Coaching FAQs | Alternative Solutions

One-on-One Coaching FAQs

My approach to coaching is reflective, direct, and collaborative. You do not need to arrive with everything figured out. We look closely at what is happening, notice patterns that may be difficult to see from inside your own experience, and make space for clearer choices.
I’ll ask questions, reflect back what I’m hearing, and challenge you when something seems worth looking at more closely. My role is not to tell you what to do. It is to help you get underneath the noise and closer to your own inner truth, so the choices you make feel more aligned with who you are and how you want to live.
An important part of my framework is coherence. To me, that means bringing the mind, body, and heart into better alignment rather than trying to think your way through everything. Depending on what is coming up, that may include simple nervous system regulation or somatic practices such as breathwork, movement, journaling, or other tools that help create enough internal space to respond more consciously instead of staying caught in a fight-or-flight pattern.
Therapy and coaching can both create space for reflection, but they serve different purposes. Therapy is often focused on mental health, healing, diagnosis, and working through emotional or psychological distress. Coaching is generally more focused on awareness, patterns, choices, and what you want to create or change moving forward.
My work is not therapy, and I do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. I work with people who are able to engage reflectively in their own lives and want help seeing what may be difficult to see on their own. Sometimes that means understanding a pattern, making a decision, navigating a transition, or getting closer to what feels true for you. Coaching and therapy can also complement each other, and some people choose to do both.
We can work on whatever feels most present in your life right now. That might be a decision you keep circling, a relationship or transition that feels unresolved, a pattern you keep repeating, a sense that something is off even if you cannot quite name it, or a desire to make changes that feel more aligned with who you are.
You do not need to fit your situation into a specific category before we begin. Part of the work is understanding what is actually happening underneath the surface and what may be most useful to focus on.
Usually, but I would not describe it as traditional homework. A lot of the work between sessions is simply becoming more aware of your thoughts, reactions, patterns, and where you are in relation to what we have been exploring together.
Depending on what we are working with, you may leave a session with something to notice, reflect on, journal about, or practice differently in real life. I may also suggest coherence practices that support nervous system regulation and help bring the mind, body, and heart back into better alignment. That could include breathwork, movement, time in nature, or other simple somatic practices.
Integration is an important part of the process. Insight by itself is useful, but lasting change usually requires new experiences. Once you have greater clarity about a pattern, the next step is often practicing a different way of responding so your system can begin learning something new.
My goal is not to give you a long list of assignments. It is to help you build enough awareness that the work begins showing up naturally in your everyday life.
No. You do not need to arrive with a perfectly defined goal or even a clear explanation of what is wrong. Sometimes you just know that something feels unresolved, repetitive, confusing, or out of alignment.
That is part of what the discovery call is for. We can start with what is surfacing, talk through what has been pulling at your attention, and begin to understand what may be underneath it. From there, we can see whether coaching feels like the right fit and what direction might be useful.
Most clients work with me for around 10 sessions, with each session lasting 90 minutes. We may meet weekly or every other week depending on what you are working through, your pace, and what feels most useful. We can talk through cadence together after the discovery call.
The work is designed to be reusable across different areas of your life. As you begin recognizing your own patterns and understanding what is keeping you stuck, the goal is for things to feel less tangled, for decisions to become clearer, and for you to have more trust in your own ability to recognize what is true for you.
My goal is not to keep you in coaching indefinitely. It is to help you develop a way of seeing and working with your own life that continues beyond our time together.
You can book individual 90-minute sessions if that feels like the right place to start. Sometimes one focused conversation is enough to create meaningful clarity. It is not uncommon to get caught spiraling or ruminating around a decision, relationship, transition, or situation, and a single session can help you step back, see what is actually happening, and make a choice that feels more aligned with what is true for you.
Other situations benefit from more time. If you are noticing recurring patterns, such as repeatedly ending up in the same kinds of relationships, getting stuck in similar cycles, or wanting to understand why certain experiences keep repeating, a coaching package gives us more space to work with those patterns over time.
We do not need to decide that before we talk. The discovery call is a chance to look at what you are working through and decide what level of support makes the most sense.
Traditional life coaching often focuses on goals, accountability, habits, performance, and helping someone move toward a defined outcome. My approach is less about pushing goals on you and more about understanding what is actually driving the choices, patterns, and tension underneath it.
We all carry conditioning from our experiences, relationships, expectations, and the roles we have learned to play. Over time, those patterns can become so familiar that they simply feel like reality.
Because I am coming in from outside that existing system, I can often see assumptions, inconsistencies, blind spots, or recurring patterns that are harder to recognize from inside your own experience. I will challenge you, but I will not tell you what your goals should be or decide what is true for you.

