Telecoaching is a term used to describe the provision of life and other coaching services through electronic means. Telecoaching offers a secure and convenient way to receive life coaching services.

MSMC utilizes a HIPAA-compliant system called, Spruce Health, for phone sessions. Clients can download the Spruce Health application on their phone or computer free of charge while working with MSMC. If they don’t want to download and utilize the additional features of the application, they can simply call their coach’s Spruce phone number as a normal phone call and still be able to utilize the HIPAA-compliant phone system.

Similar to counseling, studies have shown telecoaching to be as effective, in some cases more effective, than traditional face-to-face coaching. While you are not face-to-face with your coach, and therefore aspects of the relationship such as body language and facial expressions are not present, our experience shows that there are three major reasons why telecoaching is still as effective or more effective than traditional face-to-face coaching: first, there is better continuity due to the ease of engaging in coaching from anywhere through phone sessions; two, the anonymity one experiences over the phone, as well as being in the comfort of one’s own environment, allows for greater openness and therefore for progress to be achieved at a faster pace than in-person coaching; and three, there is greater availability through telecoaching to engage with a professional who shares your faith beliefs and with whom you can connect without worrying about distance.

Because coaching does not include a mental health diagnosis and is not regulated by state licensure laws like clinical counseling, it is not reimbursable through health insurance plans at this time.

Signing up for coaching is easy! You can reach out through our contact page here.

Once we receive your request, MSMC will respond within 2-3 business days with further instructions about how to set up a free 15-minute consultation as well as available session times if you are ready to schedule your initial session. This initial reach out will also include information related to intake forms and payment.

After your first session, your coach will schedule follow up sessions directly with you.

We ask for a 24-hour notice of rescheduling and/or cancellation for a scheduled session. While emergencies are an exception, all other late-reschedules and/or cancellations will result in the client being responsible for the entire session fee. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to the client and is held exclusively for them, keeping another person desiring coaching from being able to schedule that session time.  

Payment information—a debit or credit card—is required to be on file in order to ensure payment for services. This can be gathered via email, over the phone, or via MSMC’s electronic health record (EHR).

The EHR MSMC utilizes, SimplePractice, allows a secure link to be sent to your email where you can securely add your payment information. Sessions are automatically billed after taking place via SimplePractice.

Attending a session is easy! All you need is a phone and/or computer and internet connection. Your counselor will provide their work phone number prior to your first session, which will be the same number utilized throughout your counseling relationship. You will be able to call them at the time of your scheduled session. If a video session is being conducted, a link will be sent to your email from our EHR, SimplePractice, before the start of your session.

While you can attend a session from anywhere a consistent, clear phone signal exists, we recommend finding a quiet, peaceful, and confidential environment within your home where you can focus without distraction. Headphones can be beneficial, but are not required. 

The platforms MSMC utilizes for its services are HIPAA-compliant, and therefore provide for privacy and confidentiality on our end.

However, the environment is important in telecoaching. While your coach will be in a private, confidential space, we recommend also attending your sessions from a quiet, comfortable, and private space to ensure privacy and confidentiality on your end.

Sometimes. If you are seeking coaching while also engaging in counseling, or if your mental health is stable despite having a mental health diagnosis, coaching can be very effective. However, if your coach determines your mental health diagnosis is limiting the impact of coaching, they will respectfully discuss this with you and provide options for how to proceed, including a recommendation to engage in counseling.

Generally speaking, counseling is provided by a licensed professional who is trained to diagnose mental health conditions and implement specific strategies and treatments to address these conditions. Coaching, on the other hand, focuses on identifying and achieving goals, fostering personal change, and amplifying performance. Coaches do not diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and no mental health training is required in coaching.

Offering Catholic coaching supports the broader and ultimate goal of making Catholic-based mental health care and well-being accessible to people worldwide.