Find your Authentic Self through coaching, empowerment, accountability, and vulnerability.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm an anxious person... Anxiety fuels me with questions. I'm sure you have some too.
If you've read over this list and still have something you’d like to know, feel free to contact me for more details.
How can I start working with you?
To start services, you can schedule a free 15-20 minute virtual consultation to discuss what you are looking for and how we can work together to reach your goals. Not everyone is appropriate for mental health coaching so the consultation must be completed before scheduling any further appointments.
How should I prepare for my initial consultation?
The consultation will involve talking about what you are looking for in a coach and what types of goals you would like to work towards. It's helpful to have an idea of these goals so we can see if it's something we can work towards together. I'm not always the best fit, so it's important to know what you're looking for before we get too far in.
Having an idea of your schedule and availability moving forward will be helpful. If you are a minor/parent of a minor, please have the minor and parent's schedule available. Also, if you are a minor/parent of a minor, both the minor and a parent/legal guardian must be present for a portion of the consultation.
There may be paperwork for you to fill out beforehand. This will be done electronically through SimplePractice and you would've received an email inviting you to the Client Portal.
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Finally, feel free to bring a list of questions you may have. I want this to be a mutual decision before we move forward. You deserve to have any and all questions answered.
What is the difference between mental health therapy and mental health coaching?
Mental health therapy and mental health coaching work closely together but they are not the same. Mental health therapy often focuses on deeper psychological stress, such as recent or significant history of trauma, suicidal/homicidal thoughts or behaviors, significant family stress, unsafe/risky behaviors, and other situations that require a higher level of attention or care. Mental health coaching assumes one is at their baseline functioning (there's always going to be a bad day or two) but struggling with adjusting to new situations, conflict resolution within relationships, coping with situational anxiety, making big decisions, and other situations that are based on more behavioral changes. I like to think of therapy as dealing a lot with the past, while coaching focuses on how we handle the present and move forward into the future - especially because coaching is very goal and solution oriented.
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Not everyone is appropriate for therapy and not everyone is appropriate for coaching. We can discuss what's best for you during a free virtual consultation.
How do I know if I'm appropriate for coaching vs. therapy?
Obviously, everyone's situation is different so it's hard to make a list of what is and is not appropriate for coaching. However, the following situations are most likely better suited for therapy (at least for a while, before stepping down to coaching): recent hospitalizations (within the last year); significant abuse history without prior therapy experience; significant trauma history without prior therapy experience; recent traumatic event that has increased symptoms; clients hesitant to engage in talk therapy; clients who have a history of risky/unsafe behaviors; active or recently active (within the last year) psychosis; active or recently active (within the last year) substance abuse; clients with family stressors that require family therapy.
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This list is not exhaustive but does give an idea of what is more suitable for therapy vs. coaching. If you have any specific questions tailored to your situation, please contact me.
Do you take my insurance? Is this reimbursable through my insurance?
Unfortunately, mental health coaching is not viewed as reimbursable by insurance. Some FSA or HSA accounts may cover the cost of services but that depends on your insurance policies. If this is the case, I am able to accept FSA and HSA payments just like any regular credit or debit card. Additionally, because it is not viewed as reimbursable by insurance, I am not in network with any insurance companies and my services would not be covered under Out of Network services.
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I understand that insurance is a necessary source of payment for some families. If you have questions, concerns, or would like to discuss possible payment arrangements, I am open to that discussion!
Do you offer income-based rates (i.e. sliding scale)?
I am happy to offer income or need based rates for those with special situations or financial circumstances. I believe that access to care should not be limited by the money in our bank account and that everyone should have access to QUALITY care. If you would like to discuss possible payment options/rates, please let me know in your consultation!
Do you diagnose people?
One of the positive sides to not working with insurance is that a diagnosis is not required. Also, since I am not a licensed clinician, I am not able to diagnose. If you are curious about possible diagnoses, we can discuss them and process those thoughts. However, for an official diagnosis, we would identify a local licensed clinician to provide that service alongside our work together.
Can you refer me to someone to help prescribe medication?
Yes! I have worked with amazing prescribers throughout my time in the field and I am happy to make any recommendations or provide any resources that you might need.