What We Do

 Mindset and Life Coaching with Thai: Student and Parent Sherpa

I am passionate about helping students discover their essential selves: what nourishes them from the inside (ie: music, literature, robotics, helping animals, etc.). This process involves acknowledging external stimuli and the limiting beliefs of society (ie: what they “should” wear, how to get into the “right” college, the pressure to be “successful”.) Once a student is inspired from the inside out, bargaining or deception with parents and/or teachers disappears. A person who is in alignment with their true nature is flexible, self-reliant and self-motivated. I also accompany parents to allow their student to lead the way by recognizing their own inherited limiting beliefs (ie: She’ll never recover if she doesn’t get a lead role in the play,”) and those imbued by society (ie: “The neighbor has a 4.7 GPA, my kid can’t compete!”). Once a parent turns down the voices of others and tunes in to their core beliefs, they learn to trust themselves as leaders and their children as strong, independent people.

I offer powerful listening in an unvarnished, yet buoyant spirit that allows my clients to challenge their own thinking and safely explore their innate wisdom. My mission is to accompany those who want to explore their essential wisdom and foster the courage to curate a life of self-reliance and integrity. I’m less of a life coach and more of a life sherpa. Instead of giving you prepackaged drills and mantras, I help reveal who you are as a student, young adult or parent by holding a safe space as we explore important questions with no judgment about the answers.  

“One of the best decisions I ever made was hiring Thai to be my son’s life coach when he moved across the country for college. We all know our kids don’t tell us everything, so knowing Zach had a trusted, trained educator and coach put my mind at ease. Priceless.”

  • T. B., father of a current student at Syracuse University

“My daughter’s life was planned out until the day she graduated from college.  The day after graduation, she was paralyzed with fear about what to do next. Thai stepped in: what a life-saver! She didn’t need a therapist, she needed a coach.”

  • H. W., mother of three

My guiding principles: 

  • You are the curator of your life

  • Everyone is responsible for themselves

  • Impermanence is always reliable

  • You are enough

  • You deserve love, abundance and rest

  • You have the power to choose your thoughts around circumstances

  • The balm to suffering is compassion

My areas of experience (either lived or coached):

  • Neurological differences

  • Lack of motivation

  • ADHD

  • Decisions surrounding academics/school choices

  • Changes in life trajectories/goals

  • Tuning out the “noise” of societal norms

  • Queer/non-binary/trans issues/experiences

  • BIPOC issues/experiences

  • divorce/blended families

  • the biracial experience

  • reframing your childhood

  • Trust in yourself/ your parenting/ your kids

  • drug/alcohol recovery and sober living

  • Whether or not to become a parent

  • Decisions surrounding pregnancy, birth, and parenting

“After my first session with Thai, I feel like I can breathe again.”

  • J.J., during their final year of college, navigating anticipatory anxiety at the culmination of college

“Thai deeply cares about the people around her and listens with an open mind. She listens to you and wants you to succeed. Thai is one of the most understanding adults I have ever met and I’m glad to have her as a resource because of her ability to listen to people and not to judge.”

  • S. B. ninth grade

FAQs

Life Coaching seems aggressive and cultish. Is that what’s going on here?

Life Coaching with Thai is NOT:

  • Filled with granola and drum circles

  • A bonanza of dynamic mottos and affirmations

  • Focused on “the power of positive thinking”

  • An insistence on a higher power

Mindset and Life Coaching with Thai IS:

  • A safe space to explore places you may be “stuck”

  • A non judgemental guide to find your next right thing (in terms of schooling, jobs, shifts in perspective etc.)

  • A place to comb through your thoughts and internalized socialization to reveal your true calling (what kind of person you are as a(n) entrepreneur/leader/coworker/activist/volunteer/parent/spouse/

  • etc.)

Do I need a therapist or a life coach?

You need a psychotherapist (someone with different skills and training than I have) if: 

  • You are seeking clinical help for depression/anxiety/bipolar disorder etc.

