Frequently Asked Questions

  • Psychotherapy (AKA therapy) is for treating diagnosable mental illnesses. If your mental health is suffering to the point where it impacts your safety or your ability to function in your usual work or family roles, then please seek out a mental health professional Start Here or contact your insurance company.

    While coaching and skills training are not a substitute for therapy, they can be a great addition to therapy to help folks move forward. Also, some people may carry a diagnosis of a mental illness that is chronic but well-managed; they have gotten all the benefits they can from therapy and are ready to try a new approach to reach the next level of personal or professional development.

    Most of my clients have participated in and benefited from therapy. It has helped stabilize them when they were in a crisis, or it has helped them gain some insights into their past. 

    And now they’re looking for new strategies and a fresh perspective to help them turn insight into action, improve their personal lives, and accomplish their career goals.

    Now that we’ve made that clear, here are some key differences between therapy and coaching approaches:

    Coaching and skills training are action-oriented and focused on solving problems and achieving goals.

    While therapy is often open-ended and can go on for years, coaching is shorter-term. 

    Coaching focuses on present moment challenges and future goals, while therapy is often more focused on the past and how it impacts the present.

    If you’re not sure which type of support you need, you’re welcome to book a free Strategy Sesh. As a clinical social worker, I can help you make that assessment.

  • A Skillful Life, LLC does not provide clinical or healthcare services and therefore is unable to bill insurance or provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.

    The benefits of this are:

    We do not have to pathologize your natural neurological and emotional differences with a diagnosis. 

    We can take a shorter-term, flexible approach. We can just focus on what works to get you to your goals SOON.

    We can work together regardless of where you live.

    You get unique between-session support like Office Hour Zoom calls and access to private Facebook groups.

  • Education

    Master of Social Work (2021)

    Eastern Washington University

    Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2016)

    Washington State University

    Master of Arts in Social Justice (2015)

    Kilns College

    Bachelor of Arts in Human Development (2012)

    Washington State University

    Licenses & Certifications

    Licensed Social Worker Associate Independent Clinical (LSWAIC)

    Washington State Department of Health

    Certified Case Manager (CCM)

    Commission for Case Manager Certification