Do I need help?

If this question resonates with you, you likely deep down already know the answer. Where people often get tripped up is the need part. They think: my problems aren’t that bad, other people have it way worse, I have nothing to complain about...I’m doing ok and my life is all around ok so I don’t *need* help.

What other people need or don’t is irrelevant. The question is, what do you need to rise above, get unstuck or move through what you are up against?

Everyone needs help sometimes. Here are some signs you’d likely benefit from some:

• Your concern or block has become unmanageable in your life.

• Despite your best efforts you have exhausted all of your strategies and you are at a loss.

• You have a sense or deeper knowing that something isn’t right or you are capable of so much more but you don’t know how to get there.

These are all signs that you might benefit from help, an outside perspective, and a real commitment to personal development work. This isn’t about being a failure or fixing you because you are broken. It’s about getting you back to wholeness and into your best life asap.

What’s the difference between therapy and coaching?

Therapy focuses primarily on healing, unburdening and feeling. Processing past experiences, pain, and memories. It can assist you in working through transitions and life changes…moving through stuck places in life and within yourself. It also focuses on treating mental health conditions such as depression, grief, trauma, eating disorders, and anxiety, etc. Depending on what you come in with the process can last 5 sessions or several years.

Coaching on the other hand, focuses primarily on action and accountability. This route is likely for you if you are craving strategies, support and encouragement to get where you want to go. In coaching, my clients commit to a 3 or 6 month package and attend sessions twice monthly. Some examples of what prompts beginning coaching are:

• I want to elevate my career or make a job change but I feel stuck.

• I have these huge dreams but I’m afraid to make moves.

• I am starting a private practice and I am having a hard time promoting myself and my business.

• I have done therapy but I still can’t seem to move forward with my life after loss.

• I want to find love but I can’t seem to make myself date again.

For many of my clients our process begins with therapy. We do some deeper healing work that creates space to think, dream and explore actualizing their potential. The work then often can move into a coaching realm for ongoing accountability and motivation as they already have the tools to manage their psychological concerns themselves or they have been resolved all together.

There are so many therapists and coaches out there, why work with you?

One quick Psychology Today search and it’s easy to get lost in a sea of helper profiles. Who do you pick for such an important role? There are a few things to consider:

How do you feel with them? You should feel comfortable in their presence and a gut feeling about fit. My clients and former clients tell me they experience me to be real, relatable, authentic and they appreciate that I often use humor in session.

What are their credentials and training? There is vast variability in therapist and coach training and it is important to do your research on this. I believe that the more rigorous the credentials and expansive the training the better and more lasting the results.

Many coaches have very little if any formal training. Most therapists have a 2 year degree. I was rigorously trained for 7 years in one of the best PhD psychology programs in the nation. I’ve studied complementary and alternative medicine extensively both in India and under some of the nations integrative mental health thought leaders. I have thousands of hours of individual client experience and have had hundreds of my therapy hours scrutinized down to the minute by senior psychologists. I have many many hours of yoga training and have conducted my own research on if, how, and why it’s psychologically impactful.

Why does this matter? Because unless you are systematically guided, challenged and supervised to view others and the world outside of your own bias and are anchored in theory, research outcomes, and a full awareness of salient bio-psycho-social-cultural factors--everything you see will be informed by your bias and experience. In other words, if all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail.  

A PhD paired with training in Eastern healing approaches has provided me with a systematic, holistic and complex worldview and consequently a robust and expansive tool box. This background is also advantageous in the coaching realm as if there are deeper factors blocking you, I will be able to assess and address them in ways a coach without formal psychological training cannot.

What is their track record? Lastly, it’s important to know and ask about a therapist or coach about their track record. Read testimonials. Inquire about their experience is with your concern? Have they effectively treated it before? Do their clients obtain their desired outcomes?

