Coaching or Therapy?

As a licensed therapist, I have developed my coaching practice because my experience in working with neurodiverse couples tells me that you seek education, skills, and communication strategies in order to understand and improve your relationship.

Coaching differs from therapy in several respects.

- it begins in the reality that you are facing in your life today

- it is oriented to a specific set of circumstances

- it is based in action planning

- it is positive and supportive of the plans we develop together to meet your own unique needs

- it is not rehashing of your past or seeking the deeper roots of psychological distress

- it can be done in conjunction with work you are doing with your psychotherapist

- it is a means of developing your own expertise in managing your life, just as you would improve your game with a tennis coach

Can someone really help online?

Yes! Clients report that working online provides a unique and convenient way to meet that sometimes can feel even more personal and direct than meeting in person. Also, the convenience of scheduling without transit time, as well as the ability to work together from three separate locations, make working online a great advantage for many busy couples and for those who travel.

Together or separately?

Many couples supplement our six couple sessions with individual sessions for either or both partners separately. This is effective, and often recommended, because while you are working together on improving your relationship, you also each have unique questions and perspectives that could benefit from individual support.

How long does coaching take?

Our first two sessions include discussing your challenges and an introduction to neurodiversity, in order to be certain we are using the same language and share a common understanding of what we are talking about when we say neurodiverse. I will develop a personalized four-session schedule that incorporates your goals and is also respectful of your budget, so that you don't feel you're caught in an endless cycle of coaching. Our goal will be to help you identify where you are and where you would like to be, and then I will support you as we build the roadmap. I will hold you accountable to your choices, and I will remind you of your goals, which we will adjust to account for changes you may want to make. I will be your guide, and your companion. I will keep you on track.

How do we know you can do what you say you can do?

Our first session is an opportunity for you to gauge whether you trust me, whether you believe you can work with me, whether you feel that our styles are compatible, and whether you sense that I have talents and abilities that will be helpful and supportive to you as you undertake this new look at your life and your dreams. And, of course, you are welcome to ask me as many questions as you like in order to feel comfortable with your decision to work with me.

Many clients tell me that the only problem they have is wishing they had started this work sooner. You can decide whether this is the right thing for you, and whether this is the right time. One way to begin your discernment process is to start with one or more of my courses at TheNeurodiverseCouple.thinkific.com.

How will we know when our work is finished?

Once we complete our two initial sessions and the four-week program afterwards, you may want to schedule the occasional session after that in order to concentrate on specific areas that may arise. We can certainly do that. I will be here for you as long as you want to continue working with me. You will decide when to move on. My goal it to offer you support as you develop skills and strategies so that you no longer need me.