FAQ
Coaching FAQ
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My focus is supporting people in leading life well and in wellness. More specifically I empowering others in finding their own sense of leadership through self-awareness, self-authority, and self-acceptance.
I work with all types of demographics and situations, professional and personal.
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It depends on your objectives.
Generally, most people need a minimum of 3 sessions (after the intake) to get what they want out of the process. Depending on your objectives I will make recommendations about the number, and frequency, of sessions. Ultimately you decide.
I don’t sell packages, or require a certain number of sessions. You pay as you go and the rate will be determined before you start*.
*Pricing varies. I have a standard rate and sometimes have rate increases. I always do my best to accommodate people’s financial situations. If you are experiencing financial limitations please do not let that dissuade you from believing you can get the support you need. You might also be able to benefit from employer reimbursement, billing to your FSA, or personal grant funding.
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Unequivocally, yes.
Learn more about the code of ethics that I am bound to.
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Yes. Coaching is for everyone.
Living is leadership. And leading, and living, a life requires work and a lot of help.
Coaching can be a profound source of support for those who want to become more effective with how they use their energy and translating that into desired outcomes, sense of purpose, and fulfillment.
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This is really a question to answer for yourself.
And here's what I'll offer for consideration based on my beliefs about the world and your place in it:
We all need help, all of the time (including you). Consider all of experiences you will, or could, encounter in a lifetime and the structures that exist (or don’t!) to guide and support you through them. At some point you will transit through various rites of passage such as puberty, graduating high school or college, entering young adulthood, mid-life or elderhood. You will likely consider, or be forced to consider, a career change, and possibly reinvent what “work” looks like for you. You will likely navigate desires, challenges, losses in your relationships whether they be familial, professional, friendships, or romantic. You will also be curating your lifestyle, health and well-being, your spiritual life. And that is just the beginning. When you consider the totality of life, I believe we each can't get enough help.
Living is Leadership. To live in a way that is aligned with your values, in the face of adversity and fear, is leadership. To continue to choose life-affirming perspectives for what is possible is leadership. It is why the phrase "leading my life" exists. Leading your life from authenticity and integrity is a true act of leadership with impact that is beyond what any corporation, executive, or government official attributed with "leadership" is doing today. Leading your life in this way requires SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-ACCEPTANCE and SELF-AUTHORITY. While these qualities are developed and honed throughout our entire life, they can be more challenging to access during times of chaos, trauma, big life transitions, and rites of passage (hence, point #1, we all need help). These are the qualities at play when you "do YOU," and how we each contribute to creating our world.
In a time where our world, our families, our communities, and our psyches need more of us modeling permission and acceptance for living in alignment with our values to create what we truly want for the world, I can't think of a more critical thing for each of us to do than continuing to invest in developing our consciousness and capacity of ourselves in this way. It's my belief we can't get enough support in our development throughout our lives.
This is why I coach. I dedicate myself to you on your journey. I will support you in staying grounded in self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-authority as you lead your life and so that you can be in best service to your people and your world. I will guide you toward achieving and sustaining your optimal state and ultimate fulfillment. Whether it’s life goals, navigating a rite of passage, or just getting through today, or the day after that, I will support you in creating the experience of life you desire.
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No.
Some fundamental distinctions:
Coaches are accredited by programs governed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), while psychologists are accredited by programs governed by the American Psychological Association (APA) (part of the Global Psychology Alliance), and licensed therapists are accredited by programs governed by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and regional accrediting organizations. Further, there are other coach accreditation bodies such as National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWCs).
Coaches do not diagnose you with any type of condition or prescribe medication.
Coaching is not covered by medical insurance. Though some plans might allow sessions to be billed to FSA. Also some companies will provide stipends or reimbursement for coaching.
From there the differences in practice and outcomes can get are a little blurry. Here are some general differences:
In coaching the over arching premise is you have the answers. The coach is trained to guide you to your own wisdom to make choices that are aligned with your values and lead you toward what is fulfilling for you. It's all based on who you are and where you are in life today, rather than in the past. Coaching can be a profound source of support for those who want to get more effective with how they use their energy and translate that into desired outcomes, sense of purpose, and fulfillment.
In therapy the therapist or psychologist is helping you analyze behavior and thought patterns, connecting them to survival triggers from your past, looking through the lens of diagnosis and pathology. Therapy can be helpful for knowing what triggers you into survival thinking and behaviors that are not serving you as an adult, and finding ways of coping with those triggers, sometimes with treatments and prescriptions.
