FAQ - Trauma-Informed Coaching Vancouver, BC

Therapy and coaching are different. Therapy is often about your past and understanding how it shapes you.

Coaching is distinct because it focuses on what’s happening now, as well as the short- and long-term future. Sometimes there’s a bit of digging—patterns and old approaches show up and need attention—but the emphasis is always on what we can do and what real-world actions can be taken to improve the situation at hand.

Coaching is transformative and action-oriented. It's about steady, practical support and accompaniment.

My coaching attends to both your internal and external realities.

It incorporates somatics, grounding self-regulation techniques, and holistic fundamental self-care.

AND

We work together to address what’s urgent, strategize, navigate, problem-solve, identify strengths, and understand the nuances of the terrain so that you can make informed decisions. You’ll come away with tools and techniques you can use right away.

My work is about helping you befriend yourself and your nervous system, untangle and address complexity, get organized, and get resourced—so you can breathe, plan, and rise.

I specialize in supporting people through big life transitions like separation, divorce, burnout, identity shifts, and body challenges. I help people break free from abuse, and reconnect with their body, boundaries, energy, and power to move forward with purpose.

When I’m not working 1:1 with individuals, I train family lawyers, counsellors, and psychotherapists on high-conflict divorce and gender-based violence. They refer their clients to me because they know my approach is hands-on, effective, and responsive.

Here’s how one client reflected on working with me:

“I started working with Chavisa after a deep dive into finding a trauma therapist/coach who really understands the healing process of lifelong CPTSD...thankfully, she gets it, unlike any therapist/coach I’ve worked with. She even understands that sometimes it’s a slow process and sometimes it’s a slower process to heal. I feel like I have space to be and to think.”

Trauma-Informed Coaching is a practical, supportive approach that recognizes how past and present experiences of trauma - which happens to most of us - can shape your present perceptions and realities.

As a Trauma-Informed Coach, my focus is on creating a safe, non-judgmental space that is respectful and supportive to help you address complexity and undertake your goals with support.

A trauma-informed approach is grounded in key principles, including:

Safety and Trust: Physical, emotional, and psychological safety, so you feel secure and able to share when you feel ready to do so.

Empathy and Understanding: I have deep compassion and understanding of the effort involved in navigating complexity

Resilience and Strengths: We work on build up your existing strengths and resources, so you feel empowered and grow.

Solution-Oriented: Our work is focused on what’s happening now with an emphasis on practical steps forward, increasing safety and wellness, and moving you forward in line with your goals, values and ethics.

Collaboration and Choice: You have self-determination and autonomy. We work together collaboratively incorporating your values and ethics as we address challenges and increase your safety and wellness.

Mindfulness and Self-Regulation: Throughout our work together we build in tools and strategies to manage stressors and self-regulate and befriend ourselves.

Trauma-Informed Coaching is about steady, effective support—helping you navigate complexity, build resilience, and move forward in a way that feels authentic and life-affirming.

The Mother Corp combines a variety of coaching approaches. Trauma-Informed Coaching is a central tenet.

The Mother Corp combines a variety of coaching approaches.

Empowerment Coaching is a collaborative, strengths-based process designed to help you:

Build confidence and recognize your unique strengths
Set meaningful goals that align with your values
Navigate challenges with practical strategies and support
Make informed decisions and take purposeful action
Overcome self-doubt and develop greater resilience
Unlock your potential and move forward with clarity and self-belief

Your coach acts as an ally—listening, encouraging, and guiding you as you gain the tools and mindset needed to take control of your life and create positive, lasting change.

The Mother Corp combines a variety of coaching approaches. One important aspect is Accountability Coaching.

An Accountability Coach for individuals is a professional partner who helps you set, pursue, and achieve your personal or professional goals. Accountability Coaching is all about supporting you to follow through on your commitments and stay on track with your plans.

Accountability Coaching can help you with:

Clarifying your goals and breaking them down into manageable steps
Regular check-ins to review your progress, celebrate wins, and address obstacles
Practical strategies to overcome procrastination, build better habits, and manage your time
Encouragement, honest feedback, and a safe space to talk through challenges
A structured, results-focused partnership to help you take consistent action and make real progress

Accountability Coaching is valuable for anyone who wants to develop new habits, increase productivity, or make positive changes. The process is tailored to your unique needs and supports positive change.

