“Why am I here? How do I live in alignment with my True Self? How do I heal trauma to live my best life?
These are the big questions, the grist and grit of the wild ride we’re all taking hurtling on this giant rock through the endless expanse of space. Psychotherapy and coaching provide us with a container in which to explore the “why’s” of our existence — and move towards living a life of alignment with our own truth.
I don’t know our ultimate destination.
But I do have a map.
Over a decade of experience and training (which is ongoing — I’m a lifelong student) have provided me with a plethora of skills to utilize in our work.
Our inner work lies in removing blockages.
Whether we’re diving into releasing trauma or healing attachment wounds, doing grief work or learning how to set health boundaries, navigating a career change or cultivating our personal power, the essence of all personal work growth work is this:
We’re clearing the way, bushwhacking our way through old ways of being that are no longer in service such that we can walk unencumbered on the path that is only ours to trod.
In both my personal and professional experience, kit and caboodle with what it means to be a good psychotherapist and coach is my comittment to my own personal growth work.
It’s been my experience that the depth and bradth of my own self-work is — if not overtly — at least energetically transmitted to clients. My own pains, struggles, growing edges and losses, then, are integral to building trust and positive regard — the foundation of any healing relationship.
Rather than being from a book, any wisdom I have to offer is borne of the hard-won pearls of the grit of my own growing edges.
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In general, psychotherapy tends to be “process-oriented”, with a lens towards the past. Coaching, in turn, tends to be “goal-oriented,” with a focus upon the future.
With this said, there is often an overlap, and the two might often not feel much different. The difference — as with so many things in life — lies in the intention, which dictates our contract.
Coaching isn’t appropriate for those in active addiction or mental health crisis.
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Absolutely not! You’re welcome to schedule sessions when and as you fit.
For clients wanting to delve in to work together on a consistent basis, I offer the option of a regularly scheduled weekly or bi-weekly timeslots.
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This is a great question, and begs a deeper dive into the socioeconomic, political and cultural factors affecting accessibility to and sanctioning of personal growth work and mental healthcare.
As with many highly specialized fields, the fee for therapy and coaching is compensatory not only for time spent, but the energetic exchange of my years of training and experience.
For psychotherapy clients, I am an out-of-network provider. Many of my clients receive reimbursement via a superbill that I provide, submitted directly insurance companies for reimbursements.
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In my opinion (and obviously I’m biased), pursuing therapy or coaching means two things.
#1: You’re human!
Being a human is hard, and none of us (myself included) can do it alone. If nothing else, therapy and coaching offer us both a mirror and an ally — the opportunity to witness ourselves clearly, reflected compassionately by someone that’s staunchly “on our team,” whose sole focus is in supporting us to get where we want to go.
#2: You’re courageous and compassionate.
If you’re contemplating therapy or coaching, it means that — no matter how much trauma you might have experienced — you have enough compassion and love for both yourselves and others to embark upon an inward journey, thrusting yourself into the inner worlds. That takes compassion.
You’re dedicated to turning towards, rather than away. Hurtling ourselves into the murky depths of the inner worlds can be trepidatious — you’re courageous.