ABOUT COACHING (return)

Clients seek coaching to help them accomplish important goals or develop new competencies. The areas of attention are not considered to be "medically necessary" or focused on restructuring of the personality or the relief of symptoms. Instead, attention is given to dysfunctional behavior patterns that interfere with accomplishment of the stated goal or simply providing support and direction to stay involved in goal directed behaviors. Examples of coaching may be to help somebody start a new business, complete their dissertation, figure out how to deal with retirement. Almost any specific goal can benefit from the special attention that coaching offers.

For clients who have been in psychotherapy or received behavioral interventions and no longer meet criteria to receive these services but want to remain in contact for ongoing support perhaps over the phone or skype, coaching may be also be beneficial.

In coaching a clear and specific contract guides the sessions and expectations and this contract is negotiated at the onset. Typically, the initial contract may only cover a few sessions to explore the benefit of coaching, and when the benefit of coaching has been experienced, additional contracts with new goals may be developed and negotiated. As each person has unique circumstances, the coaching contract can be completely adapted to these personal circumstances and is completely flexible.

As coaching is NOT a state licensed service, there are no laws governing this services. Unfortunately, this means that well intended individuals with relatively little training can offer this coaching service, but it also offers skilled clinicians an opportuntity to provide help without having to conform with all the laws related to the health care delivery system. As some people seek to avoid the stigma of mental illness or other negative consequences from filing insurance claims, coaching can be an appropriate alternative to receive help.

Coaching sessions are usually 30 minutes and the charge is $75 per session.