Learn a little more about me
My background
I have always had a passion for children, as soon as I could be a babysitter I was the “favorite babysitter”. As a junior and senior in high school I coached a kindergarten and first grade soccer team, I was a children’s ski coach throughout college. I just get and understand young people! They are my jam!
Professionally speaking, I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2014 but have working directly with kids for the 20 years before that.
I have worked in residential behavioral treatment programs, was a Juvenile Probation Officer for the State of Alaska, did some adoption work, parent education classes while in Grad school.
I also worked as a Hospice Children’s Bereavement Counselor and created and directed a summer camp for grieving children.
in the workplace
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Being a professional in the mental health field I believe in and follow professional standards of rules and ethics. The “Coaching” field does not have any standards for regulation and as a result anyone can start being a coach. That is actually what has stopped me from pursuing working in the Coaching field until recently.
At a minimum, 10 years I ago, I would mock the coaching industry, because if all you need is a positive and “Can DO!!” attitude you can get anyone to where and what they want to be, you just have to “want it”, “believe it” and “BE IT!!” and presto, the world is yours!
Because, I mean, yes, you have to “want it” and you have to “work towards it” but I feel it is way more complicated? No. Nuanced, maybe?
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2 reasons: One, for the last several years I have seen a change, or honestly, a lack of change in the counseling world, how the services are rendered, the insurance compensation, how counseling typically focuses on those areas in your life that are causing you negative effects in your daily living and work to just get you to healed but not flourishing.
I believe in counseling, I REALLY, TRULY believe in counseling, and that it works and it is needed and helpful! I think counseling should be normalized by everyone and that it should be like going to a dentist twice a year. If everything is going well, great! See you in 6 months. If things are stressful or you feel that you are struggling in something, let’s set up a couple times to meet and see if we can get things sorted for you.
That’s not how it works. I want to say it’s improving but, I’m not really sure that it is.
Mental health takes the perspective that “something is wrong” and it will get you to your baseline (heals) and then you go and work it from there.
I mean that’s great, but, and here’s where I’ve changed my stance on coaching, at least for mental health professionals offering coaching, is that those seeking coaching are at least at baseline, but honestly well above your baseline of coping and managing and you want to grow, thrive and prosper and in the mental health world that is a non-viable insurable need, soo, you don’t get the benefit of the expertise of a skilled professional to help guide and support you to the potential that the lovely you are capable of. The you, who is not “really” struggling, not drowning in no longer effective coping skills or beliefs, but you maybe “stuck or feeling stagnant”, have some limiting beliefs or self-talk that is holding you back.
Looking for something different?
From relationship dynamics, to tackling goals, to feeling more empowered, and living up to your potential? Let’s talk life coaching and see how we can work together towards a brighter life for you!