College Counseling
The more organic process that builds towards college counseling begins with coaching and mentoring.
However, in some cases, students realize their need for support in this realm later in high school. Don’t worry, it’s not too late! My work with students who find me later in their high school career is still very fruitful. College applications tend to be at the forefront of the work in many of these cases but the deeper work lies in the evolution of self that comes through the process. Essay support, interview preparation, college list research, and application strategy all have a place in the college counseling support I provide students and their families, but at the center, it’s about the actual journey, not the outcome of the “perfect” or “best” college acceptance.
Coaching + Mentoring
Few young people have a consistent mentor in their lives who isn’t directly tied to evaluation.
Coaches and teachers are amazing mentors, but hold the dual role of assessing, evaluating and determining grades, playing time, and other markers of achievement/success. The coaching and mentoring I offer to students and their families comes in the form of holistic guidance regarding decisions around courses and course load, extra-curricular commitments, social dynamics, citizenship, and personal growth and development. This work naturally culminates in 11th grade as the college application process or post high school plans begin to take shape.
College Bridge Coaching
Successfully launching into independent living doesn’t just happen.
This transition requires support, particularly for students who have experienced difficulties with executive functioning in aspects of their school and personal lives. I offer coaching that is scaffolded and designed to grow with the student as they land on their feet in college. This type of coaching focuses on skillbuilding but also the inner work of identifying priorities, navigating relationships, and realizing personal truths and values to inform decision making across both academic, social, and personal spheres of life.
Psychotherapy
Young people need grounded space in their lives to process their full experience as developing human beings.
If you are a therapy client, there are policies that will frame our work together, which includes boundaries to prevent conflicts of interest. If your child is a college counseling or mentoring client, I cannot work with your child as a therapist.
I also provide psychotherapy for adults going through phase of life transitions. My approach with adults, teenagers, and children is eclectic, combining a spiritual perspective as well as cognitive behavioral and habit-reversal techniques.
50 minute appointments are provided virtually (telehealth) or in person in Petaluma. Patients must be in California. I only work with children in-person.
Reach out via email: dotkowalcoaching@gmail.com to schedule a 30 minute intake to see if we are a good match. I do not work directly with insurance, but can provide a super-bill for reimbursement purposes.
How We Work Together:
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A Values-based Process
The compass we will use to guide our work will be the values and norms we co-create to maintain our shared commitment to a healthy and meaningful process.
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Initial Call
To begin the process of working together, email me to schedule a 30 minute consultation call to see if we are a good fit. If we decide to work together, we will create a plan that works for your family that includes family and student zoom meetings as well as asynchronous work via google docs.
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Zoom Meetings + Asynchronous Work
I meet with students, their parents/guardians, and sometimes we meet all together. These meetings inspire thought-provoking questions and reflections to understand what is driving the student and their aspirations.
How To Contact Me:
Due to the highly personalized nature of my work, I cap the number of families I work with per year and have an intake process to make sure we are a good fit.
I invite you to schedule a 30-minute introductory call to learn more about what our work together could look like.
If we decide to work together, the cost of this initial call will be credited towards your first contract.
Please reach out by sending an email to: dotkowalcoaching@gmail.com. I look forward to connecting with you within 24-48 hours.