All in all, coaching and therapy can compliment each other very well. Most humans on this planet likely need, or would at least be better off, getting support from both therapists/psychologist and coaches.
In general it's worth repeating that it takes both a lot of work and a lot of help to live, and lead, a life. I think everyone, at every phase, should shore themselves up with the as much support as they can.
Sadly getting help is a privilege of time and money that is not necessarily accessible to everyone. It's why I offer pro-bono and sliding scale pricing and don't require a package of sessions.
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No. They're different forms of support that are equally legitimate and effective.
Certified therapists, physiologists and coaches are all rigorously trained by accredited programs (see "Is coaching the same as therapy?").
What will serve you best depends on you and what will be most supportive at this time in your life. It could be coaching, therapy, or both.
Coaching is generally helpful for those who want to become more effective with how they use their energy and translate that into desired outcomes, sense of purpose, and fulfillment.
Therapy is generally helpful for knowing what events from the past created triggers, survival thinking and behaviors that are not serving you as an adult, and prescribing ways of coping with those triggers.
All in all, coaching and therapy can compliment each other well.
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Sure, this happens. And it also happens professions other than coaching.
That said, many people are unaware of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), which is a global standards organization for coach education and certification. The ICF adheres to a code of ethics, requires member fees, performance evaluations, and continuing education to stay certified.
The levels of coach accreditation are:
Trained by an ICF accredited program.*
Meeting requirements for ACC (Associate Certified Coach)
Meeting requirements for PCC (Professional Certified Coach)
Meeting requirements for MCC (Master Certified Coach)
Each level has a increasing requirements on training hours, coaching hours, and evaluations.
*Anyone that wants to get certified through an ICF Accredited program has to earn a certain number of hours before they can meet the requirements of a certification. Many coaches will start their practice after completing training and then accumulate coaching hours necessary for certification. It's also worth noting that some people will complete all the requirements of an ICF Certification but choose not to maintain an ICF Certification due to the fees and other overhead. Just like some organic foods meet all the certification standards but choose not to not get certified as organic.
At the end of the day there are always some people who are untrained or received training through an unaccredited program that call themselves coaches. To be fair, it's possible that some of these coaches might be effective. It's also possible that an ICF Trained coach might be ineffective.
That said, hiring a coach that has trained with an ICF accredited program, or has completed a level of certification (ACC, PCC, or MCC) with the ICF ensures that you are working with someone who has been rigorously trained, is dedicated to their development as a coach practitioner, and is adhering to a code of ethics.
Read about Tips for Hiring a Coach on the ICF website.
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Typically sessions are done over Zoom or the phone. I have limited availability for in-person sessions on the weekend.
Please contact me if you would like to schedule an in-person session.
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Not typically.
There are situations when I would. All work is 100% confidential and it would require a contract and parental signature.
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Rituals Rising is the movement I am creating through my work and invite you to be a part of, whether we work together or not.
It speaks to my belief that the way to sustain an optimal state throughout life, and navigate it's complexity and adversity, is by cultivating accessible, practical habits (i.e. rituals) that keep us grounded and connected to ourselves and develop our range, vitality, and strength.
By doing so, we model permission and acceptance for living in alignment with our values for others, and they will in turn find their own permission and acceptance do the same, and the cycle continues. This ripple will be a collective rising, allowing us to individually and collectively create as sustainable future for our world.
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Read about Tips for Hiring a Coach on the ICF website.
Sound Healing FAQ
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Sound healing is a way of using certain types of sounds to entrain the brain and body into a natural state of restoration, healing, and alignment. It is an ancient practice that is non-invasive, safe, and accessible to almost anyone.
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Participants lay (or sit) in a comfortable position, while a concert of resonant sounds wash over them using different instruments (e.g. crystal bows, gongs, etc.). These sounds entrain the brain into a deep meditative state (Theta) activating the body's natural healing abilities through the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting everything from cellular regeneration and energetic alignment, to the release of stress and interrupting stuck or negative energetic patterns that can contribute to illness, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. The body naturally wants to maintain its “optimal state” for health, and a sound bath is a great opportunity to release energy that is blocking your body from maintaining its optimal state.