I address your whole self in coaching.

I work with people who have experienced trauma or are experiencing trauma. Often, they are navigating big life transitions and complex challenges.

These can include family system changes, burnout, identity shifts, parenting changes, and bodily challenges such as health issues, disability, aging, or dying.

Life Transistions Coaching helps you navigate complicated situations in your life that are overwhelming and hard to untangle. This often involves addressing multiple challenges at once.

My approach is trauma-informed and tailored to your unique circumstances. Together, we will untangle complexity, address pressing issues, and make meaningful progress.

Our work together weaves in fundamental self-care, including somatic practices, so you can better look after yourself during times of complexity.

Focusing on self-care and improving your relationship with yourself can make a significant difference and have a ripple effect on all your relationships, including with your children.

Please set up a consultation call to discuss your situation.

The Mother Corp combines a variety of coaching approaches on an as-useful basis.

A Divorce Coach is a trained professional who supports you effectively through the emotional, practical, and logistical parts of relationship breakdown, separation and divorce.

As a CDC Certified Divorce Coach®, I am trained to help you make clearer decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and stay focused on what matters most to you in alignment with your values and ethics.

Divorce Coaching is not therapy. It’s future-focused, goal-oriented support that helps you move through the complexity and find your footing.

This includes:

Emotional processing — working through overwhelm, grief, anger, or fear

Practical strategies — for communication, co-parenting, decision-making, and addressing conflict

Values-based planning — so you’re not just reacting, you’re selecting with intention

High-conflict expertise — if your separation involves abuse or controlling behaviour, this is my specialization area.

Post-divorce rebuild — support as you rebuild and move forward

Divorce Coaching helps you reduce isolation, increase feeling grounded, and gain resources.

**As a Certified Divorce Coach (CDC), I am recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as a Dispute Resolution Practitioner. I am a member of CDC, ABA, and International Coaching Federation.

Absolutely not.

As a Divorce Coach, I am not pro-divorce. I am pro-health, pro-safety, and pro-wellness—in whatever configuration that takes for you.

When we work together, you make the decisions.

I work with people across the full continuum of challenges:

From those struggling in their relationship or marriage… To those grappling with trauma… To people unsure whether they want to stay or go… To those who’ve made a decision and want support enacting it… To those experiencing complexity after divorce… To parents transitioning into co-parenting.

When it comes to divorce, I support the full spectrum—from peaceful, amicable separations to high-conflict divorces involving gender-based violence, hidden abuse, financial abuse, and post-separation abuse.

Yes.

I support people experiencing or recovering from:

High-conflict divorces
Gender-based violence
Hidden abuse
Financial (economic) abuse
Post-separation abuse
High-conflict parenting

This can include:

Control and coercion
Navigating complex systems
Systemic and institutional misuse, including bureaucratic paperwork overload
Parenting through trauma

My approach is skilled and trauma-informed, addressing emotional, logistical, and practical needs. I help increase safety, wellness, and access to resources, and can assist with advocacy and navigating complex situations.

For people in immediate danger, please call 911. If you need physical safety or immediate crisis intervention, please contact a local transition house.

The Mother Corp combines a variety of coaching approaches on an as-useful basis.

Coparenting Coaching provides support, guidance, and practical strategies to help you navigate raising children.

Whether you’re dealing with conflict, transitioning from parenting to co-parenting, or everyday parenting stress, I offer a trauma-informed approach tailored to your unique family’s needs.

I often work with families to help them stay bonded and connected through big transitions, complexity, and trauma. This includes supporting parents as they parent through trauma.

I work with adults, parents, and caregivers to support children in age-appropriate ways, improve communication, problem-solve, enhance communication between parents, and make informed decisions.

Together, we’ll strengthen your relationships, improve communication, and create a more connected, resilient family environment.

The Mother Corp combines a variety of coaching approaches. Somatics is used regularly in one-on-one sessions for individuals and in our educational workshops, as it is incredibly valuable to learn how to befriend your body and yourself.

Somatics Coaching is a body-centered approach that helps you connect with and befriend your physical sensations, emotions, and experiences.

Through guided awareness and movement practices, Somatics Coaching supports you in familiarizing yourself with your feelings, processing trauma, reducing stress, and building resilience and bandwidth.

