Holistic Mental Wellness

Why coaching?

I began my career as a therapist in 2013.  From October 2016 to August 2022, I maintained LPC licensure in Texas.  Currently I am not a practicing Counselor or Psychotherapist.  When the pandemic began, it was clear that coaching provided the opportunity to share my skillset with more than just  those who reside in Texas.  It's been a wild (and occasionally bumpy) ride these past few years!   COVID-19 offered a slew of new challenges and traumas.  I am incredibly grateful to have made the transition to coaching during this unprecedented global event.  I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most amazing, talented, incredible individuals from all over the country these past few years! 

Coaching is innately different from therapy.  It is a relationship of equals joined together for one specific goal - developing your best life!

.  While the therapy process can be stuffy and uptight, coaching has an ease to it.  Sessions are done over calls or FaceTime.  For those enrolled in monthly packages, you have access to me for text support between sessions.  

   Coaching can be a great fit for those who are looking for growth outside the healthcare model of therapy.  

What is Coaching?

Coaching is a collaboration of two spirits. My coaching clients desire to live a life that accentuates their talents while accommodating the needs of their nervous system.  My coaching system incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and strategies to help you learn to identify and then change ineffective behaviors in your life.  As a coach I am your equal in this journey in life - who just happens to have spent her life hyper focusing on the topics of healing, BPD, DBT, mindfulness, human nature, CPTSD, Autism & Neurodivergence.  Which mean's I've go so so much helpful information to share.  My coaching is not one size fits all and the process is tailored to each client's specific needs. 

My Role as your Coach

My primary role is to help you navigate this period in your life. I get to know you for who you really are. Which guess what? Happens to be one of my ninja-therapy skills that I'm really good at.  I'll help you examine your values and establish clear goals.  We'll identify what is not working in your life, and I will challenge you to begin to approach these situations, thoughts & emotions differently.  Sometimes, I will ask you to delve below the surface to figure out the motivation behind an action or identify an unhelpful core belief that is acting as a roadblock. 

I will teach you the DBT Skills framework and provide you with homework assignments to practice the skills in your life.  The bigger your goals, the more work you can expect to put in between sessions to get there. 

  I'll be available to you to reach out to for support, validation & cheerleading along the way!

How is Coaching different from Psychotherapy or Counseling?

Coaching differs from counseling in the type of relationship we have. In counseling, clients attend sessions with a medical provider who helps them to address symptoms of mental health diagnosis. Therapists are expected to be emotionally uninvolved and keep distance from their clients. Self disclosure is limited.

 In coaching we are two humans who come together with the same goal: figure out how you can build a life you actually desire.  I'm not some cold expert on a couch, instead I am the mate who travels beside you on along your healing journey - sharing wisdom and encouragement along the way. 

 I come to the relationship an expert in DBT and how to apply it for behavior change.  You come as the expert in your experiences, patterns and body.  Like a woven tapestry, when we combine both of our expertise - we have everything necessary to create a beautiful work of art - Your Life Worth Living!

Jamie's Coaching Style

As your coach I may ask questions, encourage, advise, and challenge you.  As someone who now walks beside you on your journey,  I will also share the knowledge gained through my own healing quest and my clinical therapy training. 

 I will make requests of you. Some of which may push you out of your comfort zone and require you to ask - How badly to do I desire change in my life?  

I will encourage you to show up as your most authentic self, even when it's really scary.  

I will ask for your truth, and I will give mine in return. 

I will validate your experiences and hold space for your trauma story if needed. 

Coaching is a collaborative process.  You will identify your goals and values.  We come up with a roadmap to change.  The coaching relationship provides gentle accountability to help you keep the big picture in mind on days when your emotions have you wanting to throw in the towel.  The coaching relationship also offers encouragement and cheerleading along the way. 

The primary dialectic of DBT is acceptance vs change.  At any given moment, we can choose to apply skills from either side.  I have noticed that combination of innate personality traits plus our own trauma stories, DBT practitioners tend to lean either towards intense motivators of change or soft validators of acceptance.  I am neurodivergent - I received a lot of negative feedback and invalidation during my developmental years.  My style definitely airs more on the side of validation, understanding, comfort and gentle accountability.  My approach is not intense in the way you would expect from say a personal trainer.  That's not what motivates me to change, and it's not the vibe my clients desire. 

Our time together will provide you with the DBT Skills Framework.  It is then  your responsibility to create your toolkit of skills you are actually willing to use in your life and practice consistently applying them. I will be straightforward with you about behaviors and choices that I believe will help you reach your goals most efficiently.  The longer I have worked under the coaching paradigm, the more blunt I have become with my clients.  While a therapist will lead you to conclusions, I will openly share my opinions about the behaviors and changes necessary to reach your Life Worth Living Goal.   I've worked with hundreds of emotionally sensitive, neurodivergent individuals over the past decade.  I know the places my people are most likely to trip up.  If I think you can reach your goals without having to experience certain painful lessons, than I want to help you do just that!

What are the DBT Skills? 

The DBT skills framework is a four module approach for understanding and managing emotions.  

Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness & Mindfulness come together to offer a variety of techniques for handling any emotion in any situation.  

The Difference between DBT Coaching & DBT Therapy

DBT Coaching incorporates the DBT Skills into the coaching model.  It can be helpful for individuals who struggle with intense emotions and impulse control.  It is important to note DBT Coaching is not a substitute for adherent DBT Therapy which offers: individual therapy, group skills classes, text coaching, case coordination with prescribers (and your clinician sits as a member of DBT Team).  If you are actively suicidal or self-harming, therapy is the appropriate level of care.  If you are in a locale where DBT is not available and you have been referred to Skills Training, I am happy to work as your DBT skills coach in conjunction with your local licensed therapist. 

Note Regarding HIPAA & Confidentiality

In Texas, the only legally privileged communication is between legal counsel and clients.

 Mental health records can be subpoenaed in a variety of situations:  divorce, substance use, custody, assault, abortion investigations, CPS, etc... 

The coaching paradigm offers an alternative approach to mental wellness services free of documentation.