​Some days, you just want to talk it out. You want a coach, counselor and confidante. Talk to Rosie.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are services in person or online?
All services are online. Although Rosie misses the days of sitting across from clients, most people have adapted well to video and no longer miss sessions for a myriad of reasons like weather, viruses, and childcare. And more people are reaching out for help! So how does it work?
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A link to a secure video appointment is sent to the email and or phone (SMS) about 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. On a phone, the client will use an app called "Telehealth for Simple Practice." Even if there are multiple people in the session, each is able to use the link from their own phone in whatever location they may be.
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Clients have chosen to sit in their cars, on quiet park benches, and in their offices, garages, and yes, even in the bedroom to get the privacy and comfort they need to talk. WiFi, quiet space, and the readiness for a meeting with a professional are what is required.
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Why would I talk to a stranger? I could talk to a colleague, friend or family member, right?
Yes, and great questions! First, your therapist or coach is only a stranger the first time you meet. Hopefully, you will quickly feel at ease in her presence and look forward to your sessions.
Look, the professional relationship between you and a coach or therapist is one of the few places in life where it’s “all about you” and your trained professional has the expertise to truly help! Why not enjoy the focused attention?
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The difference between a therapist or coach and a colleague/friend/family member is 1) the professional is trained and experienced in talking to people about difficulties and helping them work through them effectively, 2) therapy and coaching relationships create a bond of confidentiality (with a few exceptions which will be discussed with you) so you won’t have worry about others “knowing your business,” 3) you will not run the risk of burdening people who may not have the emotional resources to hear your distress, and 4) you will not run the risk of feeling embarrassed or weak around people you see every day after being vulnerable and disclosing private matters. And let's be frank, often we - or our loved ones - won't be fully transparent with the people close to us because we care about hurting each other.
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A professional can help you approach your situation with openness and non-judgment opening up new pathways. A professional will teach you new skills, help you gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself.
How does it work? What happens in sessions?
At the initial session, your therapist or coach will attempt to help you relax and get oriented to the new relationship. She will explain her background, describe how therapy and coaching work including the benefits and limitations, and clarify what you can expect during services. You may briefly discuss your family, physical health, medications, and other pertinent information so she may complete a bio-, psycho-, social-, spiritual- assessment to identify strengths, barriers to wellness, and areas for growth. Part of this assessment is diagnosing mental health disorders if present. Therapy and coaching are collaborative so you will be asked getting-to-know-you questions to discover what prompted the call for assistance, the background of the issue(s), and what issues you would like to resolve.
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Subsequent sessions are about creating a relationship of trust and working toward goals. Primarily, we do this through conversation with the therapist or coach introducing tools, skills, psychoeducation, and reflections to help the client move forward.
What if I don’t have a diagnosis? Can I still get help?
Absolutely! Often, clients begin services when they are feeling deeply depressed and/or anxious to the extent that a medical diagnosis is appropriate. If a client meets the criteria for a mental health diagnosis the therapist will discuss this with the client. Other times, clients are sufficiently managing mental health symptoms, but they need a “coach” to keep them focused on their life goals, to help them take their business to the next level, or to create sustainable relationships. In these cases, life coaching services will be offered. The appropriate service will be recommended after the initial assessment.
How often do I have to come and how long will it take?
The length of time a person uses coaching and therapy services and the frequency varies. Some issues are solved in 6-10 visits and others require a year or more. And some folks prefer to keep the professional's number in their phone and touch base off-and-on as needed.
The issue(s)-at-hand, the person’s background and temperament, and their resiliency are factors.
Therapy sessions will be weekly when you begin treatment with few exceptions, but most people begin spacing sessions further apart as they build confidence, skills, and emotional health.
The frequency of coaching sessions will vary depending on the client's goals.
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For therapy, frequency and duration of treatment are part of an on-going discussion between the therapist and client, and therapy services must meet criteria for “medical necessity” when billing insurances.
Life coaching services are not covered by insurance and will be provided on a pay per hour service.
What can I do before or between sessions to make the best use of my time?
Our lives are often hectic. It is not uncommon for the day a person has therapy or coaching to be the day their mind is overwhelmed or blank! You can maximize the effectiveness of your time by investing 10-15 minutes prior to sessions thinking about specific issues or thinking patterns you want to discuss, including any situations that came up since your last visit that were problematic or bothersome.
Many clients keep a brief sentence journal during the week where they jot down an incident, what they were thinking, how they were feeling (including emotional symptoms like “bawled” or “felt like I couldn’t breathe”), and what happened. Or they may write “talk to Rosie about…” to remind themselves to bring up an important topic or conversation.
In some cases, clients arrive for sessions and don’t have words for what they are feeling, in which case, the therapist or coach will help fill in the blanks.
Therapy and coaching clients are often given “homework” assignments to complete between sessions. The homework will be a continuation of the client’s learning and serve to reinforce new skill sets. These are always optional and we move at the client’s pace so homework is client-specific and manageable.
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