As a parent, will I be able to be involved?
Will you work with more than one person in my family?
Do you work with other professionals in my life?
How is Coaching different than Counseling?
Can you be both my Therapist and my Coach?
Will you give me a diagnosis?
Can I have a Coach and work with a Therapist at the same time?
What does it mean that you work from a Christian perspective?
Is Coaching Biblical?
I’m not a Christian, will you work with me anyway?
How long does Coaching take?
Where will we meet?
Do you accept health insurance?
How do I pay my Coaching fees? How do I get started with Coaching?
How do I choose the best Coach for me?
Coaching is a new profession so is still mostly unregulated. Meaning, anyone can hang a shingle and call themselves a Coach. So, it is extremely important to protect yourself and choose a Coach carefully. Look for their training, credentials, professional memberships and professional experience in the area they Coach. If it’s not on their website, it may mean they don’t have any…don’t be afraid to ask as they could do more harm than good if they aren’t qualified!
Just being in Recovery, being a Mentor, or being a Teen and Young Adult at one time does NOT qualify them to Coach you through these unique challenges and life stages! Be sure your Coach has all of the very basics:- EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION: Choose a Coach who has at least completed formal Coach training and holds a certification through a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) recognized training program. They should be a Board Certified Coach (BCC) or International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified. In addition to certification, an even better choice for a Coach is someone who also has formal training in the specific population they Coach.
- PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP: Your Coach should be a member of at least one nationally recognized professional organization.
- Membership in these organizations demonstrates your Coach takes their education seriously, keeps up with the latest trends with ongoing training, is held accountable for their professionalism, and abides by a Professional Code of Ethics.
- PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: The best Coach, not only has education, certification, has specific training, and holds a professional membership, but also has professional experience working with the specific clients they serve such as teens and young adults with addictions.
Is our relationship confidential or will you tell my family what we talk about?
Your privacy is a high priority. Our relationship is focused on you. However, there may be times we might include your family in Coaching. Typically, parents of teens are invited to join us for our first session so we can all start on the same page. With your permission, I’ll keep them informed on progress as needed.
As a parent, will I be able to be involved?
I consider you a partner in the Coaching process. Typically I invite parents of teens to join us for our first session. At that point, we will begin to set goals together. From there, with your teen or young adult’s permission, I will keep you informed of the Coaching process and share with you as needed. In order to provide a safe place for your son or daughter to grow, our relationship will be kept confidential.
If there’s ever something you need to know, I’ll strongly encourage your son or daughter to talk with you about it. If necessary, we’ll talk with you together about it so I can Coach them through this situation. We will have Family Coaching sessions as needed. However, please remember the focus of Coaching is on your teen or young adult and won’t focus on you.
Will you work with more than one person in my family?
Absolutely! I often work with siblings while the other is in treatment as this is a typically a very hard time for them and there are often few places for them to get support they need. I also work with one sibling who’s early in recovery and the other siblings who are also affected by the addiction. There are a variety of reasons more than one sibling can benefit from Coaching. Working with siblings and helping each one become more successful ultimately benefits and makes the entire family stronger!
Do you work with other professionals in my life?
I partner with other professionals in your life and we work as a team in order to give you the best possible opportunity for success. If you are currently in treatment, therapeutic, boarding, or military school, I like to meet with you and your staff before you graduate. I work with professionals like treatment staff, Educational Consultants, Student Assistant Professionals, Probation Officers, Attorneys, Drug Courts, Pastors, Guidance Counselors, Deans, Therapists, Social Workers, Psychiatrists, and Doctors.
How is Coaching different than Counseling?
One reason young people love Coaching so much is it’s much more relaxed and flexible than Counseling! It’s much more teen and young adult friendly thank Counseling. Lots of young people look at Counseling as something their parents drag them to every week and feel they don’t need because they aren’t sick. On the other hand, they look forward to their next Coaching session as it’s so productive and fun! You can find more details here.
Can you be both my Therapist and my Coach?
No. Professional ethics don’t allow this.
Will you give me a diagnosis?
As a Coach, I don’t diagnose or treat mental health issues. Coaching assumes clients are generally healthy people. Counseling assumes there’s something unhealthy needing treatment so a diagnosis is required.
In my many years as a Therapist, I’ve found many fairly healthy young people go to Counseling for extra support during life transitions. Counseling was the only option as Coaching wasn’t available to them. In Counseling some were given a required diagnosis, but it wasn’t necessary as they didn’t have a serious mental health issue to treat! In reality their emotions are normal, but they are just having a rough time!
Young people tell me time and time again just being given a diagnosis changes how they think about themselves. This is another reason Coaching is best for many young people as no diagnosis is required for Coaching!
Once a diagnosis is given, it is a permanent part of your medical records. So, it follows you around for the rest of your life and often interferes with other things for the rest of your life especially if submitted to health insurance. Some of the consequences of this may include being characterized as a high risk, resulting in increased premiums and even being denied life insurance, being labeled at school, or turned down for jobs requiring a security clearance.
Can I have a Coach and work with a Therapist at the same time?
In order to be successful in their recovery or life, some need Counseling to address mental health issues or work through pain. If you are working with a Therapist or Psychiatrist, they also need to be supportive of Coaching and agree you’re healthy enough to participate in Coaching. Since I’m also a Therapist, I can often help you to accomplish your goals even quicker than Counseling alone can!
What does it mean that you work from a Christian perspective?
I’m a Christian and my Coaching is Biblically based. This doesn’t mean all we do is talk about God, Sometimes we’ll talk about your Christian beliefs and how you can live them out. Part of Coaching may involve deepening your relationship with God or just figuring out what you believe and why. We may talk about the Bible occasionally. You may even have a homework assignment to read a Christian book or study something out of the Bible to help you grow in the area you’re stuck in. I’ll pray for and with you if you want too!
Is Coaching Biblical?
Absolutely! The Bible has a lot to say about maximizing and stretching to reach your God-given potential. If you want this kind of success, you must have other people who challenge you to reach your potential and become God’s best! God starts Coaching as soon as Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus Coached His disciples. Just a couple things the Bible says:
- “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” Ecclesiastes 4:12
- “As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other” Proverbs 27:17
- “Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail. Take good counsel and watch them succeed” Proverbs 15:22
- “I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering” Jeremiah 29:11
- “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10
I’m not a Christian, will you work with me anyway?
Absolutely. I’ll respect your beliefs and expect you to respect mine.
How long does Coaching take?
It depends on each person’s goals. I ask for at least a 3 month commitment for best results as Coaching is a process. As you know change doesn’t happen overnight.
Where will we meet?
Since our relationship is much more informal than Counseling, there is no office to go to. Sessions can be held just about anywhere in public we agree upon such as a church, school, or coffee shop. If you don’t live close enough to meet in person, we can meet over the phone or Skype. So, it doesn’t matter where you live!
Do you accept health insurance?
Coaching is not covered by health insurance as insurance companies require a diagnosis in order to provide payment. Even with Therapy, many insurances don’t cover Therapy or the deductibles are very large before services are eligible for coverage.
How do I pay my Coaching fees?
Payment for Coaching is very easy, convenient, and secure through PayPal with your checking account, credit or debit card. All Coaching sessions are paid in advance according to the Coaching package you choose. PayPal will provide you with financing options if you wish. Please speak to me before you make your first payment.
How do I get started with Coaching?
If you’re ready to get started and move forward with your life, then Contact me TODAY. If you have questions about Coaching or have other Recovery Coaching questions, be sure to explore the other pages of my website. If you have any unanswered questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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