Head for Health Life Coaching and Psychotherapy in Newburyport

FAQ’s Psychotherapy

Why should I consider psychotherapy?
You are suffering from overwhelming feelings that negatively impact your quality of life and that of your loved ones. You have tried to make things better but now recognize that you need help from a professional.

What’s the difference between therapy and coaching?
Therapy looks at how your past is negatively influencing your present life and preventing you from experiencing happiness. Therapy helps you unlearn some of your current ways of feeling, thinking and acting in order to increase your sense of life satisfaction.

Coaching is about planning your future. The process supports you in identifying goals and objectives and then holds you accountable for creating the life you have committed to living.
(For a more in depth discussion, please click on “Article” tab and read “Coaching and Psychotherapy: Sisters not Twins.”)

What are some of the benefits of working with a psychotherapist?
You are no longer alone with your problems. You have an attentive, trustworthy, and impartial listener. You get to know yourself in new ways gaining perspective on what is causing your pain. You develop a plan to start feeling more in control of your feelings, thoughts and actions.

What types of clients do you work with?
I work with teens, adults, couples and families who come to me with a variety of life issues they want to address. I specialize in helping clients suffering from depression, anxiety, relational issues and the effects of recent and/or childhood trauma (PTSD).

What would my therapy schedule look like?
I work with clients generally on a once-a-week or twice-a-month basis. Sessions are usually 50 minutes. My office hours include availability during the day and early evening hours Monday through Friday noon. Generally I am only in my North Reading office on Tuesdays. I accommodate clients’ scheduling needs as much as possible. Commitment to attending therapy sessions on a regular basis is essential for progress. I do charge for cancellations of less than 24-hours notice. I consult with parents of minors as needs arise.

What are my payment options?
I take some health insurances and have a sliding scale for private pay. When you contact me, I will refer you to my billing person who can determine your insurance benefit for my services and/or we can discuss private pay options.

How do I get started?
Call or email me to schedule an interview/intake session. The first session allows me to learn something about what is distressing you and what your expectations are for therapy. It gives you an opportunity to hear how I would approach addressing your problems. The interview/intake also provides you with an opportunity to determine how comfortable you feel working with me. If all parties are satisfied that therapy together would be productive, we agree on a regular therapy schedule. I require payment via health insurance or through self-pay for all interview/intake psychotherapy sessions.

Prior to the interview/intake session, I ask clients intending to use their insurance to cover the costs of therapy to call my billing service to determine their exact benefit if I am to become their therapist. I provide contact information regarding my billing service when we set up the interview/intake appointment.

FAQ’s Life/Wellness Coaching

Why should I consider life/wellness coaching?
Although some parts of your life are working pretty well, you feel dissatisfied to the extent that you are ready to make some significant life changes. You may have a fairly clear idea about what you must or need to change or you may be searching for some direction. You probably feel lost on some level and fearful about what it will take to succeed.

What’s the difference between coaching and therapy?
See Psychotherapy FAQ’s section above.

What are some of the benefits of working with a life/wellness coach?
Coaching provides a solid framework for moving your life forward. You will engage in exercises and activities that help you define and refine your life/wellness priorities. You will determine a life purpose and/or wellness vision that will guide you in your decision-making. You will learn to use your present strengths as a foundation for developing the new skills necessary for achieving your goals. As your coach, I will hold you accountable for following through with what you commit to do.

What types of clients do you work with?
I work with adults who are facing transitions in terms of empty-nesting, career changes, retirement, divorce and/or health challenges in areas such as stress reduction, weight loss, physical fitness, nutrition.

What would my coaching schedule look like?
Coaching can occur by phone or in person or a combination of the two. Generally I encourage clients to commit to a 10-week coaching package. This time span has been shown to be the minimum time clients need to initiate meaningful change in their lives. Frequency of coaching sessions over the 10 weeks and length of sessions will be determined by the coaching package you choose with flexibility for individual needs. Sessions vary in length from 30-minute to 2-hour blocks. My hours include availability during the day and occasional evening hours Monday through Friday noon. Generally I am only in my North Reading office on Tuesdays. I accommodate clients’ scheduling needs as much as possible. Commitment to attending coaching sessions on a regular basis is essential for success. I do charge for cancellations of less than 24-hours notice.

What are my payment options?
Coaching is strictly private pay. Coaching packages generally require a deposit of half the total cost of the package on the first session following the interview. The remainder of the balance is due halfway through the sessions. Other payments schedules may be made available upon request.

How do I get started?
Call or email me to schedule a free 30-minute interview session.
The interview gives you an opportunity to talk about the life changes you want to make and your expectations for coaching. I demonstrate my coaching approach and present some of the coaching tools I use. The interview also provides you with an opportunity to determine how comfortable you feel working with me. If we are satisfied that coaching together would be productive, we discuss which coaching package best meets your needs and set up a schedule of meetings.