Frequently Asked Questions
Check out one of the topics below to see if I can answer your questions.
About Grief Coaching | Working Together | About Burnout Recovery | Exhausted to Empowered Program | Logistics | About Auntie Ally
If you still have questions, or aren’t sure what’s right for you, book a free, no pressure discovery call with me and we can chat about it.
About Grief Coaching
What is grief coaching, and how is it different from therapy?
Grief coaching is non-clinical support focused on helping you navigate loss, transitions, and transformation. While therapy often focuses on diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, grief coaching is forward-focused—helping you process what you're carrying, develop tools for healing, and chart a path toward the life you actually want.
I'm not a therapist, and I don't diagnose or treat mental health conditions. What I offer is compassionate guidance, somatic practices, nervous system tools, and ritual work to help you move through grief and burnout. Many of my clients work with both a therapist AND a grief coach—they complement each other beautifully.
I'm not grieving a death. Is grief coaching still right for me?
Absolutely. Grief isn't just about death—it's about all the losses we carry that don't have funerals. Career loss, burnout, identity shifts, health changes, divorce, dreams that died, the person you used to be. These are all legitimate griefs that deserve to be witnessed and processed. If you're feeling loss of any kind, grief work can help.
What does "burnout is unprocessed grief" mean?
Burnout often includes grief for the life you thought you'd have, the person you were before productivity became your worth, the dreams you deferred, the relationships you sacrificed, and the body you've been ignoring. When we don't process these losses, they show up as exhaustion, overwhelm, and disconnection. Grief coaching helps you name and honor what you're actually mourning—so you can finally heal.
What is “death work” and what does it have to do with burnout?
Death work is about supporting people through all kinds of endings and transitions - not just physical death, though that's part of it. As a trained death midwife, I help people navigate the deaths that happen throughout life: the end of identities, careers, relationships, dreams, and versions of ourselves that no longer fit.
These aren't physical deaths, but they're real deaths that need to be grieved and honored.
Working Together
What happens in a coaching session?
Sessions are tailored to where you are and what you need. We might work with somatic practices to help you feel and process emotion in your body, explore the grief you're carrying, practice nervous system regulation techniques, work with inner child healing, create personal rituals, or simply hold space for whatever needs to be witnessed. Every session is different because your needs evolve as you heal.
How long do people typically work with you?
It varies! Some clients work with me for a few months during an acute crisis or transition. Others stay for 6-12 months or longer as they navigate deeper transformation. My 10-week group program (Exhausted to Empowered) is a contained journey, while 1:1 coaching is more flexible and ongoing based on your needs.
Do you offer sliding scale pricing?
Yes, I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for folks who need financial accessibility, prioritizing Kanaka Maoli, Native and Indigenous peoples, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+, Neurodivergents, and folks with disabilities. Reach out and we can discuss what's possible.
Can I work with you if I don't live in Hawaiʻi?
Absolutely! While I'm based in Hilo and offer in-person sessions locally, most of my clients work with me virtually via Zoom. I work with women across the US and beyond.
About Burnout Recovery
I'm burned out but I can't quit my job. Can you still help me?
Yes! Not everyone can (or wants to) leave their job, and that's okay. I work with women who are staying in their current roles AND women who are transitioning out. We'll focus on nervous system regulation, boundary setting, processing the grief you're carrying, and creating sustainable practices so you can survive (and eventually thrive) whether you stay or go.
How is your approach different from other burnout coaches?
I don't treat burnout as a time management problem or a self-care deficit. I treat it as what it actually is: nervous system dysregulation, unprocessed grief, and the result of working in systems not designed for human wellbeing. We work at the root—your body, your grief, your patterns, your soul's calling—not just surface-level productivity hacks.
Will this program teach me to work less?
Not exactly. It will teach you how to listen to your body, honor your limits, process your grief, regulate your nervous system, and make choices aligned with your actual values—not what you think you "should" do. For some people, that means working less. For others, it means working differently. The goal isn't a specific outcome—it's reconnection with yourself so YOU can decide what's right.
The Exhausted to Empowered Program
What's included in the 10-week program?
The program includes 20 live group sessions over 10 weeks (two 60-90 minute sessions per week), a private online community for support between sessions, guided practices and resources, small support groups within the cohort, and a culminating grief ritual and graduation ceremony. All sessions are recorded if you need to miss one.
What if I can't make all the live sessions?
Life happens, and I get it—you're already exhausted. All sessions are recorded and available to watch on your own time. However, the live component is where the magic happens (community, witness, real-time support), so I encourage attending as many as possible.
Is this group coaching or do I get individual attention?
It's group coaching with intimate cohort size (10-15 women max) so you DO get individual attention. You'll have opportunities to share, be witnessed, receive feedback, and work through your specific challenges. Plus, hearing others' stories often unlocks your own healing.
I'm worried about being vulnerable in a group setting. Is this safe?
Safety is foundational to this work. We establish clear community agreements, practice confidentiality, and create a container where all emotions are welcome. You're never forced to share more than you're ready to. Many clients find that group work is actually MORE healing than 1:1 because being witnessed by a community is powerful medicine.
Logistics
How do I get started?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call through the link on my website. We'll talk about what you're experiencing, whether my approach feels like a fit, and discuss next steps. No pressure, no obligation—just a conversation.
Do you take insurance?
No, I don't take insurance. Grief coaching is not medical treatment, so it's not covered by health insurance. However, some clients use HSA/FSA funds for coaching—check with your plan administrator. I can provide receipts for your records.
What's your cancellation policy?
For 1:1 sessions, I require 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations or no-shows are charged the full session fee. For the group program, there are no refunds once the program begins, but you'll have access to all recordings.
About Auntie Ally
Why do you call yourself "Auntie Ally"?
In Hawaiʻi, "Auntie" is a term of respect and endearment for women who hold wisdom and care for their community. It's not about age—it's about pilina (relationship) and kuleana (responsibility). I guide women through some of their hardest moments, and "Auntie" captures that blend of warmth, wisdom, and steady presence I bring to the work.
What's your background and training?
I'm a certified Death Midwife through the Nine Keys School of Death Arts and a trained Dagara Community Grief Ritual Facilitator. I have a BA in Humanities with emphasis in Communications and Community Psychology. Before transitioning to grief work, I spent 12+ years in high-level strategic communications and public service—work that ultimately led to my own severe burnout and healing journey.
My real credential? I've lived this. I spent a decade healing from burnout, autoimmune disease, and multiple profound losses. Everything I teach, I learned through my own transformation—plus tens of thousands of dollars in practitioners, programs, and support. I teach what I know works because I've walked this path myself.
Still Have Questions?
The best way to get your specific questions answered is to book a free discovery call. We can talk about your situation, what you need, and whether working together feels right.