  • You need specialized treatment for an eating disorder and/or drug or alcohol addiction

  • You feel you are a danger to yourself or others

“Think of it this way: if you have something in your body that needs a surgeon, you need a therapist. If you need alignment, like a chiropractor, see Thai.”

  • Parent of a 13 year old and an 18 year old

What is the difference between talking to you and talking to a friend?

A friend is a person who loves and supports you. In doing so, they may be reaffirming your beliefs that are causing you pain (ie: “What they said was unfair! Your boss is a monster! Your parents are boomers, they’ll never get you.) My job is to ask questions around your area of discontent and discover new ideas that might replace beliefs that cause suffering with new beliefs that bring relief.

What ages do you work with?

I work with people in middle school through adulthood. 

Do you secretly imbue religion as part of your coaching?

NO! My clients are of all faiths. There will be no discussion of a religious practice unless it is brought up by my client. I serve all faiths and have no religious agenda.

Academic Coaching

We work as a team with students to develop skills and strategies that help them manage their executive functioning and improve their academic life. This includes effective study skills, time management, and test prep. We support kids with almost any learning or thinking difference (including, but not limited to: ADHD, Autism Spectrum, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyslexia, gifted students, etc.).

The specific strategies we use will vary. It depends on each child’s strengths, goals and personalities. Here are just a few examples of what we do:

  • Work with families to get a holistic understanding of what the goals and roadblocks are for their specific situation (ie: poor grades; bored by school; unmotivated to learn; frustrated by materials, teachers, other students, and/or parents; messy or incomplete work; anxiety around tests etc.)

  • Discover and reinforce the beneficial aspects of each student’s learning style and use them to create a positive feeling around their learning profile (Example: “You are such a fast thinker, your ability to grasp ideas quickly is amazing.”)

  • Help identify behavior issues that may be caused by underlying     learning and thinking differences and work to redirect those issues in a more productive direction

  • Teach strategies to improve focus and work habits

  • Teach time management and organization skills

  • Develop an educational plan by giving assessments, tracking progress and adjusting as needed

  • Provide a safe environment for students to talk about school and learn how to self-advocate

  • Act as a link between home and school

  • Provide a third party for both parents and students to work with, thereby alleviating the stress on the parent-child relationship

“I want you to know how much we appreciate Nicole’s support. She has always gone above and beyond for Dre. She provides insights into Andreas’ study skills as expected and she also provides insights into his fundamental character that are so enlightening and so valuable to us and to him. The observations and solutions she shares will benefit him far beyond these tests! “  - Heidi, mother of a Junior at Geffen Academy

“It is clear that Thai’s first priority is to build confidence and encourage children to venture beyond their comfort zones. The results I have seen are incredible and have led both of my children to feeling that they are strong capable students.”

  • Karen, mother of two

College Application Process

We work with students (mainly high school sophomores, juniors and seniors) to help prioritize and organize their college applications. We are NOT college counselors. We do not recommend one school over another, rather, we strive to make the nuts and bolts of the process as stress-free as possible. 

This may include: 

  • Research colleges with students and create a list of schools that may be the right fit 

  • Organize a list of colleges of interest and prioritize each application, keeping in mind the option to apply Early Action or Early Decision

  • Work in conjunction with a college counselor that may be involved (either from a school or hired privately)

  • Make personal connections with students that are invaluable when collaborating on application essays

  • Brainstorm ideas for essays: outline, write, edit and rewrite as needed

  • Draw from already-written essays to apply to additional essays as needed

“Nicole was amazing and I would never have been able to navigate all the college applications without her. I felt she always had my best interest at heart and was super invested in making an overwhelming task doable.”  - S. F., senior from Marlborough School, now attending Bates University

“Thai got me through my college process. As an incoming senior, the college application process as a whole feels like some indigestible process. With Thai’s help, I was able to take it one day at a time and maintain a healthy perspective. I am thrilled with the responses and acceptances I received and I credit a significant amount of that success to Thai!”   - MLC, senior from Crossroads School, now attending Northwestern University