Coaching

What I’m Offering Right Now:

I coach white people who want to understand white supremacy, interrupt it, and create more liberation for all people. My clients are often committed to racial justice, in theory, but aren’t sure how to live out that value in their day-to-day lives. If you’re a white person who wants to really embody and practice racial justice, learn more here and please get in touch!

Why Coaching?

Coaching posits that the person closest to a given problem is closest to its solution. The idea that people intrinsically know what’s best for themselves resonates deeply with my previous training in asset-based community development and culturally responsive education. I’ve received coaching training, and had the chance to coach all kinds of people one-on-one and in group settings. I’ve also developed coaching curriculum and trainings for others, and regularly seek out coaching for myself.

The opportunity to coach people facing significant challenges has pushed and stretched me into being a better version of myself, and the act of coaching itself has felt like coming home. I’ve discovered that coaching combines my skills and talents into a singular practice that I simply love. Coaching others, challenging and intense as it can be, doesn’t feel like work. In the words of the poet Mayda del Valle, “It’s not occupation or a vocation; it’s a calling – and I’m replying.”

Coaching FAQs:

What is coaching?

Coaching is a powerful, ongoing relationship that helps you focus and realize your visions and goals. A coach will give you the tools and support to overcome obstacles and make concrete changes in your life.

What are some reasons people hire a coach?

  • to plan your life around what matters most to you

  • to get more organized or create more balance

  • to get motivated to start something important to you

  • to focus your energy on planning or completing a project or goal

  • to get targeted support with a specific part of your life, like your career, relationships, or health

How is coaching done?

Typically, individual coaching is done via Zoom, in hour-long sessions. I like to schedule at least 10 of these sessions (usually held every other week, meaning a five month commitment), so that a client can begin to make progress on what matters to them, given that change doesn’t happen overnight!

Is coaching therapy?

Nope, coaching is not therapy. Coaching focuses on strategic planning and personal growth and does not attempt to heal emotional trauma. My perspective is that therapy tends to start with discussing past events (particularly those that caused trauma or grief), in service of understanding one’s current situation, while coaching starts with what’s happening right now, in service of achieving future goals. Coaches regularly refer clients to other professionals for issues that are better suited to a therapeutic relationship.

What is a typical session like?

Coaching is conversational, client-led, and action-oriented. The hallmark of coaching is self-responsibility: the client sets the agenda for the session and the coach follows that agenda. You can expect me to offer powerful, clarifying questions and focused, fine-tuned planning tools and strategies for change. I’ll help you develop your next steps, and I’ll offer to hold you accountable for them. I enjoy coaching because it’s so dynamic, fluid, and often, surprising! Also, 100% of my coaching sessions have included laughter, so, be prepared for that.

Okay, but what does it cost?

My hourly rate is $200 if my client is paying out of pocket, and $250 if an organization or business is paying on behalf of my client. Five percent everything I earn, pre-tax, goes directly to BIPOC individuals and organizations as a practice of ongoing reparative giving (i.e. redistributing my individual wealth). I will always offer a free consultation, so we can explore the overlap between what I’m offering and what you’re seeking.

What’s the impact of coaching?

Being coached by others has been a profound experience for me. Through coaching, I’ve noticed patterns in my behavior, uncovered implicit beliefs, and connected with my core values. Skilled coaches have helped me identify meaningful goals and they’ve held me accountable for taking action towards reaching those goals, while encouraging and challenging me along the way. Were it not for coaching, I would never have taken the leap to go into business for myself as Alight; I’m deeply grateful for the ways coaching has transformed, and continues to transform, my life.