How does Free Spirit differ from other therapy and life coaching?

This is not a one-size-fits-all practice. All of our providers specialize in different treatment interventions and we often share clients. This process has been shown to be highly effective. In fact, we see greater symptom improvement when clients work with more than one provider. This is not usually recommended in traditional psychotherapy, as the therapy can often conflict and interfere with treatment. This is not the case at Free Spirit, as we consult with one another and refer clients to each other as necessary. Each provider focuses on a different aspect of treatment and they provide different interventions. Clients have a well-rounded support system here with a team of providers. In addition, you won't be in an uncomfortable, stuffy office here! We bring clients outdoors for their sessions when the weather is nice. Just stepping on to the property you feel the tranquility and you're able to breathe. We have an adorable mini donkey, chickens and two small dogs who roam the property, love attention and like to greet clients. We can conduct sessions in our poolside gazebo, a Zen garden gazebo or a tiny house with a sun deck. We also have comfortable indoor offices if you prefer. Learn more about the psychological benefits of nature, fresh air, and animals. You also won't see us in heels and pant suits. After all, emotions are uncomfortable enough so we don't have to be. We dress casual and comfortable here and you're welcome to also. Come experience the Free Spirit difference!

 

How can therapy and coaching help me?

A number of benefits are available from participating in coaching. Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the struggles of daily life. We can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. We also provide support, encouragement, problem-solving and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship problems, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, poor self esteem and more. The benefits you obtain from coaching depends on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from coaching include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values

• Developing skills for improving your relationships

• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy

• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures

• Improving communications and listening skills

• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones

• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage

• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

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What is a Mind, Body Spirit approach to treatment and why is it so important?

 

Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, coaching is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking coaching. Coaching provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face. When working with your coach you get objective feedback. You don't have to worry about being judged. Worrying or burdening friends or family with your problems is not an issue. You're information will not be gossiped about to other friends and family.  You'll receive unconditional support and encouragement to achieve your goals.

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What is therapy and coaching like and how long does it last?

Because each person has different issues and goals, coaching will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous coaching session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your coach (usually weekly). It is important to understand that you will get more results from coaching if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of coaching is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in coaching sessions, your coach may suggest some things you can do outside of the sessions to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking a coaching psychologist are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

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Do you take insurance? How does it work? How much will I pay?

AZ in-Network: Aetna, TRICARE West

CA in-Network: Aetna, TRICARE West

FL In-Network: Aetna & BCBS

Out-of-Network with most other major insurance companies

We will submit your claims to your insurance company electronically and you will only be charged for your copay, deductible or coinsurance. It is your responsibility to verify that we are an in-network provider. To do this, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card. Verify if either the practice name (Free Spirit Coaching & Psychological Services) or Tax ID (833127733) is in-network for you. You can also ask what your cost would be for billing code 90837.   

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What if you don't take my insurance?

If you have out-of-network benefits you could get reimbursed directly by your insurance company. You would pay our out-of-pocket rate at the time of each session. Free Spirit will submit your claims as a courtesy on your behalf and the insurance company will reimburse you directly. If you would like to verify how much your insurance company will reimburse you call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask them the reimbursement rate for billing code 90837.        

 

What is your opinion on psychiatric medication?

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptoms, coaching addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that inhibit our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and coaching is the right course of action.

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How is a Licensed Psychologist different from other therapists?    

A licensed psychologist holds a Doctorate in Psychology and must be licensed through the Psychology Board of the state where their client resides. They're also required to adhere to legal and ethical Codes of Conduct, which means your rights, safety and information are protected. Psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. 

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What's Spiritual Psychology?

It integrates spirituality with traditional psychology. It engages all aspects of the human experience with the understanding that we are all spiritual beings in a human body. The goal is to achieve healing and balance of the mind, body and spirit. 

 

What should I expect from a Spiritual Coaching session?

During these sessions, you can expect my intuitive guidance to bring both meaning and success into your life. We will open the space for your soul to reveal and communicate the answers you need for a breakthrough in your life. We will do this by diving deep into the wisdom and guidance of your higher self, your angels, and your natal chart, with a focus on auric colors and energy reading. I will facilitate an invitation to your guides, angels, and any person/s that have crossed over to rely any important messages for your personal and spiritual growth while using color therapy for healing and integration. I work with your unique needs. As an intuitive guide and seer, I am sensitive to all necessary information that comes through for you and excited to help you connect all the pieces. My intention is for you to live a meaningful, passionate life. I use an integrative approach to help you zoom out so you can see the whole path towards the direction your heart wants to go in. Additionally, we’ll focus in on the blocks that keep you limited and small. By seeing and acknowledging these blocks, you can shine a light on your life and dismantle what no longer serves your highest purpose. You will walk away from this session with your birth chart and what I call a “prescription” — a tangible action or actions you can take to elevate your life to the next level.

