Coaching is focused. Coaching is action. Coaching is powerful. Coaching delivers results.

Coaching empowers individuals and organizations identify and achieve specific goals. Advancing in your career, establishing a new career, becoming a more effective manager, creating a new business, expanding your resources, increasing effectiveness in parenting, improving focus, and optimizing key relationships are just some of the reasons people are utilizing coaches today. Coaching is a process that assists already highly functioning people maximize their personal or professional development in order to achieve their goals.

It is now commonplace to see executive coaches utilized in Fortune 500 companies where leadership, managerial excellence, and interpersonal performance are essential. Stars are no longer identified solely by their resumes and degrees. Stars are now measured by their level of emotional intelligence (EQ), interpersonal skills, and ingenuity. Therefore, both executives and managers have been dramatically increasing their competitiveness by employing the services of a professional coach. Although coaching is now commonplace in corporations, it is of course equally powerful for individuals in medium to small businesses.

Although Coaching incorporates many tools and interventions that are drawn directly from the field of psychology, coaching is not therapy. Coaching does not address personal pain, and is not appropriate for individuals who are currently suffering from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, active substance abuse, etc…. I always and continuously assess my clients to ensure that they are getting the type of services that most effectively address their issues.

Similar to therapy, effective coaching relies heavily on the alliance between the coach and the client. Therefore, although most coaching is done over the phone, I highly advocate at least a one time in person coaching session.

The first step in the coaching process involves filling out a client questionnaire that I will e-mail you. This allows me an opportunity to create an agenda that will address the specific type of coaching that would be appropriate for you to meet your goals and aspirations.

The second step is also part of my assessment. It involves completing online standardized assessments that you access through a secure website. These assessments are scientifically developed tools that provide objective feedback that will be utilized to create your coaching success. The questions on these assessments are short, easy to answer and the results are kept strictly confidential. These invaluable instruments are scientifically proven to be reliable and valid. Since I have my doctorate in clinical psychology, I am authorized to administer and interpret these advanced instruments. I will give you my interpretations both orally for us to discuss and in a written report.

Now that the coaching agenda and plan have been layed, the third step is to create the synergy of the coaching alliance. The coaching alliance is a collaborative relationship based on respect, authenticity, support, feedback and accountability. I will direct you in brainstorming and together we will explore issues and roadblocks, combined with strategic planning. I also utilize a technique called “appreciative inquiry”. Originally developed by the Weatherhead School of Management, appreciative inquiry is a powerful development tool to move a client or organization forward. So often we are focused primarily on our weaknesses at the expense of losing connection with our powerful attributes that don’t become fully actualized. Appreciative inquiry involves me asking a series of questions/provocative propositions that create a preferred vision that actually stimulates new physical structures in the prefrontal cortex of the brain.

Finally coaching involves us collaborating on “action steps”, identifying and managing obstacles, accountability techniques and “forwarding the actions”. At this point in the coaching process, you are in an action state seeing the results. I provide constant support and accountability to keep you focused.

I believe this is one of the most important questions a potential client/patient asks me. Research confirms my belief that the most important agent for change in therapy is when one has a good rapport with his/her therapist. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist who you believe can help you and one you can trust. Simply put too – one you like! I usually recommend people read my website and if it sounds appealing and helpful to call me. A brief telephone conversation can also give you a clue as to whether you are comfortable. Go with your instinct. If you still feel after a brief conversation comfortable, make a first appointment. If you aren’t comfortable at any time, seek another therapist, or I can provide you with a referral.

There are 4 mental health licenses in the state of California: MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist), licensed psychologist, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), and psychiatrist (MD). All four licenses can provide therapy. It is usually best to find a licensed mental health professional when looking for a therapist/counselor.

A marriage and family therapist has a minimum of a master’s degree, although I hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, and has passed the California’s licensure exams. I have passed a written and an oral exam, as well as have thousands of clinical training hours both pre and post licensure.

There are many types of therapy. There are different theoretical orientations (schools of psychological thought) and different types of therapy to represent the populations we work with (individuals, couples, group therapy).