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Personal Consulting FAQs

Coaching is focused on the person inside the situation. We may look at patterns, decisions, emotions, nervous system responses, relationships, or what feels true for you underneath the noise.
Consulting is focused more directly on the external situation itself. I may help organize information, research options, make connections, manage logistics, or create a clearer path through something complicated. When it is useful, consulting can also include education around the options available so you can better understand the landscape and make informed decisions.
In that sense, coaching helps you make sense of your internal experience, while consulting helps make sense of the external moving pieces.
The two can overlap. A complicated project can bring up stress, indecision, old patterns, or emotional responses, while personal growth can create practical decisions that need to be carried out. When that happens, we can work with both sides of the situation rather than forcing it into one category.
If you are not sure what kind of support your situation requires, complete the Consulting Inquiry Form. We can use that information to clarify the scope, talk through what would be most useful, and decide whether the work is primarily consulting, coaching, or some combination of both.
Personal consulting can be especially useful when something in your life has become too complex, time-consuming, or difficult to organize on your own.
A few examples include:
- A major life transition with a lot of logistics, such as moving, divorce administration, downsizing, changing jobs, relocating, or another situation with many practical pieces to coordinate.
- A decision that requires research and comparison, where you need help gathering information, weighing options, understanding tradeoffs, and organizing what you need to make an informed decision.
- A personal project that has become overwhelming, with too many moving parts, unfinished tasks, vendors, forms, timelines, or follow-up that needs structure and momentum.
The common thread is that something external needs clarity, organization, and movement. If you are not sure whether your situation fits, the Consulting Inquiry Form is a good place to start.
Yes. Small business owners are actually a natural fit for the way I work because the challenges often cross several areas at once. You may need help thinking through a technology decision, organizing scheduling or systems, researching options, managing a special project, or simply making sense of too many moving pieces.
I can move between those different threads and help bring structure to the bigger picture rather than requiring every need to fit neatly into one category.
Consulting engagements are scoped individually based on what you need, the complexity of the work, and how involved you want me to be. If you have something in mind, complete the Consulting Inquiry Form and we can talk through the project, scope, and pricing.
Personal consulting is scoped individually based on the complexity of the situation, the amount of research or coordination involved, and how hands-on you want me to be.
Some projects are relatively contained, with a clear beginning and end. Others may involve several moving pieces and require ongoing research, organization, follow-up, or coordination over a longer period of time.
Before we begin, we’ll define the scope together so you understand what I’m taking on, what you remain responsible for, and how pricing will work. If the scope changes along the way, we can revisit it rather than letting the project quietly expand.
The Consulting Inquiry Form is the best place to start. Once I understand what you’re dealing with, I can give you a clearer sense of scope, involvement, and pricing.

