Frequently Asked Questions

  • No, I am a life coach. What that means is that I have not spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on an education steeped in patriarchal standards and pathologizing about queer identities. Instead, I have learned the skills of life coaching and counselling combined with my own experiences to provide you with a more grounded and human experience. I am constantly learning and sharpening my skills to ensure I am providing the best assistance I can. Not having massive student debt also gives me flexibility in pricing to help less financially comfortable clients.

    Coaching can look very different depending on your needs - for some it looks like ongoing work through past traumas to work towards a brighter future, for others it may be a few sessions to get unstuck and figure out how to tackle a goal together. Whatever you need, I am happy to hold space for you and help you thrive. Whatever our coaching sessions end up looking like, just know I won’t placate you, I will push you and challenge unhelpful internalized beliefs. If a belief doesn’t serve you, I’m going to help you get rid of it.

    The question I want to answer is “Who are You?”. What I can do is use my expertise as a coach to help you in figuring out the answers for yourself.

    I am networking with therapists local to my clients to provide access to services I am unable to offer, such as letter writing, due to the nature of my scope of practice.

  • Maybe. The only person who can answer that question is you. I can help you figure out the answer for yourself.

    One of the most powerful moments of my life was the first time I declared myself to be a woman - I wouldn’t rob you of such an important moment of self-determination!

    I do wholeheartedly refuse the pathologizing of being Transgender, I think that it is a perfectly normal part of humanity, dating back centuries. NOT a mental illness. It’s only relatively recent, colonial thinking that has sought to ‘other’ people who don’t fit a racist, patriarchal mold.

  • Absolutely! I can help anyone who identifies or allies with the LGBTQIA+ community. I have personal experience living as a non-binary person for 2 years before my egg fully cracked so I can also help our non-binary and gender-expansive peers - I know how hard it is to find someone who understands those challenges fully.

    I am networking with local therapists to provide access to services I am unable to offer, such as letter writing, due to the nature of my scope of practice.

    Even if I don’t have personal experience in what you’re going through, I will do everything I can to support you, listen, and coach as best as I can.

  • Labels are descriptions, not prescriptions. Life and humans are messy, who we are and what we do changes all the time. There is no overseeing committee of LGBTQIA+ elders surveilling you to make sure you’re doing it ‘right’. There’s only what’s right for you. I can help you figure out what it all means.

  • Absolutely! When I realized I was a transgender woman, it was a challenge for my partner and myself to figure out exactly what it meant for us and our relationship. There was a lot of fear and miscommunication, I wish I’d had someone to help get my feelings and words in order at that time.

    Now my wife and I have an incredibly fulfilling relationship, especially as I am living as my authentic self, I’m able to love both of us fully.

    A change in gender does not have to be the death of a relationship - but it does require some really honest communication and vulnerability. I can provide a safe space for you to ask ANY question you may have, free of judgement, and help you figure out the best way to communicate your needs and concerns with your partner in a loving way.

  • Yes and no, I’m most comfortable working with clients who are over the age of 13; unless referred to me by a physician. I can however support YOU as a parent with any questions you may have, support, or guidance.

    It's important to be gentle with yourself during this journey. Remember, seeking support is a sign of strength, and I am here to provide guidance as you navigate your path toward self-acceptance and personal growth.

  • I’m originally from New Zealand, where we affectionately call ourselves Kiwis after our national symbol, the Kiwi bird. In NZ we only ever call the fruit a Kiwifruit. I’m a Kiwi, I’m a ‘fruit’ 🥝 (reclaiming a slur), and I’m a coach - hence Kiwifruit Coaching.

    (The best jokes are the ones you have to explain, right??)

  • Kiwifruit Coaching is a safe space for you to be yourself - and figure out who exactly you are. My business name is neutral enough for that reason, and all of your communication with me is kept secure and confidential.

    I promise utmost discretion and privacy, when you sign up for my services you will sign a Confidentiality and Liability Waiver that legally binds both parties to confidentiality.

    I do not keep notes on our sessions for your safety and privacy.

  • My rate is $80.00 USD per hour, if you are unable to afford that much regularly, please still reach out to me, I may be able to help on a sliding scale depending on my availability.

    Donations accepted, never expected.

    Kiwifruit Coaching accepts donations from those who are more financially comfortable to pay it forward to support our peers in need. My payment checkout has a tip option for that reason only, there is zero pressure to donate or to add gratuity on top of my hourly rate. Please only donate if you are financially comfortable.

  • First, send me a message through my website where I will coordinate a meeting time with you via email. I’ll send a link for a secure online video platform meeting room.

    We’ll meet for 15 minutes, obligation-free, to make sure we’re on the same page and can work together. Ongoing Coaching can look very different depending on your needs - for some it looks like ongoing work through past traumas to work towards a brighter future, for others it may be a few sessions to get unstuck and figure out how to tackle a goal together. Whatever you need, I am happy to hold space for you and help you thrive.

    When we meet for our regular sessions, we’re going to really drill down into who you are and what is important to you as a person - and make sure we can make changes in your life, so you are making progress towards being who you really want to be. Life coaches will put a big emphasis on goal setting, but there’s no point setting goals if you don’t understand why you want to achieve them, or if they’re even the right goals for your authentic self. These are the hard questions we can figure out the answers to, together!

    You’ll receive a payment link after each session, I expect payment within 48 hours of receiving that link, unless we’ve discussed otherwise. My checkout will give the option to pay a tip, there is no obligation to tip me, that is ONLY if you want to support my ability to help those less financially stable with cheaper appointments. Please only do so if you are financially comfortable yourself.

    In between appointments, I am available via email for any quick questions or if you want to send me something to read prior to our next session, within reason.

  • No worries, life happens! Let me know with as much warning as possible (at least 24 hours please but I understand in an emergency), any time through email.

    If you don’t let me know that you won’t be attending, and I don’t hear from you within 20 minutes after our agreed start time, it will be considered a No-Show, our appointment will be cancelled, and I will send you an invoice for a $35 no show fee.

  • At this stage my practice is purely online, though I do dream of having a physical location one day.

    This does mean I’m not limited by geography and I’m happy to assist clients from all over the world!

    I am working on facilitating in-person and online support groups, look at the events page for the most up to date info!