Char Brooks is a Personal Life Coach and founder of The First Step. She graduated from the Institute for Life Coach Training and is a member of the Lansing Area Coaches Association. Her specialty is assisting individuals who are going through any type of life change such as divorce, loss, mid-life crisis, career change, retirement, or empty nest syndrome. Her clients enjoy increasing their confidence and reap the rewards that result from defining values, assessing priorities, and taking appropriate action.

Char also has an extensive background in law. She received her Bachelors degree in communications/pre-law from Michigan State University. From there, she attended Cooley Law School where she received her Juris Doctor in Law. She was licensed by the State Bar of Michigan in 1980 and remains a member of the Michigan Bar Association. She practiced as a licensed attorney both privately and for Michigan Hospital Association for a number of years.  Through her legal training and law practice, Char mastered the ability to ask powerful questions in an orderly way and listen intently to others. She is skilled at understanding another person's perspective. Char uses this unique combination of organizational skills and insight to help clients get in touch with their values and goals and stay focused on the big picture.

Char completed empathy training at The Listening Ear, a crisis intervention center. She has worked as a Bereavement Support Group Leader with Hospice House of Mid Michigan and has also helped coordinate the annual Hike for Hospice.

Char went through a mid-life career challenge prior to becoming a life coach as she was previously an attorney. She also experienced the loss of both parents and her husband. From her personal and professional experience, Char knows the value of determining what you really want and going after it.

Char is the mother of two boys, ages 21 and 17. Her education, work, personal and volunteer experience makes her approach to life coaching unique, practical and rewarding. For more information, read "This Coach Provides Guidance in the Game of Life," an interview published in the Towne Courier on July 7, 2002.