FAQ for coaching

The basics

What is coaching with you?
Coaching is practical, goal-focused support. We set a goal, build systems and routines around it, and review what is working. Coaching is not therapy, and it does not treat or diagnose any condition.

Is coaching only for people with ADHD?
My coaching focuses on ADHD and the things related to it, such as home routines, planning, and school supports. If your goal falls outside that, I will tell you and point you to someone better suited.

Do I need an ADHD diagnosis to work with you?
No, a formal diagnosis isn’t required. Many people come to coaching because they suspect they have ADHD or are in the process of getting evaluated.

Can I get a diagnosis or ADHD evaluation through coaching?
No. I do not diagnose or evaluate ADHD. I refer evaluations and medication care to partners who do that work, and I can coordinate with them with your written consent.

What is the difference between coaching and counseling?
Counseling asks, “What is going on, and how do we heal or repair it?” Coaching asks, “What do you want to be different, and what will help you get there?” Counseling is a clinical service with legal and ethical duties attached. Coaching is a separate service with its own agreement. Neither is a lighter version of the other.

Choosing what fits

How do I know if coaching is right for me?
Coaching may fit if you know what you want to change and need structure, planning, and accountability. Counseling may fit if you are dealing with distress, relationship pain, grief, anxiety, or patterns that feel stuck. If you are not sure, book a free 15-minute consultation and we will sort it out together.

I have ADHD. Is coaching enough?
It depends on what is getting in the way. Coaching helps with systems such as routines, planning, and follow-through. Counseling helps when ADHD comes with shame, burnout, relationship strain, or other mental health needs. Many people benefit from both, with different providers.

Can coaching replace therapy I already have?
No. Coaching works alongside therapy and does not replace it. If you see a therapist, we can talk about how to keep the two coordinated.

What if I start coaching and realize I need counseling?
That is okay and common. I will say so honestly and refer you to a counselor. I will not move you into counseling with me, because I keep these two roles separate.

Cost, insurance, and scheduling

How much does coaching cost?
Coaching is $195 per session.

Is there a sliding scale?
A limited number of coaching spots are available on a sliding scale. Contact me if you’re interested.

Does insurance cover coaching?
No. Insurance does not cover coaching, and I cannot provide superbills for it. Coaching is private pay only.

Are sessions in person or online?
Coaching sessions are by video, with an optional in-home session for home systems work.

What is your cancellation policy?
I require 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Sessions already held, and late cancellations, are charged at the standard session rate.

Can I pause or end coaching at any time?
Yes. You can pause or stop whenever you need to.

Privacy and records

Is coaching confidential?
Coaching is not a health care service, so counseling’s legal protections may not apply in the same way. What you share in coaching stays private. I will not share it without your written permission, except if I reasonably believe someone is at imminent risk of serious harm, or if the law requires it, such as a valid court order or subpoena. Coaching records are not legally privileged, so they could be requested in a legal proceeding. I keep coaching notes separately and securely. I will explain what I keep private, what limits apply, and how your information is stored before we begin.

Will coaching show up in my health records?
Coaching is not billed to insurance, so it does not create an insurance claim. I keep coaching notes separately from any clinical record.

Can I request my coaching records?
Yes. Ask me and I will tell you exactly what I keep.

Will you talk to my other providers, my child’s school, or my family?
Only with your written consent, and only for the purpose you approve. For school advocacy, I need written consent every time.

Working with me

Can I be your counseling client and your coaching client?
No. I keep these roles separate on purpose. A person who sees me for counseling does not also work with me as a coach, and a coaching client does not move into counseling with me. Mixing the two can blur boundaries, confuse what is private and what is not, and make it hard to know which rules apply.

Can I work with you if a family member is already a counseling client?
Tell me during your consultation so we can decide together whether coaching is a fit. I can work with multiple adult members of the same family. Coaching is for adults ages 18 and older only.

What are your qualifications for coaching?
My coaching draws on more than a decade in education. I have worked as a school counselor, an MTSS and PBIS leader, and a district administrator, including as Director of Whole Child Success. I have implemented 504 plans, built student support systems, and trained school and district teams. Coaching is a separate service from counseling. It is not mental health treatment, and it is not part of my counseling license.

Safety and when coaching is not enough

What if I am in crisis?
If you are thinking about harming yourself or someone else, or you are in danger, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. I am not a crisis service, and I am not available between sessions for emergencies.

Can coaching help with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health conditions?
Coaching is not treatment for any mental health condition. If these are your main concerns, counseling or medical care is the right fit. Coaching can sit alongside that care when you also want practical support with routines and goals.

What happens if something comes up in coaching that sounds clinical?
I will tell you plainly, pause the coaching goal if needed, and help you find a counselor or doctor. I will not try to treat it inside coaching.

Do you offer medication advice?
No. Medication decisions belong with a prescriber. For ADHD evaluations and medication care, I refer to my partners, a doctoral-level ADHD specialist and a psychiatric nurse practitioner.