Consulting Inquiry Form

Group Coaching & Community FAQs

Group coaching offers a more accessible and affordable way to receive support while learning alongside other people who may be working through similar themes.
Unlike one-on-one coaching, the value does not come from direct individual coaching in front of the group. I guide the conversation, introduce themes, reflect back common patterns, and offer perspectives or practices that may be useful to the group as a whole.
There is also something powerful about hearing how other people experience similar challenges. Group settings can create perspective, recognition, co-regulation, and a sense of connection that is different from working individually. Sometimes you learn just as much from someone else’s pattern as you do from your own.
Groups may also be centered around a particular theme, such as nervous system regulation, recovery, relationships, or another shared area of exploration. For some people, group coaching feels less intense than one-on-one work while still offering meaningful support, insight, and connection.
Each group is built around a theme or shared area of exploration. I guide the conversation, introduce questions or practices, and reflect back the patterns or common threads I’m hearing across the group.
Group coaching is conversational and interactive. Participants may ask one another questions, reflect on what they are hearing, or share perspectives when it feels appropriate. I help guide those exchanges so the conversation stays respectful, useful, and connected to the purpose of the group.
The goal is not to put people on the spot or coach individuals publicly. You can participate at your own pace, listen, reflect, and learn from the experiences and perspectives of others.
Depending on the group, we may also incorporate practices around awareness, nervous system regulation, journaling, or other tools that support integration outside the session.
The exact structure may vary depending on the theme and the people in the room, but the goal is not simply to take turns speaking. It is to create space for genuine dialogue, reflection, and learning from one another.
Group coaching is a good fit for people who are open to learning alongside others and who are willing to participate with honesty, curiosity, and respect.
You do not need to be comfortable sharing everything. Some people learn by talking, some by listening, and some by recognizing themselves in another person’s experience. The group is designed to make room for different levels of participation while still creating meaningful connection.
It can be especially useful if you want support around a shared theme, are interested in hearing different perspectives, or would benefit from being around people who are working through similar patterns or transitions.
The best fit is someone who is open to reflection, willing to consider new perspectives, and able to respect the experiences and privacy of the other people in the room.
I set clear expectations around privacy, respect, and appropriate boundaries at the beginning of the group. Participants are asked to treat what others share as private and not carry personal stories or identifying details outside the space.
At the same time, group coaching is different from one-on-one work because I cannot control what another participant may choose to repeat outside the group. I want to be transparent about that rather than overpromise confidentiality.
I also encourage people to share at the level that feels appropriate for them. You do not have to disclose deeply personal information in order to benefit from the group.
Group coaching is more structured and intentional. It is built around a theme or area of growth, with guided conversation, reflection, and practices designed to help participants gain insight and integrate what they are learning.
Community events are often more informal, accessible, and service-oriented. Many are free and are designed to help people connect, contribute, learn, and take part in experiences that support personal and collective growth.
I also work with local men’s and women’s groups as part of that community work. You can find more information about upcoming gatherings, service opportunities, and community events on the Community page.
Upcoming group coaching opportunities and community events will be posted on the Community page as they become available.
Some offerings may be recurring, while others may be one-time workshops, service projects, or themed groups. If something interests you, the event listing will include the details you need to know, including timing, location, cost if applicable, and how to register.
Because offerings change over time, the Community Events page is the best place to see what is currently available.
No. Community events are open independently of coaching unless a specific event says otherwise. You do not need to be a coaching client to attend, participate, volunteer, or get involved.
Some people may discover coaching through community, and others may simply come for connection, service, or shared experiences. Both are welcome.
Alternative Solutions is my coaching and consulting practice. The community work is a separate but complementary part of what I do, focused more on connection, shared experiences, service, and opportunities to learn alongside others.
I work with local men’s and women’s groups and help support community events, but participation in those spaces does not require you to be an Alternative Solutions client.
Some people may discover coaching or consulting through community, while others may engage only with the community side. They are connected through the same values of clarity, connection, growth, and meaningful participation, but they are not the same service.

Community Events

Getting Started and Working Together FAQs

A discovery call is a one-hour conversation where we can get into what is actually going on, not just stay at the surface. We’ll talk about what is surfacing, what feels unresolved, where you may be looking for relief or change, and the patterns or questions underneath it.
My goal during the call is to understand you and your situation well enough to get a sense of what kind of support may actually be useful. I may ask questions, reflect back what I’m noticing, or help you look at something from a different angle. You are also welcome to ask me anything you want to know about my approach or what working together would look like.
I do not expect you to make a decision about a package or payment during the call. Afterward, I’ll follow up by email with a summary of what we discussed and a few options that I think could fit, including the suggested duration, cadence, and cost. If support between sessions would be useful, we can also talk about what that might look like as part of the engagement.
If we use transcription or another session tool to help create that summary, we will discuss that beforehand and only use it with your consent.
From there, you can look at the options and decide what feels right for you. There is no reason to commit to more support than you need at the beginning. You can start with a smaller option and add more later if the work continues to feel useful.
Most one-on-one coaching and consulting sessions are held virtually through Zoom, which allows us to work together regardless of location and makes scheduling easier.
Depending on the situation, local in-person options may occasionally be available, but they are not the standard format. Group coaching and community events may be virtual or in person depending on the specific offering.
If an offering has a different format, location, or setup, those details will always be included when you book or register.
Once you decide to work together, we’ll agree on a cadence that fits the type of support you need. Some clients meet weekly, others every other week, and the schedule may change over time depending on what we are working through.
Appointments are booked through my scheduling system, and you’ll receive confirmation details by email. If you need to reschedule or cancel, you can use the links in your confirmation email or reach out directly if something unusual comes up.
I try to keep scheduling flexible while still protecting the time we have set aside for the work.
Payment depends on the type of service. Discovery calls are free. Individual sessions and group offerings are generally paid at the time of booking or registration. Coaching packages are discussed after the discovery call, when I send you the options I think best fit what you’re looking for. Personal consulting is scoped and priced individually before the work begins.
Standard electronic payment methods will be available, and any pricing, payment schedule, or commitment will be clear before you agree to move forward.
Life happens. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give at least 24 hours’ notice whenever possible. Appointments changed with less than 24 hours’ notice may be charged or counted as used, depending on the type of service.
If something unexpected comes up, reach out. I try to be reasonable while also protecting the time that has been reserved.
Yes. Individual 90-minute sessions are available if you want focused support around a specific decision, situation, or question without committing to a longer coaching package.
If you are new to working with me, I recommend starting with a discovery call so we can make sure a single session is the right fit for what you need. From there, I can send you the appropriate booking option.
If you have worked with me before, you already know your returning-client rate and how to reach me to schedule.
If we both feel like working together is a good fit, we can usually get started fairly quickly. After the discovery call, I’ll send you a follow-up with the options I think make the most sense based on what we discussed.
Once you choose how you’d like to move forward, we can schedule your first session based on availability. In many cases, that can happen within a week or two.
Yes. Gift cards are available for eligible Alternative Solutions services. I also offer a limited number of reduced-cost spaces for coaching or group programs when availability allows. If cost is a barrier, you’re welcome to ask about current options.