Each person’s experience of a soundbath will be unique to them and will not be the same every time. Some people report experiencing periods of "agitation" during the session (usually in the beginning). This could be a general sense of not being able to relax (“feeling activated”), an experience of intense emotions, or a sense of being annoyed by something. Sometimes people will feel sensations in the body, (e.g., pulsing, pressure, tingling, etc.). These are all signs that the body is moving energy. And this is good! Energy that stays stuck or trapped in the body eventually lead to ailment or illness. Typically, these sensations pass and people eventually drop into a lucid dreamlike state (Theta) and experience the relaxation and clearing that normally comes with sound healing. Even if this doesn’t happen, the benefits of the session will be received.
Examples of likely benefits from a soundbath:
Release from stress, anxiety, depression, and/or distractedness.
Interruption of negative or repetitive thought patterns.
A feeling of being calm and/or “grounded.”
Experience of meditation/mindfulness that is accessible/easy.
The sensation of being rested/restored.
Feeling of “lightness” or being “cleared” of heaviness in the body.
Increased creativity and possibility.
Deeper cultivation of self-awareness; “remembering.”
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Wear comfortable, loose clothing (dress on the warm side, body temperature can tend to drop during session)
A cushion of some kind (mat, towel, or blanket) for laying on the floor.
(Optional) Blanket to lay under for warmth.
(Optional) Pillow or bolster for under head and/or knees.
(Optional) Eye Pillow for blocking out light.
Hydrate well (before and after).
Avoid large meals less than 1 hour before; snack ok.
Sometimes the venue will provide yoga mats, blankets, and/or other props. Please check event information for details.
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Yes, most likely.
I have worked with many people with severe sound sensitivity due to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), PTSD/War Veterans, ADHD and spectrum. Most often these participants report being surprised at how calming and healing the soundbath is for them. Many have said it has helped them regulate and heal their sound sensitivity.
That doesn’t mean that will be true for everyone. That said, there has been only one person on one occasion in my 10 years of practice that had to leave the room.
The guidance I offer is that is safe for anyone to try, and it is completely OK for a person to leave the sound bath if they are uncomfortable in any way. This is why when I do work with sensitive groups, I have volunteers that sit in the room and are available to assist people during the event for any reason, including making the decision to leave the room.
If you wear a hearing aid, it is recommended to remove it. For those with sound concern, I also recommend bringing ear protection to help dampen the sound if needed. The sound is very resonant. Even if you can’t hear the sound at it’s full volume, the physical sound waves will allow you to receive the benefits of a soundbath.
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Yes!
If there is a position where you can remain comfortable for about 30-60 minutes you can do this! Your position can be sitting, reclined or laying down. It’s up to you.
For special events (like Soundbath for Brain Injury) I will have assistants on hand. If you require special assistance or need help with transfers, please bring someone with you.
Caregivers/Assistants can attend for free and do not need to register. Though I appreciate knowing that you will bringing someone so I can set up the room accordingly and provide accommodations. If you plan to bring a person to assist you please send me a message.
A few disclaimers:
I always try to do my events at places that are accessible. Unfortunately this is not always this case and I will note this on my events when the venue is not accessible.
Typically soundbaths are about an hour, and if you can only do 30 minutes that is still worth it. You can leave the room at any time.
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Yes.
Even if you can’t hear the sound at it’s full volume, the physical vibration of the sound waves will allow you to receive the benefits of a soundbath.
If you use a hearing aid it is recommended that you remove it for the session.
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Yes! And it is child dependent.
PUBLIC EVENTS
For public events I don’t accept children under 14. Children 14 - 18 must be accompanied by a parent the entire session.
For exceptions please contact me. Children younger than 10 - 12 years old may not have the maturity to attend a public soundbath session open to ages 18+.
PRIVATE EVENTS
For private events we will simply discuss it. It’s up to your discretion of if your child can participate.
SCHOOL EVENTS
I can work with children ages 5 - 18. However, the sessions need to be appropriately banded by age/brain development.
There are other ways of working with younger children to introduce and explore the benefits of sound healing and sound education. If you are interested in doing something like that please contact me.
For teenagers (13+) sound healing can be a very effective modality to help children get more grounded and process challenges with stress, anxiety, depression, distractedness and hyperactivity.
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Yes. I do private sessions 1:1 and private group events.
People do private soundbaths for all types of occasions: weddings, book clubs, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. This can either be in a space that you determine or I can book a space for you (for an extra charge).
I also offer custom wellness benefits for organizations that want to invest in the connections between "mindfulness" and the ability to build resiliency and capacity in their system, enhance the quality of their work, and create sustaining culture. Soundbaths are a very accessible and affordable way to offer wellness benefits. I can also work with organizational leaders to build in supporting structures for developing their people with coaching and other tools.