My clients consistently tell me that they get further faster with my approach than they have in past therapy. It is not uncommon for my clients to reach their desired goals in 5-15 sessions. I believe this results from me thriving at identifying root causes and providing strategic intervention that is multidimensional, directive and intentional. In addition, I am passionate about this work, it has changed my life and I want to do everything I can to ensure it changes yours as well.

What is the process like? How do I get started?

1. Get to know me and my approach. Finding a guide is tough and time intensive. I get it. But putting in the work to find the right fit is beyond worth it and an investment you will see returns on for the rest of your life. Take time to review my website, Instagram and testimonials to get a sense for my style, to answer any questions you have about my practice, and to inform whether you want to give working with me a try. I’ve done my best to include extensive information on this website and provide lots of content on my professional Instagram account @drannaroth (video included) to aide you in your decision as I am not able to consult individually outside of the initial consultation. Like I tell all of my clients though, when it comes to this decision like so many others-go with your gut.

2. Research insurance & finances ahead of time. Financial and time constraints are real. Sometimes we really really want to do personal development work but the time just isn’t right. Or we just don’t have the funds for it. If you are a MN resident interested in using insurance for work with me read the insurance section below. I encourage people to investigate this prior to scheduling so they know what potential reimbursement if any they are looking at and can budget accordingly. If you are a potential coaching client, see the fees section below and know that the typical commitment is at least 3-6 months. There is often never an ideal time to do this work, and we even more often put ourselves last, so if that’s the case take the leap and carve out the time. But if you know you can’t swing it I don’t recommend starting the process until you can more confidently move forward.

3. Do an honest self-assessment about your readiness to commit to the work. So now that finances and insurance are out of the way. Let’s talk commitment. Most mental health systems require clinicians to see a high volume of clients which I believe often results in subpar treatment from burned out healers. I opt to see fewer clients so that I can give my all and provide truly exceptional care. Because of the deep investment that I make in my healing relationships, I am selective in who I take on and expect an equal investment on the part of my clients. I only work with individuals who have done their research about what they can commit to in time and resources and who are ready to do what it takes to transform. If you feel a deep sense of I’m ready and willing to do what it takes, I can’t wait to partner with you.

4. Schedule the initial consultation. Often times half the battle is figuring out where to start and the right strategy needed to bring about the transformation, healing and results we desire. We can’t see the forest for the trees. An expert whole person evaluation can save you a tremendous amount of wasted time and energy spinning your wheels. I thrive at integrative evaluation after being rigorously educated via some of the best training available in Western and Eastern healing modalities. I quickly identify what areas of focus are needed for greatest relief and impact make a plan to come at your concerns from every angle. At the end of this consultation I will make a recommendation for either therapy or coaching as well as the frequency and duration most likely to bring the results you desire. Payment is required at the time of booking to reserve this time in advance and a weeks cancellation notice is required.

5. Let’s get to work. Onboard as a therapy or coaching client. Depending on the recommendation, we will discuss your commitment, schedule a 3-6 month plan, and get to work. I provide several options for engaging in healing work as it can be tricky to find room in the craziness of life for healing. The standard care approach is 1 hour sessions weekly. That said, many of my clients opt for sessions every 2-3 weeks as this is what works for their schedule, life and budget. Some also elect to meet for 1.5-2 hour sessions to give us more time to work something through. This is particularly helpful if we are doing EMDR one of my most favorite and utilized modalities. Coaching packages are bi-weekly sessions for 3 or 6 months.

What's the deal with insurance?

Therapy clients should note that I am out-of-network provider with insurance companies. Most of my clients elect to submit for out-of-network insurance reimbursement with a Superbill I provide each month and on average receive $135-160 back per session. Whether or not you are reimbursed and the amount you are reimbursed for depends upon your plan. I suggest investigating this prior to scheduling with me. To find out more, when you call your insurance company ask what they reimburse for the following CPT billing codes: 90791 (initial appointment) and 90837 (hour session) CPT codes to gauge what you’re out of pocket investment will be. HSA and FSA cards can be used for payment as well. Coaching services are not reimbursable by insurance and thus are a cash service.