Somatics Coaching empowers you to recognize (and release) patterns held in the body, leading to greater well-being and personal growth.

These approaches are beneficial to people who want to address blockages, impediments, and health and wellness issues in order to feel more whole and energized.

Somatics refers to practices that connect mind and body, helping you become more aware of physical sensations and how they relate to your emotions and experiences. This awareness is essential for processing and releasing trauma that can be held in the body.

Fundamental self-care is far beyond the simplistic self-care of bubble baths and pedicures. Fundamental self-care attends to your physical, emotional, and energetic needs—such as rest, nourishment, micro-minerals, movement, and healthy boundaries—so you rebuild and safeguard your energy.

Holistic Trauma Recovery amplifies mind, body, and spirit through integrated, energetic recovery processes. This may include intuitive healing, Jikiden Reiki energy work, and Trauma Recovery techniques that utilize powerful guided visualization grounded in neurobiology. I am certified as a holistic Trauma Recovery practitioner and a Jikiden Reiki practitioner. Further, I am mentored in these restoration modalities.

These practices help you safely digest and metabolize blockages, trauma, and grief, freeing up energy for the present and future.

This compassionate and confidential approach promotes overall health, wellness, restoration, and transformation—so you have more energy to thrive in all areas of your life.

Our trauma-informed coaching and holistic support services help you navigate big life transitions—including separation, divorce, burnout, identity shifts, and body challenges.

We offer compassionate support for working through complex challenges and traumatic experiences, helping you reconnect with your body, boundaries, energy, and power, and move forward with purpose.

You’ll receive confidential, personalized holistic and evidence-based coaching and guidance tailored to your specific circumstances. Together, we will address the emotional, logistical, and practical challenges that come with significant life transitions and help you gain forward momentum.

Confidential, Accessing Support

Confidential, personalized 1:1 support (virtual, phone)
Flexible, accessible, and timely sessions (no waitlists or red tape)
Secure, encrypted technology for privacy and safety
All relationship and family configurations are welcome

Immediate and Practical Support

Step-by-step guidance and support through complexity, transitions, and trauma such as separation, divorce, burnout, identity shifts, and body challenges
Breaking complex tasks into manageable pieces and accomplishing them
Effective emotional, logistical, and practical support
Implementing and increasing your safety and security structurally
Communication and conflict de-escalation skills
Problem-solving and practical strategies for overcoming obstacles
Support for making informed decisions
Gaining skills, tools, and concepts to manage, navigate, and thrive
Specialization in high-conflict, gender-based violence, hidden abuse, financial abuse, parenting conflict and post-separation abuse, including misuse of bureaucratic or institutional systems
Support for extracting from abuse
Gaining resources

Administrative and System Navigation

Administrative assistance: forms, document editing, information gathering, and escalation processes
Guidance through bureaucratic and institutional systems
Personalized referrals
Personalized research (excluding legal research)
Helping you understand and make complex decisions about paperwork, agreements, and institutional interactions that have long-term implications for you and your children.
Increasing your ability to negotiate and advocate effectively for yourself

Holistic Wellbeing, Healing, and Energetic Support

Somatic and self-regulation techniques to ground
Support using trauma recovery techniques grounded in neurobiology tailored to your specific needs
Befriending yourself through adversity
Reconnecting with your body, boundaries, energy, and power
Holistic, energetic process including intuitive healing, Jikiden Reiki, and guided visualization
Support for safely processing and metabolizing emotional blockages, trauma, and grief
Compassionate support

Parenting and Family Support

Parenting and co-parenting support
Prioritizing children’s best interests
Communication and conflict resolution skills
Understanding the details and implications of documents
Problem-solving

Rebuilding

Learning new skills—from communication to self-care
Increasing financial skills and tools, and rebuilding financial security.
Career coaching: career changes, resume writing, interview preparation, negotiating pay/benefits, and entrepreneurial support
Guidance on starting your own business
How to navigate today’s dating scene

I empower you to navigate, strategize, problem-solve, and make informed decisions during talk-based sessions. Logistically and practically, I help you break down big tasks into manageable steps, develop a plan, and make effective progress through complexity.

You’ll be supported before, during, and after, maximizing your safety and overall wellbeing.

