Series 1: The basics

What is counseling with you?

Counseling is mental health treatment. I provide it as a licensed mental health counselor associate (LMHCA) under clinical supervision. We work on emotional, relational, and mental health concerns, and I can assess and diagnose when it is clinically appropriate.

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.

What is the main difference?

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.

Is coaching a lighter version of counseling?

No. It is a different kind of service, not a smaller one. Some people need counseling, some need coaching, and some need one after the other with a different provider.

Series 2: Choosing what fits

How do I know which one I need?

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

Can I have 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.

I have ADHD. Is coaching enough, or do I need counseling?

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 (see Series 5).

Is coaching only for people with ADHD?

Yes. 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.

Series 3: Cost, insurance, and scheduling

How much does each cost?

Individual counseling is $195 per session for private pay. Coaching is $195 per session. Room to Breathe, my ADHD home life support service, has its own package pricing (see page for more information).

Does insurance cover coaching?

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

Does insurance cover counseling?

I am in network with Premera, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and LifeWise. For other plans, the self-pay rate is $195, and I can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage varies, so please check with your plan.

Why is Room to Breathe priced in packages?

Counseling and coaching are billed per session. Room to Breathe is a defined program with a set length and a clear goal, so a package price makes the commitment easy to see up front.

Are sessions in person or online?

Counseling is offered by telehealth and am in the process of acquiring a new office in North Seattle.

Coaching sessions are by video, with an optional in-home session for home systems work.

What is your cancellation policy?

All of my services (counseling, coaching, and Room to Breathe) require 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. If you end a Room to Breathe package early, I refund the unused sessions. Sessions already held, and late cancellations, are charged at the standard session rate.

Is there a sliding scale?

A limited number of counseling spots are available at a reduced rate during economic hardship. A limited number of coaching spots are also available on a sliding scale.

Series 4: Privacy and records

Is what I share kept private in both?

I treat everything you share as private in both services. The legal protections are different, though, so the details below matter.

What are the limits of confidentiality in counseling?

Counseling is covered by health privacy law and professional ethics. There are legal exceptions, such as risk of serious harm to yourself or others and mandated reporting of child or vulnerable adult abuse. These are explained in the disclosure statement you sign at the start.

Is coaching confidential in the same way?

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. [CHAR: have your attorney confirm the exact confidentiality language for the coaching agreement.] 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 records?

Yes for counseling records, under Washington and federal rules. For coaching, 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. That applies to both services.

Series 5: Working with me in both roles

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.

Why do you keep them separate?

Mixing the two can blur boundaries, confuse what is private and what is not, and make it hard to know which rules apply. Keeping them separate protects you and keeps each service clear.

What if I need the other service?

I will refer you to another trusted provider and, with your consent, share what helps the handoff. I keep a referral list of practitioners who share my values, including ADHD specialists, counselors, and coaches.

Does the same rule apply to my family?

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

Can I use both if I work with different providers?

Yes. Many people do counseling with one provider and coaching with another. With your written consent, I can coordinate with your counselor or coach.

What are your qualifications for each service?

Counseling. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) in Washington State. I hold an M.Ed. in School Counseling and provide counseling under the clinical supervision of Dr. Cristina Louk, LMHC. My license number is 61686564. I have worked as a school counselor since 2013, led school crisis response teams from elementary through high school, and worked in inpatient mental health with youth.

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.

Series 6: 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.

Can I pause or end coaching at any time?

Yes. You can pause or stop whenever you need to. If you end a Room to Breathe package early, I refund the unused sessions. Sessions already held, and late cancellations under the 48-hour policy, are charged at the standard session rate.