“When things change inside you, things change around you”
FAQ’S
What’s the difference between therapy and coaching?
While there are some similarities, there are important differences. With both of these roles I help people to make the changes they want in their lives and manage current difficulties they are experiencing.
In both we would have specific goals that we are working towards that may include:
Increased insight and understanding of self and situations
Behavior changes
Mindset shifts
Improving communication and boundary setting
Learning new coping skills
Navigating relationship dynamics with self and others
I see the main differences between therapy and coaching more to do with the framework they each fall under. When I have my therapist hat on I am working under the medical model framework. I work with people who meet the criteria for mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis. Usually with therapy clients use their health insurance for coverage and payment. I am only able to see therapy clients who live in the state (VT) where I hold my therapy licenses.
I see coaching as falling under the personal development framework. I use my skills and knowledge from my extensive training as a therapist, but do not diagnose my coaching clients. We are working on overall personal wellness. Coaching is not covered under health insurance, so clients pay out of pocket for the coaching packages/courses. If I assess that a coaching client is in need of therapy and they do not live in my state, I will refer them to a therapist in the state they live in. In my coaching role I am able to work with a client no matter where they are located.
If you have specific questions to help determine if therapy or coaching would be appropriate for you, please just reach out and ask.
Who is a good fit for working with Amanda?
I understand that everyone has their own needs and ways to approach change and learning. I enjoy finding strategies that will best work for you. However, in order for true transformation to come, there are a few things that you will need to commit to:
Being honest with yourself and with me.
Doing the work involved to change your situation. This work varies depending on what we are focusing on, but all of it involves some sort of action. There is a time for exploring, a time for learning, and then a time for action. We will do all of these to bring about the transformation you are looking for.
You’re open to giving and receiving feedback. I see coaching as a collaborative relationship. We need to be able to build a relationship where you are comfortable telling me if something isn’t working for you and one where I can give you feedback to help you to continue to move towards progress.
What if I don’t have time for coaching?
Coaching is a step you would be taking for self–development. Only you can prioritize what you will and will not be giving your time, energy, and money towards. I’d ask you to look a little deeper into this. What can you do to prioritize yourself and your development? I cannot create more time in the day for you. I can help you look to see what you might be able to move around to create space for yourself and this work. Ultimately though, this is about your priorities. Often people who don’t feel that they can find any time/space for themselves are usually the people who need the attention to this work the most.
Why does the individual coaching package start at 12 weeks?
A 12-week commitment is standard in coaching practices. Change takes time and I don’t want to short-change you. From all of my years working with people, I know that it will take us a couple of sessions to get into the groove. Then as we get into the “meat” of things it can get uncomfortable as you are confronting things that you may have been avoiding for a long time. Sometimes people want to return to their avoidance patterns. If that happens, they never actually reach the other side of these experiences and continue to be stuck. So we will commit to working through these potentially uncomfortable periods so that I can support you each and every step of the way to help you move through them.
With other topics, it may not get that uncomfortable but you may need time to practice implementing the new skills out “in the real world”. I want to be available to support you as you are learning how to do this, help to identify how to tweak the skills to work better for you and problem solve anything that may come up for you.
How can I learn more?
Schedule a complimentary exploratory call with me. We’ll talk about where you’re at, where you want to be, and figure out if we are a good fit.