CONTACT REBECCA

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What are first steps for a prospective client?
A: The first step is to book an Initial Consult with me. These are 15-20 minute introductory calls (aka Discovery Calls) to assess your needs and ensure I am a good fit for those needs. I don’t assume I’m the coach for everyone.

After our Consult, the next step would be to decide on a recurring day/time to meet and an approximate duration (e.g. 12 sessions total or 3 months).

Q: How often do you meet with clients and for what duration?
A: Coaching sessions tend to start at a frequency of once per week, and then drop down to every other week when clients are applying strategies with some independence. 

I don’t typically start with less than this, as it can prove challenging to “pull the thread through” or gain momentum in the early stages of coaching.

Duration is very person/goal(s) specific, but on average, I work with folks for ~4-6 months. If you have a budget or timeframe in mind, please share that with me upfront, and I can give you a sense of what we could reasonably accomplish together within those parameters.

Q: How much is one coaching session?
A: Sessions are $125 per session. This is the median cost for coaching, which can range from $75 to upwards of $250 per session, depending on the type of coaching, experience level, etc. My rate is based on my many years of experience as an educator and coach, my education level, and overhead. Although insurance doesn’t currently cover coaching, you may be able to use your HSA or Flex account to cover some of the cost.

Q: Do you offer discounts or a sliding scale?
A: I understand that finances are a concern for many of us, so I do have an application for sliding scale for those in legitimate need of financial assistance; please email me if you’d like to apply. Unfortunately, I cannot offer this option to everyone, as I am a small business of one.

Q: What ages do you work with?
A: I work with high school through college-aged students, as well as adults well into their retirement years! Unfortunately, I do not work with kids under 14 years of age.

Q: Are you a mental health provider?
A: No, I am not qualified to provide mental health counseling, as I am primarily an educator and mentor. That said, I may provide counsel insofar as it relates to the client’s goals and is in line with their mental health plan (according to their provider). Although I focus largely on practical tools, I find these tools are most useful when dovetailed with complementary social-emotional tools.

Q: What does a typical session look like?
A: Sessions can vary greatly depending on the client’s goal(s), learning styles, and mental health, but once we have momentum and a goal, most sessions follow this flow:

  • overall well-being check-in

  • a refresh on the last session/any “assignments”

  • reflection on the past week 

    • observations

    • lingering questions

    • curiosity about what worked/what didn’t work, etc.

    • goal revision (as needed)

  • co-create next steps


FOR PARENTS

Q: Does my child need to be “on board” with coaching to get started?
A: I have joked that I do not take hostages, but in earnest, it is not in anyone’s best interest to embark on a journey (that is inherently about self-discovery and personal growth) while in a state of resistance, and/or resentment! The “R” that I’m comfortable with as a starting point is “reluctance.” 

Here’s a stoplight visual aid for inquiring parents to determine whether or not the time is right for coaching:

  • Resistance/Resentment

  • Reeling from recent personal events/in crisis

  • Reluctance

  • Ready for change

  • Relieved help is on the way

Q: What kind of communication do you offer?
A: I welcome open lines of communication with therapists/counselors, parents/caregivers, school personnel, etc. Any communication outside of coaching sessions that exceeds 15 minutes is considered billable hours. Longer conversations, whether with parents or other professionals, will require scheduling an appointment. 

Q: Are you doing in-person or virtual appointments?
A: I offer both! My office is located at 3 Ferry St., Easthampton, floor 4. If you come in person, I have a therapy-dog-in-training named Toby who is a big teddy bear and will probably greet you and then go back to his nap : ) If you are allergic, or just don’t like dogs, I can arrange to move him to a colleague’s office for our session- just ask.