Frequently Asked Questions
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WHAT HAPPENS DURING A MENTORING SESSION?
Mentoring sessions are richly supportive one-on-one meetings that offer individual
guidance and suggestions for practices that are thoughtfully and specifically curated just
for you.
When we begin, we’ll talk together to identify practices that interest you, such as
learning to meditate, cultivating everyday mindfulness or living gratefully; any personal
qualities you would like to build, such as resilience, self-awareness, compassion or
others; and challenges you may especially wish to work on, such as reducing stress,
strengthening relationships, letting go of negative self-talk or something else.
We’ll then prioritize one or two specific aims and I will teach you techniques or practices
you can immediately begin to try. You can use these at home, typically for a short
period such as a couple of weeks. Sometimes there are journal prompts, assignments
or other materials to strengthen and expand the approaches you are sampling. Then
we’ll meet again to assess your experiences and we can modify, change or expand the
approaches you are exploring until you discover the paths that best support you in
building greater personal well-being.
You don’t need to do any of the practices in some “right way,” you just need to try them
and give them a chance to show themselves to you – gently, curiously and steadily.
Discovering your path is a peaceful exploration, filled with possibilities opening before
you and enriched by the inner wisdom you already have.
Important Disclosure: Mentoring is teaching and guiding that emphasizes drawing on
your own inner wisdom and cultivating it. It is not therapy and I do not treat or counsel
those who are struggling with psychoses or other forms of mental pathology.
IS A WELL-BEING MENTOR LIKE A LIFE COACH?
No.
Life coaches help people manage their personal and professional lives. They help
clients set and achieve goals, identify their strengths and barriers, figure out the steps
that are needed to achieve aspirations and provide other similar kinds of support. They
are counsellors who provide an objective perspective for their clients.
A mentor is an expert with specialized knowledge and has the training and experience
to teach others. They are on the same path as their clients. Mentoring is a warm,
collaborative learning relationship.
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I offer thoughtful guidance and education that is customized for each individual client, or
each group, in a warm supportive environment. We can meet in person in San Rafael or
from anywhere on Zoom. You will feel seen, valued and nurtured and will be in a space
where you can comfortably express your ideas and explore your paths. There are many
advantages to in-person sessions and if you live in or near the Bay Area, I strongly
recommend meeting in-person: there is a much fuller and better connection among
people who interact face-to-face.
CAN YOU REALLY CHANGE YOUR BRAIN??
Yes!
Since the beginning of the 21st century a huge amount of research has explored this and
produced a lot of scientific evidence showing we can intentionally change our brain in
ways that support our well-being.
The brain is always reacting to experiences and it modifies itself when it encounters
new or frequent events. It does this by building new connections, or “neural networks,”
and also by eliminating inefficient or unused connections. Scientists have been
observing this for several decades: it’s how children develop and it’s a vital part of how
we all grow and learn.
Recent research demonstrates that deliberately engaging in specific practices and
techniques can stimulate the brain to build beneficial new connections, reduce our
“negativity bias” (our innate tendency to notice and remember negative experiences),
calm emotional responses, and help us cultivate qualities like resilience and positivity.
HOW LONG WILL WE WORK TOGETHER?
This is entirely up to you.
You may want to learn a particular technique or practice and then meet occasionally as
you progress and evolve.
You may prefer to meet regularly, perhaps every 2 or 3 weeks, sampling and finding a
collection of approaches that you like.
Sessions last 50 - 60 minutes. Established clients can also schedule shorter check-in
sessions.
WHAT HAPPENS IN WORKSHOPS?
I really enjoy offering workshops, where a group of like-minded people gather to learn
about various aspects of wellbeing and support one another as they sample and explore
techniques and practices. Sometimes the groups are small – a few friends – other
times they are larger for businesses or organizations.
Workshops focus on a specific topic or theme. Some popular ones are Mindfulness,
Creating Stronger Relationships, Metta and Loving-Kindness; Positive Psychology
Techniques for Savoring Life and Building Positivity, and Working with the Difficult Stuff.
Every workshop includes a variety of material: a presentation on the topic, learning
various practices and tools, group discussions, and some optional assignments and
journal prompts. Workshop lengths can vary from a single half-day session to a series of
1 hour or 2 hour sessions over 4 – 10 weeks.
Each workshop is opened by lighting a candle, to designate the gathering as a
nurturing, safe and dedicated space, where there is mutual respect and kind support on
a shared journey.
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WHAT IS THE COST?
There are several options, so you can choose the support that best meets your needs.
One-on-One Mentoring
Customized individual guidance and practices curated specifically for you is offered at $150 for a 1-hour session
(Established clients can schedule brief pro-rated check-ins)
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Pathfinder’s Package for new clients
5 sessions over 5 or 10 weeks at a very special rate: $599
(may be paid in several installments)
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Workshops, Classes and Lectures
Upcoming sessions with openings are announced on the website
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CREATE YOUR OWN WORKSHOP!!!
Do you have some interested friends or belong to a group or club??
I’m happy to create a workshop for groups of all sizes, including informal groups of
friends. It’s a great way to learn and try techniques. Small group workshops organized
for friends enable you to spread the cost and share the journey. Together we’ll identify
the topics to explore. Prices vary and are negotiable.
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Individual clients Small groups Classes Workshops Lectures Guided Meditation
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Please email or call me to schedule an appointment or to discuss creating a
workshop for your group.