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Privacy, Confidentiality & Ethics FAQs

I treat what you share with me as private and handle personal information with care and discretion. My professional background includes banking and technology, where security, privacy, and responsible handling of sensitive information were part of the environment I worked in. That experience has made me very conscious of how client information is stored, shared, and protected.
I use established business tools, including Google Workspace, to manage scheduling, communication, and documents, and I am thoughtful about what information is stored where and who has access to it. I may also use AI tools as part of my own workflow, but I do not treat technology as a substitute for judgment, discretion, or appropriate boundaries around client information.
I do not share the substance of private client conversations with others without permission, except where disclosure may be required by law.
Yes. If I believe something has moved beyond the scope of coaching or consulting, especially into crisis management or an area that requires licensed clinical support, I may recommend that you connect with a therapist, physician, emergency resource, or another appropriate professional.
If something ever feels outside the scope of my role, I will address it directly rather than pretend to provide support I am not qualified to provide.
In group or community settings, I also make privacy expectations and boundaries clear, while recognizing that I cannot control what other participants may choose to share outside the space.
My work is guided by the training and certifications I have completed, along with clear boundaries around scope, privacy, consent, and client autonomy.
I believe clients should understand what they are agreeing to, what my role is, and where the limits of that role are. I do not diagnose, treat mental health conditions, or present coaching as a substitute for licensed clinical care.
I also believe strongly in transparency. If something falls outside my training, experience, or scope, I will say so directly rather than pretend to provide support I am not qualified to provide.
You can learn more about my background, experience, and training on the About page.
I keep client information organized and limit access to what is actually needed for the work. Forms, scheduling information, and business records are handled through established tools such as Google Workspace and Acuity.
I am also highly organized by nature, which helps me keep information structured, minimize unnecessary duplication, and make sure personal details are stored where they actually belong rather than scattered across different systems.
My background in banking and technology has made me especially attentive to how information is stored, accessed, and shared. No digital system is risk-free, but I take reasonable steps to use reputable tools and handle personal information carefully.
Yes. I use AI as a support tool for things like research, organization, brainstorming, and administrative work. I do not use it as a substitute for my own judgment, discernment, or the human relationship at the center of the work.
I am thoughtful about what information is appropriate to put into any digital tool. I do not rely on AI to diagnose, make decisions for clients, or determine what is true for someone.
If I ever use a transcription, note-taking, or AI-assisted tool during a session, I will discuss it with you first so you understand what is being used and can make an informed choice about whether you are comfortable with it.
For me, AI is a tool that can help me work more efficiently and see information from different angles. The responsibility for how it is used, and for the decisions I make in my work, remains with me.
I try to keep roles clear from the beginning. Because my work can include coaching, consulting, and community spaces, there may occasionally be overlap between people, relationships, or situations.
If I know someone connected to you, have an existing relationship that could affect my objectivity, or believe a situation creates a meaningful conflict of interest, I will address it directly with you. Depending on the circumstances, we may decide that clear boundaries are enough, or that it would be better for you to work with someone else.
I also pay attention to role boundaries over time. If a coaching, consulting, or community relationship begins to blur in a way that could interfere with the work, I will name it rather than ignore it.
My goal is to protect the integrity of the relationship, your privacy, and your ability to make your own choices without hidden pressure or divided loyalties.