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What does it mean to be spiritual?

Spirituality can mean different things to different people. For our purposes here at Free  Spirit, spirituality refers to working with and connecting to energy, within ourselves and the Universe. This can include Karmic Laws, the Law of Attraction, strengthening our intuition, self-love and living life purposeful. Some of our Spiritual services include: Spiritual Coaching, Crystal Reiki Healing, Meditation, Therapeutic Yoga, Sound Healing and Full Moon Ceremonies. 

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What if I'm not spiritual or religious and don't believe the same things you do?

We are not here to convince or convert anyone's beliefs. We honor and respect all beliefs and will work within what it is that you believe. 

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What's traditional therapy (also referred to as psychotherapy)?

This is commonly referred to as Talk Therapy. Treatment interventions consist of commonly used evidence-based treatments such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Motivational Interviewing, DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), which are all used at Free Spirit. 

 

What's EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and how does it work?

EMDR is a highly recommended and effective treatment for trauma as well as other mental health disorders. Before the actual "reprocessing" of traumatic memories the therapist will make sure the client is stable and has enough coping skills and support system to be able to maintain their stability during and after bringing up these memories. The goal is to remove the emotional intensity attached to certain traumatic memories, which can alleviate symptoms and allow clients to lead a more stable and peaceful life. The acronym EMDR is misleading. In addition to using eye movements, therapists can also choose to use alternating audio or tactile bilateral stimulation. Dr. Traci primarily uses the Theratapper, which is tactile stimuli where the client holds a small device in each hand that pulses back and forth between the left hand and the right hand. This pulsing stimulates both hemispheres in the brain while the client is processing their memories. One of the main reasons talking about trauma is so difficult is because our trauma memories are primarily held in the right brain hemisphere and our verbal expression and ability to reason is held in the left. When trauma (and memories of trauma) occurs the brain can get "stuck" and the hemispheres can stop communicating with each other. The bilateral stimulation overcomes this and allows the left side of the brain to self-sooth the right side of the brain. Another misnomer is that the memories are being "reprocessed." Technically, the memories were never processed to begin with (which is the problem) so they're actually being processed for the first time. 

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What can EMDR help me with?

EMDR can be used to help treat PTSD, developmental trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, grief, loss and any other problems related to relationships and life transitions. It can help alleviate symptoms associated to past memories, present stress and future worries.

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What is Hypnotherapy and how can it help me?

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What it the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and how can it help me?

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What is Biofeedback and how can it help me?

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What's Somatic Therapy?

Somatic Therapy is also known as somatic experiencing and somatic experiencing therapy. This treatment incorporates the mind, body, and spirit into therapeutic healing work. Somatic therapy aims to treat the effects of PTSD and other mental and emotional health issues through the connection of mind and body and uses a body-centric approach. This therapy aims to help release how a physical body holds on to stress, tension, and trauma, rather than only resolving problems through traditional talk therapy. These services include EMDR, Hypnotherapy, EFT, Spiritual Coaching, Crystal Reiki Healing, Meditation, Therapeutic Yoga, Sound Healing, Biofeedback/Neurofeedback and Thai Massage. 

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What's Experiential Therapy?

Experiential Therapy is similar to Somatic Therapy. However, Experiential Therapy emphasizes a “hands-on” approach to learning about yourself, how you relate to others and how you see the world as a whole. You can gain deeper access to your own emotional processing, creativity, inner thoughts, and interactions with others. You'll be able to reflect on your experiences and become more confident in making your own decisions and living a more authentic life. The focus will be on your awareness and perceptions of what you are experiencing and help you explore the meaning of your emotions. These services include EMDR, Hypnotherapy, EFT, Equine-Assisted Therapy, Thai Massage, Guided Meditation, Therapeutic Yoga, Sound Healing, and all of our Events. 

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Why is Confidentiality important? 

One of the biggest reasons therapy works so well is that the psychologist is legally and ethically mandated to maintain confidentiality (with a few exceptions). Clients are able to open up much easier when they know their information will be protected. Our confidentiality also applies to teenagers even though they're minors. Only licensed mental health professionals are required to maintain confidentiality. 

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What is Equine-Assisted Coaching (also known as Animal-Assisted Therapy) and how can it help me?

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