This page is here to answer the practical questions people often have once they’re considering working together—so we can begin with shared understanding and clear expectations. You don’t need to read this page before reaching out. Some people like having the details up front; others prefer to talk first. Either way is fine.
If you’re ready to talk, use my Contact form to start the conversation. Otherwise, read on!
The Nature of the Work
When we work together, the focus is on thoughtful conversation and discernment. Depending on context, this may look like coaching, guidance, advising, reflective companionship, or consulting expertise. I don’t treat those as separate services. What matters most is the quality of attention we mutually bring to the work.
People come for many reasons: a creative restart, a right-livelihood question, a writing or teaching project, a transition, or simply a sense that something wants to be clarified.
We take the work seriously—but not solemnly.
This is not therapy, crisis counseling, or performance coaching. It’s a humane, practical way of thinking things through together.
My Approach
I don’t begin with a formula or assume that everyone should follow the same path. I begin with the person: where you are now, what matters to you, what your life allows, and what may be ready to emerge.
Five simple practices shape the way I work.
Pay attention.
We slow things down enough to notice what is actually happening—not just what you think you should be doing. We listen for what gives you energy, what drains it, what you may be avoiding, and what keeps asking for your attention. This is where mindfulness enters the work.
Clarify what matters.
We sort through your values, abilities, needs, hopes, responsibilities, and concerns. The aim is not to discover one perfect calling. It is to become clearer about what would make your work meaningful and worthwhile at this stage of your life.
Find the right fit.
Good work has to fit more than your talents or interests. It also has to fit your health, energy, relationships, financial needs, desired pace, and present season of life. If you are building a business, it must also meet a real need and work in the world. I think of this as right livelihood: work that serves life, contributes something useful, and helps pay the bills.
Take the next workable step.
Clarity often comes through action, not before it. Instead of trying to create a complete plan for the rest of your life, we identify a small, useful next step. You try something, pay attention to what happens, and use what you learn to decide what comes next.
Think it through together.
You remain responsible for your choices. My role is to listen closely, ask useful questions, notice patterns, question assumptions, and offer practical guidance when my experience can help. Sometimes the work feels like coaching, sometimes advising, and sometimes mentoring. In every case, it is a thoughtful conversation aimed at helping you see more clearly and move forward in a way that is genuinely your own.
This approach can help whether you are reconsidering your work and purpose, returning to a neglected creative calling, starting a smaller or one-person business, or reshaping an existing business so it better fits the person you have become.
Session Structure
— Sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes. When the conversation wants more room, we may occasionally let it run longer.
— Sessions are held via Zoom.
— Most people meet weekly or every other week, but cadence is something we decide together.
Bundles & Fees
I work in small bundles rather than one-off sessions.
Current options:
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3 sessions — $425
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6 sessions — $800
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8 sessions — $1,000
Most people begin with three sessions. That gives us enough time to get oriented, see what’s actually emerging, and decide whether continuing makes sense.
If more time feels useful, we can decide that together.
Preparation & Participation
This work benefits from presence and engagement.
You don’t need to prepare extensively, but it helps to come with a willingness to reflect honestly and stay curious. Occasionally, I may suggest light reflection or mindful noticing between sessions.
There is no homework unless it feels supportive.
Briarpatch Consultations vs. Client Work
Some of my first-time clients may have heard of the Briarpatch community I coordinate and the consultations it offers its members. Briarpatch consultations are a separate practice, rooted in membership and mutual responsibility within that community. You can learn more about Briarpatch membership here.
Working together as described on this page is formal client work, with clear pricing and expectations. Some Briars choose to stay entirely within the membership consultation lane, others choose to step into formal client work. When they do, the bundles and fees above apply.
Keeping these lanes distinct protects both the work and the community.
If you are a Briar wanting to schedule a Briarpatch Consultation, visit https://briarpatch.net/faq/briarpatch-consultations/.
If you’re ready to try formal client work, book your short introductory conversation here.
If you have questions you’d like answered before you begin, use my contact form to start the conversation.
How It Usually Begins
If you haven’t already, you’re welcome to start with a free 30-minute conversation to reach out directly and inquire about working together. We’ll use that initial exchange to see whether this feels like a good fit—nothing more, nothing less.
→ You’re welcome to book your short introductory conversation here. There’s no pressure to decide anything in that first exchange.