Frequently Asked Questions

Starting something new takes courage, and asking questions is a great place to begin. Here you’ll find answers to the most common questions about academic and life skills coaching — what it is, how it works, and how it can help you reach your goals.

About Coaching

  • I work with high school students, college students, and young adults who want to build confidence, independence, and stronger executive functioning skills. Many of the students I support have ADHD, learning differences, autism, anxiety, depression, physical disabilities, or other challenges that affect learning and daily life. I also work with students who simply want more structure, organization, or motivation to reach their goals.

  • That’s ok! Lots of people are not diagnosed or have chosen not to pursue an IEP or 504 Plan. What matters most is how you learn, think, and experience daily life. If you feel you share characteristics with certain diagnoses—or simply know that certain strategies or tools could help—you’re welcome here. We’ll focus on what’s going to support you, no paperwork required.

  • Tutoring focuses on specific subjects or assignments. Academic coaching helps you build the broader skills that make learning and life smoother — things like time management, organization, planning, motivation, and communication. Coaching supports the “how” of learning, going beyond subject areas.

  • Executive functioning refers to the set of mental skills that help us manage our thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. These include decision-making, goal setting, task initiation, prioritizing, follow-through, self-regulation, impulse control, and flexible thinking. Many of these skills are taught indirectly, yet they’re essential for success in school and in daily life. Strengthening executive functioning can improve academic performance, self-care, home life, and relationships—and help students feel more confident and at ease.xt goes here

  • I work with high school juniors and seniors who are preparing for greater independence. Our work often focuses on building confidence, organization, and executive functioning skills as they get ready for college or other post–high school paths.

    If college is the next step, I guide students and parents through obtaining the documentation universities require when requesting accommodations. We also discuss which accommodations to ask for, what students should be prepared to manage on their own, what resources are available to support independence, and other foundational planning for a successful transition.

Working Together

  • Sessions are personalized and focused on your goals. Coaching meetings are one-on-one with students or young adults, though I also meet with parents, or students and parents together. We meet virtually and schedule the next meeting before wrapping up each session. Sessions focused on topics outside of weekly coaching may follow a different meeting cadence.

  • Sessions are 50 minutes and typically held once per week. Sometimes we’ll meet twice a week—especially when starting out or when more structure and accountability are needed. Between sessions, text and email communication are welcomed to keep follow-through active and supported throughout the week.

  • Parents often play a supportive role and can be involved to the extent that feels right for each family. With the student’s permission, I offer periodic parent check-ins to keep everyone aligned and reduce stress at home. Initial sessions may include parents on their own, parents and students together, or just students or young adults — depending on what feels most helpful.

Approach & Philosophy

  • Connected and strengths-based. I meet each student where they are and build from there, blending structure with flexibility. I draw from my background in education, accessibility, and relationship building to create plans that feel practical and aligned with your goals. I listen, ask questions, and build on the places where I see motivation, progress, and pride.

  • With nearly 20 years of experience as an Accessibility Director, I help students understand their learning profiles, navigate disability services, communicate with teachers, and use accommodations effectively — all while building independence and self-advocacy.  I’m also happy to look at any previous assessment reports, IEP’s, 504 Plans, or other documents that parents and students would like to share.

Getting Started

  • Please send me a message to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk through your goals and ask questions.

  • We start by clarifying your goals, exploring what’s been challenging, and identifying areas where you’d like to grow. By the end of the first session, you’ll leave with a clear plan and next steps that feel realistic and doable.

  • Yes. I work with students remotely across time zones in the U.S.

Progress & Outcomes

  • For academic and life skills coaching, it’s most effective to work together for at least one semester, and often a full school year. Many students and families choose to continue for longer.

    Small changes—like improved organization or reduced stress—can happen quickly. Long-term habits take more time, repetition, and practice. If your goals are more short term, such as understanding university supports or refining accommodations, we might only need a few sessions.

  • Consistency, openness, and a genuine desire to grow. Coaching works best when we collaborate regularly, reflect on what’s working, and apply strategies between sessions.

Logistics & Policies

  • Coaching is structured as a monthly plan that includes weekly meetings and text/email communication between sessions as needed. Families receive an invoice at the start of each month for the upcoming sessions, and payment can be made by credit card or Venmo.

    Occasionally, a student may need additional sessions—during finals, project deadlines, or times of transition or high stress. Those sessions can be added as needed and included in the next month’s invoice.

    Short-term consultations such as questions about preparing for college, IEP/504 goals, or accommodations planning are billed as individual sessions. These may include written summaries or follow-up recommendations.

    Before beginning ongoing work, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss needs, answer questions, and make sure the structure feels like a good fit.

  • Sessions can be rescheduled for another time within the same week if space is available. Unused sessions do not roll over to the next month. Consistency is key to progress, so meeting weekly helps students get the most from coaching.

  • I meet with clients remotely from a quiet office using a private meeting platform. I don’t share information from our conversations with anyone who isn’t present unless I have your permission. Any documents you share, such as educational assessments or IEPs, are transmitted and stored through an end-to-end encrypted system.

  • Yes. I believe accessibility should be built into systems from the start and adjusted when a need wasn’t anticipated. This website meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and any materials I share with clients can be provided in a format that works best for you. I also adapt communication methods to meet each client’s preferences and needs.

    If college is the next step, I guide students and parents through obtaining the documentation universities require when requesting accommodations. We also discuss which accommodations to ask for, what students should be prepared to manage on their own, what resources are available to support independence, and other foundational planning for a successful transition.

  • Coaching is not a medical service, so it isn’t covered by insurance. However, some families are able to use educational or wellness funds to pay for sessions.

Still have questions? I’d be glad to answer them or talk through your goals in a free consultation. I’d love to hear what you’re working toward and how I can help you get there. Let’s connect.