Lilia Shifrin

Solution-Focused Life Coach

Helping you to get a life you want

“Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual’s needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.” – Milton H. Erickson

Hi, I’m Lilia.

I became fascinated by psychology at the age of 17 after I read a Milton Erickson’s book, “My Voice Will Go with You”. Erickson’s extraordinary ability to love and truly understand people, his interest, full and complete acceptance of everyone, resonated with my core. It was my total waking up moment. I knew I wanted to become a psychologist.

But let me start from the beginning.

I received my Bachelor degree in Business Management in 1998 (Moscow Institute, Russia). At that time, it seemed a good choice to compliment my organizing skills, leadership traits, and natural energy. Only once finished, I realized that it wasn’t enough. I became interested in human behavior and relationships and started reading everything I could find about psychology. Fascinated by the Erickson’s idea of the unconscious mind and brief, solution-focused therapy and possibilities of trance and hypnosis, I especially became interested in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) – an attempt to distill Erickson’s flexible therapy strategies into the group of set techniques. In 2002, I received a full scholarship for my postgraduate study and soon got my Master degree in psychology, individual and family counseling (Manchester, UK).

In Russia, it was impossible to pursue my career as a psychotherapist, so I found my way through HR consulting, eventually becoming a COO of an HR consulting company, specialized in Employer Branding. The main part of my job was to work closely with the HR departments of the multinational companies as a subcontractor in order to support our clients current employer branding strategy. That included (but was not limited to) all required marketing and PR services, conducting assessments, organizing seminars and presentations. My interdisciplinary skills gave me a unique advantage and an ability to create projects that suited our clients the best. Also, in order to keep Russia’s best universities at the arm-reach, I was providing individual career consultations to the students and graduates, as well as conducting group training and educational seminars to the faculty members. That allowed me not only to practice psychology, but to hone my public speaking skills and become a well-rounded business manager.

In 2006, I married and moved to the USA. For a while, I was busy being a mom of three kids and spent all my free time helping my husband to establish our family business, OWS Software, Inc. Our company specializes in integrating websites with social media. My previous business experience was invaluable for the company at the beginning and I am still involved in the project development and strategic decision making. But at some point, it became possible for me to pursue my true calling – helping people to become happier versions of themselves.

My Values & Beliefs

Love

People are okay as they are and always make the best choice they can at the time. Behind every behavior is a positive intention.

Trust

We already have all the resources within us to achieve what we want. Change is inevitable.  

Balance

Life balance is about successfully and joyfully managing and living our lives. It is about a balance between the extremes – between order and chaos, moving and standing still, between work and leisure. It is about having a feeling of control over knowing when to shift from one to the other and being able to do so.

Curiosity

Curiosity is a fundamental part of mindfulness. “Each of us experiences moments every day that we can explore or ignore. Whether we view our curious states and feelings as openness, flow, intrinsic motivation or a search for meaning, curiosity is at their core. They all involve feeling receptive to experiences that offer more than what is already known.” – Jacqui Marson, psychologist.

Integrity and Respect

Openness and honesty is a key to success. Stay true to yourself and respect others’ right to be different. 

I started from talking it over with my university’s classmates (who currently work as psychotherapists), carefully considered my options and, keeping in mind my education, experience, and most of all, my true values, I decided to look into life coaching. I new I needed to learn more. Be more.

After some educational programs research,  Erickson International Academy became my natural choice. It was founded by Marilyn Atkinson,  M.Erickson’s dedicated follower. Her  vision for the academy was (and is) “to change the world one conversation at a time. To pioneer innovative and creative ways to help coaches affect transformational change in people, in all aspects of life”.  After 39 years of training professionals globally in coaching, NLP, counseling, and other fundamental human development programs, Erickson developed a solution-focused coaching methodology that offers a fundamental shift from past-centered dissatisfaction to orienting clients toward their desired future outcomes.  It fully supported by latest neuroscience research and based on Milton Erickson’s Five Principles:

  1. People are okay as they are.
  2. People already have all the resources within them to achieve what they want.
  3. People always make the best choice they can at the time.
  4. Every behavior has a positive intention.
  5. Change is inevitable.

Since 1980,  Erickson International developed many highly effective and specialized coach training programs (which are currently being taught in 85 countries), including the ICF ACTP ( International Coaching Federation Accredited Coach Training Program) that I eventually successfully completed.  

Remember, I told you, that it all started from Milton Erickson? Doesn’t life work in wonderful ways?

Today, I live in New Jersey, USA,  with my husband, three kids and 2 cats, and I coach people through my private practice, mostly working with my clients on-line. As my way to give back to the community, and to promote life coaching as a profession, I’m offering 3 hours per week pro-Bono. I’m grateful to my life, my choices, my people and the universe that I now can be a congruent person, my “ideal self” and the most useful to others in the most efficient way. 

I created my life just the way I wanted and I love it. 

What might be your way? What do you want that will make your life better?  

What Is Life Coaching

What life coach can do

Why Life Coaching Works

How do I coach

Life Coach vs. Therapist

What is the difference

Ready to Start?

Still Have Questions?