FAQ
ARE SESSIONS IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH?
At this time, all sessions are Telehealth. In person sessions for EMDR intensives only will be available beginning in December, 2022. If/when this changes, I will update the website.
HOW DO I WORK WITH YOU?
The first step is to contact me to set up your free 15 minute consultation. I offer these consultations to make sure that I am the best fit for your needs. If we agree to move forward with working together, we will begin the process with some necessary paperwork and setting up your first session with me.
WHY CONSIDER THERAPY OR COACHING?
Therapy has stigma around it. When we hear "therapy," many think: institutions, straight jackets, severe mental illness, clipboards, couches, and someone saying "mmhmm," rather than talking to you throughout your session. The truth is, people seek out therapy for many different reasons.
Struggling with our mental health is certainly one of them, but some of the other reasons include:
- Feeling unsatisfied and stuck in life
- Being unsure how to make changes to create a more satisfying life
- Relationship struggles
- Career advice
- Needing somewhere to "vent"
- Finding personal empowerment
- Gaining direction
- Guidance for a major transformation in life, which can feel unfamiliar, foreign and frightening.
- Seeking growth and understanding of your own limitations and how to work past them.
- Exploring spirituality
- Exploring gender and/or sexual identity
WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN A SESSION?
A counseling session is a time to share what you are looking for out of life, get some specific feedback, set personal and/or professional goals and develop a plan to help you achieve them. A session will provide a snapshot of your current life situation to gain better insight of the issues that you are facing. This will help to identify where the issues and blocks originated from and why. This is all done in a safe, confidential and comfortable environment.
HOW WILL MY LIFE IMPROVE FROM COUNSELING OR COACHING?
You will gain a better insight and understanding of who you are and the direction your life has taken. This is important because lack of understanding and appreciation for our lives can create patterns of limitation for ourselves. Understanding and appreciation for ourselves garners a sense of empowerment and joy in everything we do. This in turn reduces the amount of stress and anxiety we feel in daily life. Confidence is restored, communications with others improve, and you begin to move through life’s obstacles with less effort. An all over sense of health and well being is restored and life becomes more manageable and satisfying. One thing you will hear me saying all the time is that it's not about whether or not we experience something uncomfortable or have a negative life experience (because it is inevitable that will happen), it is about how we respond to it that makes all the difference. Sessions with me can help you to feel less bothered by the experience and to develop the healthy responses that keep us feeling good and empowered.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSELING AND COACHING?
This is a really important question because even thought they are similar they are actually very different.
The short answer is: counseling focuses primarily on symptoms and struggles from a mental health diagnosis. Coaching focuses on future goals and overcoming obstacles that may be in the way that have nothing to do with your mental health.
Counseling sessions often involve coaching, but coaching sessions never involve counseling. Here is a chart to help break down the differences and similarities.
COACHING:
Present - Future focused
Action oriented
Focused on immediate results
Does not involve mental health care
Does not diagnose
Not covered by insurance
Coaching can not involve counseling
COUNSELING:
Past-Present-Future focused
Therapists/counselors require licensure and at least a masters degree
Therapists are trained to handle emergencies and explore trauma in a safe and appropriate manner
Counseling can involve all aspects of coaching
Involves working on any psychological obstacles, including trauma
Both goal and outcome oriented
Can diagnose
COACHING & COUNSELING:
Forward moving
Supports personal growth and development
Goal focused
Problem solving
Helps with negative thoughts
Client centered
Empowers clients
If you are unsure what type of sessions would be best for you, please feel free to reach out and we can figure it out together. Please note: once you are a counseling client you can never move to just coaching.
DO I HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATION?
Medication is not for everyone. My response to this, however, is "why suffer willingly?" when medication can provide a temporary relief while working on the long-term healing and recovery from anxiety when it is debilitating. Some folks never need medication and therapy is enough of a solution. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong route to take. If you aren't comfortable taking medication, therapy can still be incredibly effective for you.
I'M SCARED I'LL BE JUDGED IF I TELL YOU MY THOUGHTS...
As someone who struggled with anxiety for years, I can promise you there is no judgment. I have thought all kinds of thoughts that have caused me to fear judgment too. I'm here to help you navigate these thoughts and to help "undo" the thought process that leads you to anxiety.
HOW DO I KNOW YOU CAN HELP ME?
I'm a person with lived experience. I went from locking myself in a basement, dropping out of college, and not being able to drive a car because of the constant panic attacks, to public speaking, owning my own business, and living my best life. Aside from my first hand experience with overcoming anxiety, my years of working in mental health have given me the skills to help you. I have had incredible success treating anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, trauma, and voice-hearing experiences with many clients over the years. Taking the first step is always the hardest part, but by coming to my page, you are already there! Email me and we can discuss any other concerns or questions you have about your journey and how I can help.
I'M SPIRITUAL AND HAVE EXPERIENCES THAT I'M SCARED MAKE ME SOUND "CRAZY." WILL YOU JUDGE ME FOR MY EXPERIENCES?
Absolutely not. Regardless of your experiences, I am not here to judge. I am only here to help you understand and work with the experiences you have from a grounded place. Human beings have a range of experiences--many of which science has yet to understand or explain. As a Reiki healer and intuitive coach, I have had my fair share of experiences too :)
I'M NOT SPIRITUAL. CAN I STILL COME TO YOU FOR SESSIONS?
Of course! My belief systems are not something I put on anyone. I am here to help you understand your own belief systems and work within your own belief systems. Your sessions are about you--not me!