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Services Provided by Awakening Counseling & Coaching

Counseling & Coaching

The purpose of these services is to help you manage the cancer, post-cancer, or care-giving experience more easily and therefore suffer less. Counseling and coaching help make your quality of your life the best it can be, despite illness. You will experience the following benefits from counseling and coaching:

  • You will create a new framework for your life when the bottom drops out.
  • You will feel empowered to navigate the cancer, post-cancer, and care-giving journey and manage the challenges and difficulties in a way that works for you.
  • You will experience relief from the sense of overwhelm, fear, and loss.
  • You will take charge over the things you can so that you feel more in control of the process.
  • You will feel less isolated as you help others to understand what you’re going through and how they can help you better.
  • You will learn specific practical strategies and approaches to manage the various aspects of the cancer journey and survivorship.

I offer a free initial phone consultation to help you to decide if we are a good match for working together. Call me at 207-773-1143, email at dawn @ awakeningcounseling.com, or fill out the form on the Contact Me page now to schedule your consultation and I will get back to you soon.

Counseling

Counseling consists of one-on-one sessions that focus on your individual situation. The agenda for each session is driven by what’s coming up in your life currently. Many people are afraid that counseling involves lying on a couch and talking about their childhood or “sitting around feeling sorry for myself.” Counseling is NOT about these things. It can involve a process of focusing on feelings and thoughts you are struggling with currently, and it can be a way for you to sort out what is going on inside you and around you. It can also be action-oriented if you choose, focusing on setting goals and action steps for getting what you want and guidance on working toward those goals. Counseling can be what you need it to be, focusing on what you want to be different or better, in order to manage the cancer, post-cancer, or caregiver journey. Counseling is done in person or over the phone.

Coaching

Coaching consists of education and ongoing guidance about particular topics. Not all people are affected in the same ways by cancer; in fact, some issues do not come up for some people at all. Keeping that in mind, you may work with me on just the specific modules that apply to you. You will gain clarity about what is happening in these areas and learn strategies and tools to manage and cope. Coaching can include more structured informational sessions or can be tailored for your personal needs. Coaching is done in person or over the phone.

Coaching Modules

Specific modules include topics such as:

  • Dealing with Relationships: How to get other people to understand what you’re going through and support you better.
  • “What About My Hair?”: Practical strategies and problem solving for managing the cancer journey.
  • “I’m Sad All the Time”: Coping with cancer grief.
  • Everything’s Changing: How to manage the constant changes that accompany the cancer journey.
  • Coping with Bombardment: Dealing with the constant barrage of advice, information, and reactions to cancer.
  • Managing the rollercoaster of emotions.
  • Building Self-Advocacy: How to get other people to listen to you about what you need.
  • Exploring Beliefs and Values: Sorting out what’s important.
  • Difficult Emotions: Managing fear, anxiety, and depression throughout the cancer experience.
  • “I’m Done with Treatment, Why Aren’t I Relieved and Happy?”: Understanding post-treatment & survivorship issues.

For more information on module topics, click here.

Structure

Counseling & Coaching Pricing and Packages
I offer packages that suit your needs and budget, including counseling, coaching, or both. You may choose individual sessions or a package.

  • Individual Sessions:
    Individual sessions are 50 minutes in duration and are conducted in person or over the phone. You may schedule these sessions every week, every other week, once a month or as needed. There is no commitment beyond each individual session, and you may pay by check, credit/debit card, or cash at the beginning of the session.
  • Packages:
    Packages include a specific number of 50-minute counseling/coaching sessions per month and email counseling/coaching between sessions. If you choose a package, you save on the cost of each session. The email feature of the packages is helpful in that you can email me any time you want…it can be helpful to write emails if you need to sort out your thoughts and feelings and know that someone will be “listening,” i.e. reading and responding to your email. I will make every effort to email you back within 24 hours (during normal business hours). We can continue an email dialogue throughout the weeks between your sessions as a source of ongoing support. You pay by check or credit/debit card at the beginning of the month before the first session and renew each month as desired.

Please call for pricing of individual sessions and packages. 207-773-1143.

Initial Consultation
Our first consultation is conducted over the phone, is about 15-20 minutes long, and is free of charge. During this conversation, we will talk about how I might be able to help you and I will answer any questions you may have. This will help us know if we are a good match to work together.

Once you have made the decision to work with me, we set up regular meetings based on the package you choose. These can be weekly, twice a month, or as needed (see Packages above). We can speak in person if you are able to travel to one of my offices (located in Portland and Westbrook, Maine) or over the phone if you live at a distance or can not travel.

First Session
Our first “official” session is different than the sessions that will follow, in that I will ask you more questions than usual. During this time, I will want to get to know you a little better and the issues, challenges, and goals that you want to work on. Having done this, we will be able to see how I might be best able to help you. We will also go over the necessary paperwork to get started. This first session is a two-way interview; I interview you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to develop opinions about how it would be to work with me and to make a final decision about whether we are a good match for working together.

Second Session (and those following)
Each session that follows our initial session will be driven by what you want to talk about that day. You can bring in questions or concerns that are on your mind. If you’re not sure what you would like to talk about, then we will figure out together what is the best thing to work on that day. We can also go over educational modules (see Coaching Modules section above) if you are interested in receiving guidance and support on specific topics.

Frequency and Number of Sessions
Each session is 50 minutes in length, and frequency of counseling and coaching sessions varies for each individual. Some people need only one or two sessions a month and others would like to come more often. The number of sessions needed also varies. Together we will determine how often you participate in sessions and for what length of time. Sometimes people come for weekly sessions for a number of months, and then take a “break” to come back as needed. Other times, people come twice a month over an extended period of time. Ultimately, you are in control of the frequency and number of your visits. We tailor your use of services to what you need.

Office Hours & Location
At this time, in-person appointments are typically booked Thursdays and Fridays, from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and Saturdays 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Some in-person appointments may also be available on other days of the week…please call to check availability. Offices are located in Portland and Westbrook, Maine. Phone appointments are booked Monday through Wednesday as available.

Speaking Engagements & Workshops

I am available to speak to groups or conduct workshops about cancer-related topics that can be tailored to your specific needs. Topics include coping with cancer, survivorship issues, supporting people with cancer, cancer in the workplace, and many more. I can customize programs to fit the needs of your organization or group. For more information, please Contact Me.

Support Groups & Discussion Groups

I provide facilitation for support groups and discussion groups for any cancer-related clientèle. Examples include:

  • Health care providers who work with people with cancer and their families who need support or need to come together to discuss issues related to their jobs.
  • A team of coworkers who are affected by the cancer diagnosis of a team member, and may need support so that they are enabled to support the individual while maintaining productivity in the workplace.

Mentoring Professionals

I am available to provide mentoring services for professionals who work with people affected by cancer. Mentoring can be done one-on-one or in groups. For more information, please Contact Me.

Now that you know more about Who I Work With, How I Work, and my Services, read more about what people have said about me.

To schedule a session or set up an initial phone consultation at no charge, call me at 207-773-1143, email me at dawn @ awakeningcounseling.com, or fill out the form on the Contact Me page.