Coaching is a client-centered, strength-based, collaborative support service designed to empower you to build life skills and achieve meaningful goals. This thought-provoking process helps individuals explore new perspectives, enhance self-awareness, and make significant life changes.

Through a creative and goal-focused partnership, coaching supports you in identifying your aspirations, unlocking your potential, and taking intentional actions toward your personal and professional growth. It provides an expert layer of social support, helping you tap into your abilities.

Your autonomy, choices, and trust in yourself are essential as you set your goals, navigate self-discovery, and work toward achieving them. Through coaching, you will embark on a journey of personal growth, becoming more self-aware, identifying resources, gaining actionable insights, and developing tailored strategies for success.

I will guide you as you tackle your growth challenges, achieve your most ambitious goals, and enhance your well-being and resilience in a collaborative, self-directed space. The most common outcomes of coaching include a greater sense of positive identity, increased self-confidence, optimism, and assurance in your ability to navigate challenging experiences.

Adolescents are in a sensitive stage of development. Their social cognition is developing rapidly, which means they’re much more sensitive to others’ judgments about them. They’re more self-conscious as they develop their identity and try to decide where they fit in. They’re dealing with heightened emotions and sensitivity with hormone surges related to biological changes that are still very new for them. They’re wired to be more impulsive and engage in more risk-taking as they’re developing a willingness to separate from their family and forge their path.

A nonjudgmental approach is healthy for all humans, but much more is needed in this developmentally vulnerable stage. The nonjudgmental ear can make the difference between reaching out for help when they’re struggling or getting the support and guidance they need as they navigate toward healthy independence. The nondirective approach respects their need to develop their own voice, choice, and trust in themselves.

Coaches and therapists share a common goal—supporting the well-being and growth of those they serve.

Some professionals hold credentials in both fields.
Deciding which approach is best depends on a person’s current needs and goals.

In fact, many people work with a therapist and a coach at different times or for different purposes. It doesn’t have to be a question of one or the other.

Client’s Needs

Therapy

• The therapy client is experiencing emotional or psychological challenges that interfere with daily life or well-being.

• They may seek help managing or recovering from distress related to trauma, mental-health symptoms, or medical conditions.

• Therapy focuses on healing, understanding patterns, and restoring a sense of balance and stability with the guidance of a licensed mental-health professional.

Coaching

• The coaching client is generally functioning well in daily life and seeks greater clarity, growth, or fulfillment.

• Coaching supports goal-setting, mindset, accountability, and forward movement toward personal or professional aspirations.

• The coach partners with the client as a trusted collaborator to facilitate learning, self-awareness, and meaningful change.

Scope & Boundaries

Heart Harbor Coaching provides coaching services only.
Coaching is not counseling, psychotherapy, or a substitute for medical or mental-health treatment, and I do not diagnose or treat mental-health disorders.

If at any time therapy or other professional care would be more appropriate, I’ll discuss that openly and offer referrals to licensed providers.

Coaching conversations are private and handled with care. Heart Harbor Coaching is not a HIPAA-covered entity, but I maintain secure practices to safeguard client information.

If you ever experience a mental-health crisis, please call or text 988 for 24/7 confidential support.