Common Questions

Life coaching is a collaborative process that helps you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. According to the International Coaching Federation, coaching is “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” Unlike consulting or mentoring, life coaching isn’t about giving advice. It’s a goal-oriented partnership that honors you as the expert in your own life. The coach brings expertise in the coaching process—listening deeply and asking thought-provoking questions to help you gain new insight and identify what might be holding you back. With a focus on personal awareness, intentional goal-setting, and consistent accountability, coaching empowers you to stay aligned with your values and make meaningful, lasting progress toward a more fulfilling life.

Intuitive life coaching combines the structure of traditional coaching with a deeper kind of listening. It’s not just about setting goals and solving problems—it’s about tuning into the whole of you: your energy, emotions, and the unconscious patterns that may be shaping your experience. Together, we’ll explore the root causes of recurring challenges—not just managing symptoms but shifting the deeper patterns that keep them in place. This work isn’t about quick fixes. With time, commitment, and compassion for your own process, you’ll begin to experience a deeper connection to your authentic self, greater inner peace, and the freedom to live and choose from that place of truth.

Life coaching is future-focused. It supports personal growth, goal-setting, and creating meaningful change in your life. Therapy, on the other hand, often centers on healing past wounds and addressing mental health concerns. A helpful way to think about the difference: therapy helps move someone from dysfunctional to functional, while coaching helps take someone from functional to their highest potential. In coaching, we may explore the past when it brings insight to the present—but we don’t dwell there. The focus is on self-awareness, forward movement, and stepping into who you're becoming.

Each session is a private, one-on-one conversation held over Zoom. You’ll guide the focus by bringing forward whatever thoughts, feelings, goals, or challenges feel most important to you in that moment. I’ll listen closely and ask reflective questions to help you explore your experiences with greater clarity and insight. Throughout the session, we may incorporate brief guided meditations to help you reconnect or ground yourself as needed. With your permission, I may also offer intuitive insights along the way to bring awareness to patterns or perspectives that might not yet be fully visible. As we near the end of our time together, we’ll discuss next steps or practices you can explore between sessions to continue your growth and integration. Each session is shaped around your needs and your pace, offering a space for honest reflection, meaningful insight, and aligned forward movement.

There’s a part of you that already knows what’s true. Intuitive coaching helps you listen to it. This work creates space to slow down, reflect deeply, and reconnect with the part of you that's untouched by time, fear, or expectation. It’s ideal if: + You feel stuck or unfulfilled and need deeper insight. + The routines or beliefs you’ve lived by no longer feel aligned. + You're ready to explore the root cause of recurring patterns. + You’re open to taking compassionate responsibility for your growth. + You long for a more loving and supportive relationship with yourself. + You want to reconnect with your intuition and inner wisdom. + You seek both external success and inner peace. + You’re open to tools like meditation, visualization, and energy work. Ultimately, trust your intuition. It may not always make perfect sense, but if you feel drawn to explore, know that it’s worth taking seriously.

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a gentle yet powerful energy healing practice that helps reconnect us with our natural ability to heal. Influenced by traditional Eastern healing systems, it works with the body’s energetic meridians—similar to those recognized in practices like acupuncture and Chinese medicine. While rooted in Eastern spiritual traditions, Reiki is not tied to any specific religion—its essence is universal, an expression of unconditional love that transcends time, culture, and belief systems. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, described it as the art of inviting happiness into the mind and body, recognizing that the universe is alive with energy. Rather than controlling this energy, we allow it to flow naturally, restoring balance in the same way we feel peace when surrounded by nature, where everything exists in perfect harmony. Reiki heals on all levels—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—by restoring this balance, helping us reconnect with our well-being. Reiki can be received both in person and from a distance, as energy is not limited by physical space. Similar to how radio waves travel unseen but are still effective, this universal life force energy flows effortlessly, reaching you wherever you are. During a session, the practitioner channels Reiki through their hands, but the energy moves where it is most needed, guided by its own intelligence. Reiki is a benevolent energy that cannot cause harm and is always shared with the pure intention of benefiting the recipient and the greater good.

During a Reiki session, you’ll settle into a quiet, comfortable space for our Zoom call, fully clothed and in a position that allows you to relax, similar to how you might in meditation or when preparing for a nap. I’ll guide you to close your eyes and unwind, helping you enter a peaceful state to receive the energy. For the duration of the session, you will remain in a relaxed position, allowing the energy to flow and support your healing process. Before we begin, we'll have a brief check-in to discuss any intentions or areas of focus. After the session, there will be time to reflect on your experience and explore any insights or sensations that arose during the session.

The experience of receiving Reiki is often deeply relaxing and peaceful. Some people feel warmth, tingling, or a gentle flow of energy, while others may sense lightness, clarity, or even emotional release. Some report seeing colors or entering a meditative state, while others simply experience a profound sense of calm. Even if no strong sensations arise, most people leave a session feeling more balanced, refreshed, and at ease. Each session is unique, and the experience will unfold in a way that best supports you in the moment.

Reiki is a gentle, energy-based practice that supports overall well-being. It complements medical care but is not a replacement for professional treatment. If you have health concerns, it’s important to consult a physician. Reiki may be helpful if you feel stressed, anxious, disconnected, or physically tense. It can support emotional healing, nervous system regulation, and a deeper sense of presence in your body. Many people turn to Reiki to release long-held patterns, recharge from high-pressure environments, or simply reconnect with themselves. Reiki can be supportive for everyone. It helps the body, mind, and spirit return to a natural state of balance—whether you're navigating challenges or simply seeking greater vitality. If Reiki feels new or unfamiliar, that’s okay. It may be the right time to explore it with curiosity, as it often brings subtle yet profound shifts in well-being.

No, you don’t need to believe in Reiki for it to have an effect. Reiki isn’t based on belief—it’s a gentle energy practice that supports your body’s natural ability to regulate and restore. Simply approaching the session with openness and curiosity can help you receive the full benefit, even if you feel skeptical at first. Reiki meets you where you are and supports your unique process, whether you’re seeking relaxation, healing, or deeper self-connection.

Everyone’s path is different, and I trust you’ll have a sense of what kind of support feels right. Some people feel complete after just a few sessions, while others choose to work together over time for deeper, more lasting growth. That said, coaching is usually most effective with consistency. Meeting regularly helps build trust, create momentum, and explore patterns in a meaningful way. It also gives space to integrate insights and develop tools that support your growth as life unfolds. Reiki can be beneficial after a single session, or it may feel supportive to receive it more regularly. Some clients use it to reset and recharge, while others find it helpful as part of an ongoing healing process. There’s no set formula—just what feels right to you.

For life coaching, it’s helpful to reflect on any challenges or goals you’d like to explore, but you don't need to have it all figured out. Just bring your curiosity, an open mind, and make sure you’re in a quiet, private space where you can speak freely. For Reiki, it's important to be in a quiet space where you can relax without interruptions. Wearing loose, comfortable clothing is encouraged to support the flow of energy. If possible, please position yourself so you can rest comfortably while remaining partially visible on camera. The most important thing is to show up with an open heart and mind, ready to receive whatever the session brings, whether through coaching or energy healing.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice by emailing hello@theemeraldsoul.com, texting or calling 650-440-5509, or using the online booking system. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed sessions, will be charged in full. If you arrive late, the session will still end at the scheduled time to respect other clients’ appointments. If I haven’t heard from you within 15 minutes of the start time, the session will be considered forfeited. For full details, please take a moment to review the Cancellation & Refund Policy linked at the bottom of the page.

I don’t accept insurance, as my services are considered alternative and aren’t typically covered. I do hope offerings like these will be more widely accepted in the future.