Perhaps you opened this website with something in mind! Let's talk about it for free and see if what I offer can help.

Ready for a shift? Navigating a challenge?
Feeling like something needs to change—or just curious about possibilities?
I want to help you make your life better.

Clear Path Conversations

At Clear Path Conversations, located in Columbia, Missouri, I help men and anyone else who wants to make positive change in their lives. I offer productive conversations that help you understand your own thinking, see the paths ahead more clearly, and move forward with purpose and confidence.

Real conversations for men who want clarity, focus, and forward motion.

Clear Path Conversations offers a place to think out loud, examine your assumptions, explore your values, and get clear on what’s next. This isn’t therapy or cheerleading. It’s about reflecting, thinking out loud, and clearing a path for intentional movement in your life. Let's meet for free with no obligation or hard sell to see if what I offer can help.

What You’ll Find Here:

•A Space to think clearly about what’s next•Tools to navigate uncertainty•Questions that pinpoint what really matters•A qualified coach with accredited training and experience•A conversation partner completely aligned with your goals

What might we talk about?

People come with all kinds of questions and topics. Some want to make a decision they’ve been circling for a while. Others are sorting through competing priorities or figuring out what’s next after a big life event. It might be about work, family, habits, motivation, or just a general sense that life feels out of sync. Whether it’s something specific or something harder to name, big or small, we’ll use the time to reflect and look carefully at what lies ahead and the path you want to forge for yourself through it.

A few specific examples of topics I’ve worked with people on:

•Navigating change – handling divorce, relocation, new roles, and other curveballs with positive intent for the best outcomes•Decision-making – deciding whether to take on a challenge or pursue a new direction with confidence and self-understanding•Habits & relationships – choosing and implementing daily practices and mental shifts that improve parenting, marriage, or friendships•Work & career – addressing new challenges or workplace transitions, or exploring possible roads ahead•Defining values – clarifying what matters most to you and aligning your life accordingly•Challenging assumptions – exploring the stories clients tell themselves, and how these might be tripping them up•Quick clarity sessions – a single focused conversation about lighter decisions like planning a vacation that fulfills your hopes, choosing a hobby, exploring a new city after a move, or making a purchase

What I Bring:

I’m a certified life coach, trained in a model that emphasizes curiosity, respect, and the potential for growth and progress. I’m not here to give you advice or diagnoses. I’m here to help you hear yourself more clearly and make decisions with confidence and clarity.

I hold a Life Coaching Specialist Certificate from the Institute for Life Coach Training (ILCT), one of the first programs accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). My training included:

•Four semesters of coursework with master coaches•Hundreds of hours of practice and supervision

• •This also entails a strict Commitment to the ICF Code of Ethics and Best Practices

In my training, I learned how to:

•Listen for patterns, assumptions, and unspoken values•Ask questions that uncover insight and spark movement•Use models & exercises to bring focus to your goals•Help clients reframe obstacles, clarify trade-offs, and make values-based decisions•Build accountability structures that work for the way you think and operate•Create a coaching space that’s structured enough to be productive, but flexible enough to meet you where you are

Coaching is an unregulated industry—anyone can call themselves a coach, and offer all kinds of services under the name “coach.” You will not find alternative medicine, personality tests with catchy names, upsells, or crystals here. I offer coaching as it is defined and taught by the International Coaching Federation. Nothing else.Feel free to send me an email if you have more questions before we meet.

[email protected]

About Life Coaching

Life coaching emerged in the late 1970's and has grown into a structured, evidence-based practice. It’s a modality grounded in what actually helps people think more clearly, make sound decisions, and follow through on their plans to make their lives better.Coaching is a focused dialogue—a conversation with purpose. A trained coach brings structure, sharp questions, and full attention to help you examine your thinking and see your options more clearly. The goal isn’t to fix you. It’s to help you see clearly and act with intention.I follow the standards of the International Coaching Federation, an international governing body that has developed best practices, ethics, and research toward a field that encourages human flourishing.

Some Common Questions:

Do you give advice or mentorship?

Not often. My job is to help you hear yourself more clearly—not to tell you what to do. I’ll ask thoughtful questions, offer occasional observations, and help you sort through your own thinking. If it seems like advice would genuinely be helpful, I’ll ask before offering my perspective. The goal is for you to walk away with clarity that comes from within based on your values and goals.

Is this like therapy?

No. I am trained in Life Coaching as defined by the International Coaching Federation. Coaching is different from therapy. I don’t diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and we won’t be talking much about the past. I work with men who are generally doing okay but want more clarity, direction, or momentum in their life. While some topics might overlap, therapy often focuses on healing pain from the past while coaching focuses entirely on clarifying the future and taking intentional action to get there. If it sounds like therapy would be more helpful, I’ll say so upfront and can offer the names of some qualified therapists.

What is a Session Like?

Each session is a conversation — not a lecture, and not a pep talk. You just show up as you are. We talk about what’s on your mind, and I help you sort through it with thoughtful questions, active listening, and a clear focus on what matters most to you. The conversation is guided, but not rigid.We might look at habits, stress, work, relationships, or some of the deeper questions about what kind of life you’re building. The conversation is led by you — not a set agenda. I provide structure and questions that help bring things into focus.The typical session is around 45 minutes.

How often do we meet?

My standard offering for people looking to make significant changes in their lives includes four weekly or bi-weekly sessions, followed by check-ups one and three months later. This gives space for exploration and lays the foundation you need to move ahead confidently.However, we can design a plan that works for you, and even go week-to-week with no obligations if you prefer.

Do you ever work with women?

Absolutely. Though I focus my practice on offering coaching to men, I’ve worked with many women and welcome anyone interested in the kind of outcome-oriented, focused coaching I offer.

What if I’m not sure coaching is right for me?

That’s completely normal. The best way to find out is for us to meet for free and talk about what you're looking for and whether coaching feels like a useful next step.

• Contact

What happens next?

Curious to see if coaching is a good fit? Send me an email and we’ll schedule a free meeting. No pressure, no hard sell. Just a conversation to see if this feels useful to you.I am located in the Stephens Lake Building in Columbia, Missouri at 2100 E Broadway, Suite 101. Hours by appointment only.

What does it cost?

Under a hundred bucks per session.$500 for my typical six-session package, including:4 weekly or biweekly sessions
2 follow-up sessions (1 month and 3 months later)Need something different? Let’s talk. We can go week-to-week at $90 or choose a different length. If you’re interested but concerned about cost, I’m happy to discuss options based on a sliding scale. I want this to be within reach for anyone who believes they would benefit from it.

About Me

I’m Aaron Finkel—a certified life coach based in Columbia, Missouri, where I live with my wife and two children. In addition to my coaching practice, I work as a nonprofit program coordinator. I previously spent time as a high school teacher and the primary caregiver for our kids when they were young.Across all of those roles, I’ve often wondered how people might live with more clarity, purpose, and satisfaction.I began my training in 2019 through the Institute for Life Coach Training (ILCT), where I learned how to ask better questions, listen for what’s not being said, and support real progress toward a better life for my clients. I believe in coaching because having space to think out loud—with a clear framework and a steady presence—can lead to meaningful, lasting change.In my free time I enjoy many kinds of athletic and musical pursuits, good coffee and tea, and spending time with my friends and family.