The Question I Ask Every Coaching Client—and Why It Changes Everything

In this episode of Life Equals Choices, Choices Equal Life, Kim Olver shares the single, powerful question she asks every coaching client—and why it reveals more than any intake form ever could. Drawing on decades of experience as a coach, counselor, and creator of the Mental Freedom® process, Kim explores how this question quickly uncovers whether a client is taking responsibility for their life or outsourcing it to circumstances, relationships, or other people.

This episode dives into one of the most common coaching challenges Kim sees: clients who want change but unknowingly give away their power by waiting for others to behave differently. Kim explains how responsibility, response-ability, and choice are foundational to effective coaching and meaningful personal growth. Through real-world examples and practical insight, she shows how this question helps clients move out of victimizing language, reclaim agency, and begin creating the peace, clarity, and fulfillment they’re seeking.

Whether you’re a coach, therapist, leader, or someone interested in personal development, this episode offers a clear lens for understanding responsibility, boundaries, and the difference between change that feels good and change that actually lasts.