FAMILY BUILDING COACHING
I work with you to become aware of what family means to you, how you want to build your family, and take action so that you can make your dream a reality.
" Steve has been of immense help in understanding elements of the adoption process. By way of sharing his own story and experience, he helped us think through various aspects and nuances involved in the process. A key part of our discussion was to prioritize identification of what is and isn't important for us as a couple when it comes to adoption. We thank Steve for his candor and guidance in helping us get started on our journey to grow our family. "
- Bismay Mishra, Director, Analytics & Insights, Gilead
HOW I CAN HELP YOU BUILD YOUR FAMILY?
Explore your childhood experiences about family
Unearth your values and purpose
Resolve any self-limiting thoughts
Challenge societal constraints holding you back
Build confidence in your parenting abilities
Examine your perceptions about the meaning of family
Help you in decision making about adoption or surrogacy
Guide you through the process
Support you in the highs and lows of the emotional journey
HOW WE’LL WORK TOGETHER
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Environment
Create a confidential, brave, and inclusive environment where you feel completely yourself.
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Communication
Engage in open, honest communication where feedback and insights go both ways.
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Intentions
Discover your dreams about family & parenting and your choices for making it a reality.
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Ownership
Work together to plan for getting started in the process and bringing a child into your life.
Your Co-Active Coach
Co-Active Training Institute Certified
Accredited Integrative iEQ9 Enneagram Practioner
International Coaching Federation Certified
MY APPROACH
WHO I HELP
It all begins when you come across a child in your daily activity, and you get this gut feeling that you want to build a family. At first, you may be taken aback by this idea and wonder how a child will fit into your busy life. Maybe you are just getting started in a new relationship, and you're not sure how to approach the topic with a new partner. Or perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed by the lack of clarity about making this dream of becoming a parent a reality. Whatever you experience, we will work to figure out what's important to you about building a family and creating a plan to get there.
LGBTQ people wanting to become parents
Straight people experiencing fertility challenges
Couples and singles
HOW OUR SESSIONS UNFOLD
I use a combination of tools to help guide you, including:
✓ Asking powerful questions and listening
✓ Designing a decision framework tied to your values
✓ Creating a short and long-term plan
✓ Meditation
✓ Checking in on spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being
During our coaching sessions, we will explore what family mean to you. We will explore the aspects of your life that resonate most with you and how to make your dream of building a family a reality.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Your Introduction
First, we’ll meet for a 30-minute virtual coffee to get to know each other and explore if there is a connection & opportunity to work together.
Sample Session
Second, if you are still questioning if coaching is right for you, we’ll have a 45-minute free sample coaching session for you to explore what you are longing to accomplish.
Start Coaching
Third, if we both agree to engage in a coaching relationship, I with donate $25 in your name to Family Equality.
FAQs
What is family building coaching?
Family building coaching is a professional relationship where the coach partners with the clients to explore what family means to them and how they want to create their family. Starting a family is not linear, with many peaks and valleys along the journey. We explore what's important to them about the risks and rewards of the varying options for creating a family. Family building coaching helps clients make hard decisions about moving forward and helps make their parenting dreams come true.
How long does the process of creating a family typically take?
Creating a family through alternative methods like adoption or surrogacy is unpredictable. For example, some clients are successful on their first round of IVF or match quickly with an expecting birth mother and become parents within one year. For other clients, it can take years from the point of making the decision until your bundle of joy is in their hands.
How long does our work together last throughout the process?
The engagement length is dependent on the needs of the client and their specific situation. Some clients may only need support in figuring out which path is best for them. Other clients may need more help along the way as they face challenges in the process. I provide flexible options that vary in length depending on the clients' needs. We meet every other week, and usually, the client has tasks or behaviors they are working on between sessions.
Do you support the legal portion or have others you work closely with/recommend during this process?
Due to the varying laws across the country and worldwide, I do not provide legal guidance. Instead, I help clients uncover the unique legal challenges they face, and we create a plan together to help them resolve those issues.
IT ALL BEGINS WITH A