We will set the foundations to rebuild a life that thrives, so you can confidently reclaim your life with courage, clarity, and renewed hope.

Together, we make the feeling of the impossible possible!

Lived expertise is the learning—both internal and external—that comes from actually going through an experience, especially one that is complex and life-altering. Moving through the full arc of it fosters wisdom, reflection, and a grounded understanding of how to navigate it successfully, including knowing the pitfalls before they occur.

Lived experience is a powerful form of knowledge.

When you work with someone who has lived expertise, you’re working with an insider—someone who brings nuance, insight, and access to skillsets and mindsets that can’t be replicated through theory, hearsay, or the perspective of an outsider. People going through trauma don’t need to be further drained by trying to explain and educate. An insider gets it.

You gain real-world perspective, compassion, and practical strategies that can be vital—especially when facing similar challenges yourself. Having a skilled insider who has navigated this terrain means access to more insightful resources, empathy, and compassion.

This is one reason why counsellors and psychotherapists refer their clients to me. My specialization is rooted in academic, professional, and lived expertise—a combination that allows me to serve clients more effectively.

Evidence-based approaches are grounded in current research and methods that have been studied and shown to be effective.

My trauma-informed coaching and consulting draws from fields such as neuroscience, psychology, trauma recovery, and the global movement to end violence against women. These approaches are informed by data and grounded in peer-reviewed research, ensuring that the support offered is not only compassionate, but also effective and credible.

I read a lot of amazing theory to bolster evidence-based practices and strategies (and feel hopeful!).

I am a trauma-informed coach and consultant with extensive experience supporting people in complex, challenging situations.

I'm not just an academic or trained professional—I also have lived experience.

My background includes working in universities, health authorities, a legal firm, Indigenous governance institutions, and non-profit organizations.

My trauma-informed coaching practice is supported by a master’s degree and a graduate diploma, as well as certifications in Divorce Coaching (recognized by the American Bar Association as a dispute resolution practitioner and the International Coaching Federation, both of which I’m a member of), holistic Trauma Recovery, and Jikiden Reiki. I’m also currently completing certification in The Trauma of Money method. As a lifelong learner, I continuously study research, read widely, take advanced trainings, and work with mentors to expand and refine my skillset.

As such, you receive tailored, holistic, and comprehensive support.

I love coaching 1:1 with individuals to help them increase safety and wellness.

For professionals, I provide customized educational workshops. I train counsellors and psychotherapists in high-conflict divorce, and I train family lawyers in trauma-informed practice and trauma recovery.

Yes. I often work with parents.

I welcome parents from all relationship and family configurations.

I work with the adult to help improve their relationship with their child(ren). I do not work directly with children during sessions.

I support parents parenting through complex trauma and whose children are also experiencing trauma.

I am specially trained in Breastfeeding (LEARRC) and often work with dyads of new mothers parenting their babies.

The beauty of technology is that I can work with you—wherever you are.

My trauma-informed coaching and consulting is available virtually and by phone across Canada, the United States, and worldwide.

I coach Americans and Canadians from their homes, offices, cars, nature spots, campsites—anywhere you feel comfortable having your session.

All coaching sessions are confidential.

We work together to find a time that works for both our schedules and time zones.

My approach is non-judgmental. You will be met with compassion and understanding—no matter your circumstances.

This is a confidential, safe space where you are supported so you can focus on your healing and growth. Humour will be infused along the way.

Experiencing non-judgmental support, help, and care when going through hardship can help reduce the feeling of burden and increase the feeling of relief. The aim is to make a comfortable, supportive environment so you get the help that benefits you and improves your situation.

The Mother Corp. was developed in consultation with a community of people who have experienced trauma, divorce, abuse, and bodily challenges. Many contributed insights from having used existing services, which allowed them to provide nuanced feedback on how The Mother Corp. developed the services it offers clients.

Utilizing our collective experiences and understanding of this complex and nuanced terrain informs how this empowering service is shaped. The aim is to bring clients relief and lessen the duration and extent of trauma and hardship.

I accept e-transfers, credit card and PayPal, which ever you prefer.

If privacy around payment is a concern, please let me know and we can problem-solve together. During our call I can talk to you about the security measures that are implemented.

