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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

You address trauma and adverse experiences–what is the difference between trauma-informed coaching and therapy?

I believe that as humans living in a broken world, life-altering disruptions, pain, and even trauma are a part of each of our stories at some point. These experiences can alter our perspectives, damage our emotions and relationships, and prevent us from living a life of wholeness. Sometimes, we need a little help to recover and reconcile broken relationships with God, ourselves, and others in order to move forward.

Sometimes this is done with therapy, sometimes with coaching, or a combination of both depending on where you are in your journey.

Both therapy and coaching are “helping” services. There is a place for both. Depending on where you are in your healing journey, one type of helping professional may be more beneficial to your recovery. Sometimes, people need to move between therapy and coaching as they progress or regress on their journey of healing. 

Therapists can be compared to paramedics, ER doctors, and surgeons of the trauma world–first on the scene, and professionally trained to treat acute injuries. When a person is in the midst of a crisis, has been deeply wounded, and is still feeling debilitated by trauma, therapy should be the avenue of choice. Therapists are able to dive deeply into the “why,” and help you process the traumatic events. They walk with you through the process of looking backward at the events that happened to help you dig deep into your history to figure out how to help you heal. They are also able to make diagnoses and advise/refer to the right individuals if medication may be needed. 

In contrast, coaches have skills and tools that help people move forward in their lives once they have stabilized. Coaches only look back in order to understand where a person is coming from in order to help them move forward. The coaching process does not linger in the past, nor address the “why” questions. Instead, it focuses on the “how” of moving forward. Sometimes coaches use the skills you may have learned in therapy and build upon those to help you live with purpose and move forward in confidence. In therapy, you may do a lot of talking and processing. In coaching, you will learn to take action, make goals, and learn strategies to achieve them. A coach will brainstorm with you, offer new perspectives and information, and help you assess potential decisions. A coach also offers accountability and may suggest action steps to help you change your life and future right away.

Why is faith such a big part of your coaching and consulting?

I firmly believe that in order to experience complete healing, freedom, and transformation, addressing all aspects of the person (Mind, Body, and Soul) is essential. Using human models of therapy can only get us so far. There are some models which address Spirituality, but they are not based on Biblical truth and can lead to a different kind of brokenness. Jesus offers complete healing, and my goal is to always partner with him as I help coach people toward wholeness. Understanding and operating from Kingdom principles is usually the missing link when people are unable to move forward in life, therefore, much of my coaching is centered around these truths and helping others understand and implement them in their lives.

Is coaching right for me?

Coaching may be right for you if:

Coaching may not be right for you if:

  • You are seeking a Christian perspective and methods of overcoming adversity and moving forward in your life
  • You have gone through traumatic experiences such as relational trauma from divorce, have experienced abuse or trauma for which you’ve already received therapy but need some additional support to live fully and achieve your goals
  • Are an adoptive parent/caregiver needing additional support/perspective/encouragement/techniques/new information for raising your trauma-impacted child
  • Your past mistakes and shame are holding you captive, inhibiting your happiness, and interfering with your ability to achieve (or make) meaningful goals
  • You desire to live your life on purpose for a purpose beyond yourself
  • Or, you simply need a little help identifying your values, living out your purpose, and would like accountability, encouragement, and fresh perspectives to help you achieve God’s best for you
  • You are in an emergency situation, crisis, or have fairly recently experienced trauma
  • You have thoughts of hurting yourself or others
  • You have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness
  • You do not have access to a reliable internet connection or devices
  • You are not willing to try new methods or look at things from a different perspective

    What is the time commitment, and how much does it cost?

    In order to have enough time to implement steps toward transformational change, I ask that you commit to a three-month plan, to begin with, and reassess once that is completed. These can be tailored a bit to your specific needs, but in general, I offer three options:

    Spaces are limited. If I do not have any current openings, you will have the option to be placed on the waiting list for my next available openings. 

    **Sessions can be done via telephone or Zoom

    (In-person options available for local clients)

    I’m interested, what do I do next?

    Please fill out this form and I will be in touch. 

    UNSHACKLED | LOVING THE WOUNDED CHILD | LIFE ON PURPOSE