The Friendship Practice
Friendship is not something that falls into your lap. It’s something you practice.
The Friendship Practice helps you look at your own role in your friendships. What do you expect from others? What do you contribute? What might you need to change? Through reflection and practical coaching, you learn to take responsibility for the part of friendship that is yours. Start with the free 7 day challenge.
The real problem
We often look at what our friends aren't doing. But what about us?
We notice when someone doesn't call, doesn't invite us, or doesn't make time. It can be painful to feel that a friendship matters more to us than to the other person.
But how often do we initiate? Do we make room for friendship? Are our expectations realistic? Are we willing to invest in the relationships we say matter?
These are not questions about blame. Other people have their own choices and responsibilities. The point is to recognize what belongs to us and what we can actually change.
What I do
Friendship starts with looking at our own part.
It is easy to focus on what we wish other people would do. The Friendship Practice gives you space to look honestly at your expectations, habits, and choices.
You cannot make someone else show up. You can decide how you show up, what you ask for, and which relationships deserve your energy.
We look inward.
We explore your expectations, your habits, and the part you play in the friendships you want to build or maintain.
We take responsibility.
We distinguish what you can change from what belongs to others, without blame or unrealistic pressure.
We act differently.
We turn reflection into meaningful steps in real relationships, then learn from what happens.
Private friendship coaching
4 sessions focused on your real friendship life.
When a spot opens, the package is $500 for four private online sessions, each 45 to 60 minutes. Sessions are available in English or French.
Bring a real friendship situation. Together we examine your expectations and responses, identify what is within your control, and decide what to try differently. Each session builds on what happens in your actual relationships.
Look at your own patterns.
Understand your expectations, habits, reactions, and the role you play in your friendships.
Take responsibility for what you can change.
Identify what belongs to you, what belongs to others, and where you have room to act.
Put it into practice.
Try something different in your relationships, reflect on what happens, and adjust.
About
I believe that friendship is one of the things that makes life feel like we’re fully alive.
I’m Carole Stromboni. I split my time between Hawaii and Paris, and friendship is one of the most important parts of my life.
I believe that, at the end of a life, what stays with us is not the money we made, the clothes we bought, or the furniture we owned. What stays are the people: who we traveled with, who we had great meals with and watched funny TV shows next to, who we called, who showed up, and who made ordinary days feel special.
Living between continents has taught me that friendship does not happen by accident. I am really good at keeping long-distance friendships alive, reconnecting with friends when we lose touch, and making new friends wherever I am.
My work has always been about helping people turn good intentions into concrete action. I am the author of Innover en pratique (Innovation in Practice), published by Eyrolles, a leading French professional publisher. I also hosted a 77-episode podcast on innovation, change, and how people move forward.
I also founded Bonjour Pickleball, where I write about pickleball trips in France, places to play, and the people you meet through the sport. It’s another way I think about friendship: through shared experiences, new places, and communities that can start around a court.
The Friendship Practice brings those threads together: relationships, action, follow-through, and the belief that a full life is built through the relationships we foster.
My approach is practical: real steps between sessions, not just conversation. That’s the whole premise of The Friendship Practice: turning what you already know about friendship into what you actually do, one small, repeatable action at a time.
Free 7-day challenge
In 7 days, find where your friendship life is stuck and what to do next.
One short email a day helps you identify the pattern that is getting in the way and choose a concrete next step. You can also use a private page to keep notes as you go.
By the end, you should have a clearer picture of what needs attention first: meeting people, following up, reconnecting, reciprocity, or building more repetition into your week.
- Your current friendship map
- What feels missing or frustrating
- Your own friendship principles
- The expectations you carry into friendship
- Your main insight from the challenge
No payment is required. Confirm your email and start the free 7-day Friendship Challenge.
This is coaching-related educational content. It is not therapy, mental health care, or crisis support. If you feel unsafe, call or text 988 in the U.S. In immediate danger, call 911.
Not sure where to start?
Find your friendship challenge.
Five questions. A specific starting point. No email required.
Friendship guides
Read before you overthink.
How to make friends as an adult
A practical guide to meeting people, following up, and helping early connection turn into real friendship.
How to follow up after meeting someone
What to say, when to say it, and how to suggest a next step without it feeling forced or awkward.
Why do friendships fade
Why adult friendships quietly dissolve, and what makes the difference between the ones that last and the ones that don't.
What is friendship coaching
What friendship coaching is, what it is not, and how to know whether it might be useful for where you are right now.
FAQ
Common questions
How long does it take to make a friend as an adult? +
Friendship builds through spending time together regularly, but what actually matters is the quality of that time, not a number of hours to hit. Some friendships form quickly, others slowly. What helps is seeing the same people regularly, often in the same places, with real attention. The Friendship Practice helps adults build the habits that let a connection develop.
Is this therapy? +
No. The Friendship Practice is coaching, not therapy, mental health care, diagnosis, or crisis support. The work is practical: real-life friendship practices, clearer choices, and action steps between sessions.
Is this for women only? +
No. This program is for adults of any gender who want to foster more meaningful friendships.
What happens after I start the free challenge? +
You confirm your email and receive one short email a day for 7 days. You can also use the private page to keep notes as you go. After the challenge, I’ll send a short follow-up about The Friendship Practice.
When do I pay for coaching? +
The free challenge does not require payment. Payment happens only if a coaching spot opens and you decide to book the 4-session package. A full refund is available before your first session. See the Refund and cancellation page for full details.
What if I am in crisis? +
This program is not crisis support and is not the right fit if you feel unsafe or at risk of harming yourself or someone else. If you are in the U.S., call or text 988 for immediate support. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.