If you have safety concerns, some people prefer to have a friend or family member put the expense on their card and you give them cash.

Just let me know what works best for you.

Helping Hand Bursary Fund The Mother Corp Bursary for Trauma-Informed Divorce Coaching, Parenting Coaching, and Trauma Recovery.

We know that experiencing trauma is hard.

When children are involved or abuse has occurred, the financial dynamic for many people changes. The Mother Corp eases financial barriers to our trauma-informed services through a bursary fund available to individuals in need. When bursary applicants contact us, we complete an intake form and have an interview. Bursary recipients are selected following an intake interview. Prioritization is for individuals experiencing hidden abuse, financial abuse, gender-based violence, or parents experiencing financial need.

About the Bursary Fund

How it works In line with our values and commitments, the bursary fund is a matching fund. We match donors contributions equally. For instance: Donation of $500, matched by The Mother Corp for $500; providing a total of $1000 of trauma-informed services to an individual in need. How the Bursary is Managed Bursary funds are kept in a distinct bank account with clear financial management transparency. Together we can advance our vision of justice, love and support.

Make a Contribution

If you would like to contribute to the Helping Hand Bursary Fund please contact themothercorp@proton.me to arrange contributing.

We accept contributions through PayPal, e-transfers or alternative methods.

For individuals, I offer a free consultation call to discuss your situation and how this service can support you.

For professionals, I welcome the opportunity to work with your organization to advance trauma-informed practices.

You can reach me by:

Book your session on this calendar:

https://calendly.com/themothercorp-proton/30min?month=2025-05

Send an email themothercorp@proton.me (secure)

Text or call: 778 926 8134

I look forward to speaking with you to get you moving forward into a better position.

This is a one-hour session, unless we agree and arrange otherwise.

How you use the session is entirely up to you.

Options include:

Problem-solving
Learning more about an issue you’re facing
Having a document read
Writing or drafting a non-legal document response
Co-writing together in a live document
Practicing somatic techniques together to support your wellbeing
Having a safe, non-judgemental space to be heard, emote, or grieve

This time is yours—use it in whatever way helps you feel supported or move forward.

My communication approach is built to support you.

You choose how we connect:

Phone call
Google Meet
Zoom
FaceTime

and

Texting by regular text, Signal, or WhatsApp

Just let me know your preferred method when booking.

After you book, I’ll text to confirm your appointment and send a reminder the day before.

If you’d like a different arrangement, let me know.

Booking online: Booking online will generate an automatic email and/or calendar entry. You may want to delete them.

Safety Considerations:

Your name will not be used in communications unless you specifically request it.
Payments and phone number are processed under another name, so this business name does not appear on banking documents
For higher security use my secure email: themothercorp@proton.me Please include your preferred contact method and any instructions for safe communication.

The Red Flags Workshop helps participants identify both overt and subtle warning signs of unhealthy or abusive behaviour in dating and relationships.

You will learn to recognize red flag behaviours such as boundary transgressions, manipulation, and coercion — and how these differ from trustworthy and respectful behaviours.

The session provides clear, plain-language tools to help you safeguard yourself, interpret patterns early on, and feel more confident navigating dating and relationship decisions.

Quick Exit

How is coaching different from therapy?

What is Trauma-Informed Coaching?

What is Empowerment Coaching?

What is Accountability Coaching?

What is Life Transitions Coaching ?

What is Divorce Coaching?

Do all your clients get divorced?

Can you help if I’m experiencing abuse?

What is Parenting and Coparenting Coaching?

What is Somatics Coaching

What are somatics, fundamental self-care, and holistic trauma recovery?

What does your 1:1 coaching support include?

What is lived expertise?

What does “evidence-based” mean?

What are your qualifications?

Are you a lawyer?

Are you a therapist?

Do you specialize in working with women?

Do you work with parents?

Do you work with couples or just one person?

Do you only offer trauma-informed coaching in Vancouver?

Is this confidential?

Is this a safe, non-judgmental environment?

Do you only specialize in coaching women over 45?

How was this service developed?

How can I pay for coaching privately?

Do you offer sliding scale or reduced rates?

Learn about our Bursary Fund

How do I get started?

What is the cancellation policy?

What is the structure of a 1-on-1 session?

How will we communicate?

What will I learn in the Red Flags Workshop?