
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​Promoting your potential means respecting the reasons you've been unable to reach it.​​
What do I help with?
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ADHD
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Anxiety & Stress
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Confidence & Self-Esteem
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Discipline & Productivity
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Identity and Self
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Motivation & Burnout
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Procrastination
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Perfectionism
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Habits & Addictions
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Critical Thinking
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Depression
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Feeling 'Stuck'
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Life Transitions
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Self-Awareness
While these are the topics which I’ve studied and specialized in, our work can be just as much about the concepts that link them together such as our world views and perspectives. Having a reflective partner means more than just working with someone who has specialized knowledge. It is someone who is able to form and connect ideas in a way that inspires more adaptive thinking.
Challenging the way we arrive at our beliefs is what allows us to reveal our bias and take control. If that is something you're ready to explore, you can start by booking a free consultation here.
"What is Coaching, exactly?"
Think of Coaching as ‘to help improve performance at...’. A soccer coach helps a player perform better in soccer. As a Behavioral Awareness Coach, I help you better perform at understanding behavior and thoughts as well as the ways which you can take control. Importantly, coaching is widely appropriated and unregulated service. The term may be used or defined differently by other professionals.
"Self-improvement never seems to stick for me. What makes this work?"
Popular strategies for self-improvement were created without you in mind. Sometimes luck is on our side and the methods work for our situation, but most of the time they don’t. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to personal growth and our individual roadblocks and strengths can really determine if something helps or not. Helping you in the most effective way means starting with no plan what-so-ever. Rather than picking the 'best’ and hoping it works, we learn your blind spots, experiences, strengths, and weaknesses. Having a strong understanding of the principles behind human psychology is what lets us choose solutions and reveal insights specifically for you.
"What methods or techniques do you use?"
I use an elicit coaching method from several theories of psychology. Most prominently are ones regarding Motivation, Self-Regulation, Cognitive Restructuring, Goal Setting, and Executive Functioning. I also draw from Motivational Interviewing and Socratic Questioning to promote insight and critical thought while also teaching skills and strategies from each relevant discipline. It follows academic and evidence based work and I largely disagree with common coaching styles which often have roots in spirituality or believe personal experience alone is what creates authority.
"Some of this sounds like Therapy. What's the difference?"
Therapists carefully provide emotional support and safety; it is most appropriate for people who've experienced trauma or are highly dysfunctional. Some people also benefit from having their issues summed together into a clear idea (diagnosis). For example, we all get anxious, uncomfortable, and overthink. But, when those all come together to create a familiar and unhealthy pattern, it can be viewed as someone having an Anxiety Disorder. Some disorders require a very specialized approach which the right Therapist can provide. I work outside of this framework and help people manage each challenge specifically at the point of performance, often with an emphasis on exploring Motivation. If unwanted anxiety can be looked at as a maladaptive response, overcoming anxiety can be looked at as an adaptive response - that’s what I’m about. That involves understanding how to manage yourself at suffocating lows, but also the more subtle ways it sabotages high performing goals like staying productive and clear headed. I care about every single client, but my focus is more on seeing you as a machine to optimize and understand than it is to represent safety, emotional support, or healing. This means I don’t work with children, individuals at high risk, or help with trauma. I also do not diagnosis, prescribe, or act as a health professional. While many of these differences are clear, some parts may still feel as if having a lot in common with Therapy. A lot can come down to preferences and the way you respond to my coaching style.
F.A.Q