Both coaching and therapy have similar goals: to help someone address their belief systems, behavior patterns, responses, habits, and coping mechanisms, with the ultimate hope of changing their outlook on life. Both coaches and therapists listen to a client’s life experiences, help the client make sense of them, and support the client as he or she explores how they want to live moving forward. ​ However, therapists are licensed to treat mental illness and coaches are not. Coaches work with people with mental illness, they just don't diagnose or treat mental illness. Coaches generally focus on helping you achieve future goals, while psychotherapy tends to have more of a past and present focus. However, coaches do help clients understand how the past contributes to the present, and psychotherapists can help you achieve your future goals. In a general sense: ​ Coaching is a collaboratively-based approach where the coach and the client work together as a team. Coaches do not operate from a traditional medical model. We do not treat or diagnose mental health illnesses. ​ We do not see their clients as broken or in need of fixing. We approach our clients as individuals having a normal reaction to an abnormal experience. Coaches work with clients as equals. We function as guides, mentors and teachers, not superiors. Coaches provide education about trauma to help clients understand and normalize their experiences. Coaches recognize that interpersonal trauma causes individuals to disconnect from themselves, the world and other human beings. We help clients find safe ways to reconnect. Coaches may assign homework or have contact outside of the scheduled appointment Coaches operate from a strength-based mode. We believe that our clients have the capacity to direct their own healing when provided with the necessary support and encouragement. Coaches focus on helping a client build their strengths, healthy beliefs, and positive coping strategies rather than extinguishing “negative” behaviors and beliefs. Coaches model healthy behaviors and beliefs with their clients. We also model healthy relationship skills to help clients learn how to relate to others and to themselves. Coaches help clients set their recovery goals and they set a path to reaching those goals together. A study published in The Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science says that coaching is on par with psychotherapy. Check it out!

Coming soon

I am certified by the IAOTRC -- the International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaches. As of this writing, there are no standards, licenses or regulations on the coaching industry in the United States. Uncertified Trauma Recovery Coaches are not held to any ethical standards, need not have any specific training in trauma or trauma recovery, and receive no supervised practice. I have chosen to become certified through the IAOTRC because their ethical standards are rigorous, their training is comprehensive, they focus on trauma recovery, and are very NPE/MPE-friendly. For more information on certification, click the IAOTRC image below.

Life happens! If you must cancel a session, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance via text or phone at 954-492-0448. I will be happy to reschedule your session at another time that works for both of us. Unfortunately, if you do not cancel at least 24 hours in advance, you will be charged for the session.

I am an NPE. I experienced a DNA surprise in 2017, and struggled with the same things most NPEs experience: loss of identity, shock, alienation from family, anger, loss of trust, not to mention a lifelong genealogical bewilderment and family dysfunction that I couldn't put a name to until after the fact. I searched for months for my biological father, and faced a lot of fear of rejection and worry that I would be rejected from his family, too. It was harrowing and life altering. I experienced severe depression, disconnection from almost everything I knew to be real in my life, and even suicidal feelings at time. Everything I knew about myself had changed, and everything I thought about my childhood had to be examined through a new lens. In 2020, I began to study life coaching, and eventually focused on trauma recovery. I became certified in Trauma Recovery Coaching in 2022. During my trauma recovery training, I worked deeply with other NPEs/MPEs and read and wrote extensively on the NPE/MPE experience. Now I work with NPEs, donor-conceived people, and adult adoptees.

I have worked with donor-conceived adults, adults who were transracially adopted, and people who have discovered that their fathers are not their biological fathers.

We are very familiar with "DNA Surprise' at LittleBird Coaching, and help clients work through the range of experiences and emotions that come with it.

I am a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach. I was certified in 2022 by the International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching. The IAOTRC created a rigorous coaching program. I adhere to their code of ethics which you can find here.

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I have been a professional writer since 2003. I have a BA in Liberal Arts, and an MFA in creative nonfiction, where I specialized in autopathography, or medical narrative. Although I continue to write and publish my creative work, I no longer write for others. In 2020, I changed tracks and began coaching nonfiction writers. Since my interest in trauma recovery continued to grow, I became certified as a trauma recovery coach, and have expanded my coaching focus to include non-writers, and the population at large. As a certified trauma recovery coach, I am not a certified therapist, though I do continued education courses every year in trauma recovery, and attend workshops, conferences and other industry events.

Yes.

100%. I believe it is a right for everyone to know where they came from, and at the bare minimum, to at least have access to their genetic and medical information.

I believe everyone has the right to know where they came from, and to meet biological family when possible, but special considerations should be given to how and when minor children are made aware of NPE/MPE situations. As a certified trauma recovery coach and life coach, I do not work with minors. If you have a minor child who is struggling with NPE/MPE issues, or you are the parent of an NPE/MPE child and you need help, I recommend seeking counsel from a LICSW, LMHC, LMS or psychologist who specialized in children and adolescents.

Contact us! We are in the process of creating a database, but it is a work in progress. We will be happy to help you find a local support group, and we can also recommend online support groups.

Without question or equivocation, I believe all people have the right to know their genetic identity.