Brick By Brick opens to lay foundation for personal growth

The large crowd at her ribbon-cutting and open house last Tuesday afternoon showed Amanda Cannon once again how supportive the Greenfield community is.

Cannon has opened Brick by Brick Coaching — a life coaching business offering guidance in various areas of life — at 205 E. Iowa St. in Greenfield, just east of the bowling alley.

“It’s overwhelming and humbling that there were so many who came and supported me,” Cannon said. “I’m glad my name’s finally out there and people get to see what I really do and not just walk by and wonder.”

Cannon has experienced her own peaks and valleys with mental illness, which she said she discovered more recently in life. She wishes she could have had someone come alongside her during that time.

That desire led her to begin studying for a master’s degree in psychology with a counseling minor.

“It just didn’t feel right — it felt like a job, a duty and all these things, so it wasn’t fun,” Cannon said. “I talked to my mentor, and she told me I sounded like a life coach. She sent me some surveys, I did those, and I realized she was right — that’s my passion.”

Cannon said one of the biggest distinctions between a therapist or counselor and a life coach is that life coaches are not licensed therapists and do not diagnose or treat mental illnesses. Counselors and therapists are licensed and practice within their state. As a life coach, Cannon can work with clients anywhere, offering a listening ear and guidance.

“There are a few other differences,” Cannon said. “I’m here for helping someone more in their present state or the future, where therapists deal a lot with past trauma. I do deal with a lot of emotions, especially in children, that they don’t understand. I figure out where their obstacles are with any goals they’re wanting. I’m also a sounding board if someone wants to talk.”

She also noted differences in financial services. Financial coaches primarily focus on the past and present — identifying patterns that have brought someone to their current situation and how to move forward. Financial advisers, on the other hand, often focus more on investments, which financial counselors do not.

Cannon said there is often a misconception that a therapist is the only way to receive mental health care. However, she said, sometimes speaking openly with someone such as a life coach can be helpful.

“Someone can also go to both — we can complement each other, if someone’s willing or interested,” Cannon said. “It doesn’t have to be one or the other.

“After the tornado in Greenfield, there’s a lot of emotion and confusion. With my training in mental health, I can see the signs. While I’m not diagnosing or treating it, I understand it enough to talk them through anything. I also know when to recommend a therapist.”

Cannon, who also works as an as-needed-basis hospice spiritual counselor, may be reached at www.theamandacannon.com or by calling 641-903-3859.