In the state of California, most clinicians and the public use the words interchangeably. Some people prefer the word therapist, others psychotherapist, and others counselor. I am comfortable using all three words to describe my clinical work.

Most therapists in Orange County have a fee of $100-$150 per 50 minute sessions. My fees are $120 for individuals and $140 for couples per 50 minute sessions. Some people prefer to book longer sessions for an additional fee.

Most therapists in Orange County have a 24 to 48 hour cancellation/rescheduling policy. I have a 24 cancellation/rescheduling policy, which means that unless you give me 24 hours advanced notice that you won’t be able to attend a mutually agreed upon scheduled appointment for any reason, you are then responsible for the fee for that session. This can seem punishing; however, that is not most therapist’s intent. Rather the reason is wee reserve large blocks of time for clients (and don’t overlap like many other mental health professionals).

My standard fee for a fifty minute session for individuals is $120 and my fee for a couples session is $140. I accept checks, cash, Visa and Mastercard. All fees are due at the time of service.

I do not provide direct insurance billing. However, I can provide a standardized super bill that most insurance companies accept for reimbursement. If you plan on submitting a super bill to your insurance company, please be aware that each individual’s coverage is different, and it is advisable to check with your insurance company prior to seeking reimbursement.

Also, each insurance company provides different degrees of coverage. Please be aware that most managed care organizations employ a case manager to control the cost to the organization. Although the literature provided by the insurance company may imply you are entitled to a specific number of mental health treatment sessions, it is up to the individual case manager to decide whether or not the reason you are seeking treatment is justifiable. If you are approved for treatment, you will be given a limited number of sessions that will specify the type of treatment that case manager feels you should have. Often, a case manager will have little, if any, professional training in the field of psychology. This unfortunately dictates the type of treatment, the duration of treatment, the manner in which the treatment will be implemented, as well as the desired outcome. This treatment plan may not necessarily coincide with the wishes and the judgment of the mental-health professional or patient.

Another issue regarding insurance reimbursement for mental health services, concerns the issue of confidentiality. The State of California has rightfully enacted stringent rules governing the privacy of any individual who seeks treatment from a licensed mental-health professional. Any information shared with a therapist MUST be kept strictly confidential. In fact, a therapist is not even allowed to disclose they have ever met the patient, unless the patient provides written permission for the therapist to do so. However, insurance companies demand that this privacy be broached in order for them to provide reimbursement. Managed-care organizations require detailed information regarding the reasons the client has sought treatment, the diagnosis, treatment planning and the progress of the patient throughout treatment. Therefore, the patient is forced to sign a release ordering the clinician to share detail information regarding the treatment to the insurance company. This information is then the logged and maintained in The Medical Insurance Database. Although this information has received some additional level of protection (thanks to the new HIPPA regulations), this information is permanently recorded and can follow you if any individual or entity has legal reasons to assess your medical records. Some organizations (such as life insurance companies) may require you to give them permission entitling them to review your medical records before they will do business with you.

My office is located in Mission Viejo(Orange County) just off of the 5 freeway and Oso/Pacific Park. I am also conveniently located off of the toll roads (73 & 241). My address is 26938 Marbella, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

Heading south on the 5 Fwy: Exit Oso/Pacific Park and turn left. Go to Marguerite and turn right. Go to La Mancha/Felipe and make another right. Right on Nublado and a left on Marbella.

Heading north on the 5 fwy: Exit Crown Valley Pkwy and turn right. Go to Marguerite and turn left. Make another left on La Mancha/Felipe. Right on Nublado and a left on Marbella.

Heading south on the 73 tollroad: Exit Greenfield and turn right. Left on Crown Valley. Go to Marguerite and turn left. Make another left on La Mancha/Felipe. Right on Nublado and a left on Marbella.

Heading south on the 241 tollroad: Exit Oso and turn right. Left on Marguerite. Go to La Mancha/Felipe and make a right. Right on Nublado and a left on Marbella.