What is the difference between coaching and counseling?

Coaching and counseling and often look quite similar. Coaching is often more short-term and focused on building skills or overcoming challenges. In order to do this we may look at the past to understand road blocks but generally are focused on the right now and the what next. Coaching is not billable through insurance and does not require a mental health diagnosis.

Counseling is also focused on helping clients reach their goals however more emphasis may be placed on understanding emotions, memories, and exploring the inner-workings of who we are. Counseling is billable through insurance and does require that I give a mental health diagnosis in order to obtain coverage.

What is “Neurodiversity”

Neurodiversity exists as a concept to name that many different neurotypes exist among humans. “Neurotypical” (a term I hate as I believe there are more “neurodivergent” people than “neurotypical” in the world) often refers to someone without any diagnosable learning differences, sensory differences, social differences, etc. See why I don’t believe “typical” is the right classifier? Under the “Neurodivergent” umbrella is dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Downs Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder. The “divergent” label really just means that the world we live in was only designed to meet the needs of a small group of people. Neurodiversity means that brains develop differently. Neurodivergent diagnoses are not disorders (though they often contain the word “disorder” in the diagnostic label), and are rather natural and important variations in the human genome. The same way that biodiversity creates a stronger and more sustainable landscape, neurodiversity strengthens the human race.

Do you accept insurance?

Not yet. I am in the process of panelling with insurance providers. In the mean time, I am able to provide super-bills for services that. you may submit to your insurance company for counseling services. I am also able to offer a sliding scale to clients in need.

Coaching and Consulting are not billable through insurance.

What about confidentiality?

Listen, adolescence is hard. For the teenager and the parents! For many parents this is the first time their child is going through something and not talking to them about it. For teens, they are often craving growth and opportunity and may be worried about what their parents might think. While legally, parents may access a child’s mental health records, I ask that parents trust that I will contact them if there is a safety concern. For years I worked with parents who wanted me to “fix” their kid and would tell me their perspective and concerns and goals and ask me to hold the child accountable to goals they didn’t set for themself. Your kid isn’t broken and therapy isn’t the place for accountability (unless of course the client is asking for it themself). I also will not report back to parents with any details of discussions unless explicitly asked by the child to do so and the child will be included in that communication.

And kids, this goes both ways. If I am coaching your parents, I may seek your insights to understand how you perceive your parents and how I can best help them but I won’t tell you what they talk about and I won’t tell them what you tell me.

I will often encourage family members to have conversations with each other and be vulnerable and direct. I will even offer to facilitate this if you are needing more support. If I do it for you, you will not build the skill of doing it for yourself.