What is coaching and how is it different from psychotherapy?

Coaching - to teach, train, or tutor. Coaching is a distinct profession that helps clients solve problems, reach goals, design a plan of action and make decisions. It helps clients identify what is important to them and helps them align their thoughts, words, and actions, accordingly.

Coaches encourage clients to set goals they truly want and they ask them to do more than they may have done on their own. They help clients focus in order to produce results more quickly and they provide clients with the tools, support, and structure to accomplish more. Coaching is more action-oriented and focuses on the here and now. Just think of a coach as a personal trainer for your life and relationship.

Psychotherapy - the psychological treatment of mental, emotional, and nervous disorders. It very often results in significant relief from mental health problems, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. Therapy often goes into depth about various issues and usually focuses on dealing with the past. Therapy seeks to uncover the ‘why’ to issues/problems. For Jo-Ann Bird's therapy services, click here.

What is Relationship and Sex Coaching/Therapy?

Relationship and Sex Coaching/Therapy is a unique combined approach that we use with couples. By working together, not only do we offer a male/female perspective, we also provide an integrated approach using our two disciplines: coaching and therapy. Our approach is a professional relationship-focused service where a couple is assumed to be healthy, powerful, and able to achieve their relationship and sexuality goals with effective support, information, and guidance.

Relationship and Sex Coaching/Therapy is a mix of these elements:

• Personalized relationship and sexuality information and education
• Re-directive cognitive processes and reframing
• Emotional balancing and intuitive guidance
• Behavioral training and home assignments
• Resources and referrals

It is important to understand that Sex Coaching/Therapy is strictly talking about sexual issues/concerns. At no time does it involve clients performing sexual acts in front of the coach and therapist or sexual contact between the coach/therapist and clients.

We assist you and your partner to create the relationship you desire and envision!

Why hire "The Love Birds"?

Because you want to:

• Solve problems
• Design a plan of action
• Make decisions
• Reach the goals you desire and envision for your relationship
• Discover more connection and passion in your relationship!

How long does coaching/therapy last?

Usually, it can take at least three sessions to get to change and feel progress. However, the length of time varies and depends on what you want to accomplish. We encourage you to commit to the process for as long as you continue to receive value. You are free to cancel the coaching/therapy relationship at any time that it stops meeting your needs.

You will get the most dramatic results from coaching/therapy if you show up on time, take the process seriously, apply the suggestions/requests that are offered and do the home assignments that are requested.

Why does this work?

We combine two complementary disciplines: coaching and therapy. Therapy focuses on helping you resolve and heal past issues and concerns and coaching helps bring out your best. A coach believes you can create your own best answers and is trained to support you in that process.

Specifically this is what we do with you during our coaching/therapy sessions:

• Listen. We listen fully. You and your relationship are the focus. We listen to what you say, what you are trying to say, and what you are not saying.


• Share. After you have fully communicated, we share with you our advice, ideas, comments, and views on your situation, dilemma, or opportunity.


• Endorse. Anyone who’s trying to change, reach goals, or grow needs an outside voice full of endorsement, compassion, and acknowledgement.


• Suggest. We want a lot for you and your relationship. We want you to be healthy, happy, and successful. We want you to enjoy your partner and relationship. We want you to have a life that inspires others and yourself.
  
  Part of our job is to be at least three steps ahead of you, yet be with you. As such, we make requests. And the relationship is the client.

What do you expect of your clients?

We ask that you grant our relationship enough room so that you can reach your goals quickly. What that means is that you be willing to tell us everything you are thinking and feeling and that you’re willing to listen to what we have to say. You should also take the time you want to develop the trust you need between us. We also ask that you be on time for your scheduled appointments as well as pay on time.

What can I expect from you?

You can expect us to be:

• Unconditionally constructive. No matter what happens during our session, you can expect us to say only those things that further your life and your relationship goals. If you are stuck, we will be patient. If you can’t wait to share a victory, we will celebrate with you. We will not put you in the wrong, criticize you, complain to you, or gossip about you.


• Straightforward. Yes, one can be unconditionally constructive and still speak straight. From time to time, we will ask you to begin, end, or modify something. And we will honor your right to refuse.

It is our responsibility to:

• Guide, direct and protect you from harm.
• Empower you to attain the dreams you desire.
• Empower you to overcome any relationship and sexual difficulties you may have.
• Help you reach your sexual/relationship goals and together, as a team, find results that satisfy you.

What about confidentiality?

Coaching/therapy sessions are private and confidential. That means that what you are doing, how you are doing, what you have accomplished, and your personal secrets are not discussed or hinted at by us to anyone else. The only exception to confidentiality is if you are a serious threat to yourself or someone else.

Can I use insurance to pay for these services?

Unfortunately, we do not accept insurance for our coaching/therapy services.