What To Expect
What will we do during months 1- 4?
You will begin at Inner Connections with an orientation and meeting with house mates to discuss house rules and responsibilities, including chores, menu planning, grocery shopping and cooking. You meet with your Life Coach and discuss your coaching plan and schedule. The coach also explains how to derive the greatest benefit from the coaching sessions. Together, you and your coach build a weekly schedule that includes classes or work, activities, meetings and free time. This schedule is revised weekly to help you maintain a balanced lifestyle that enables you to accomplish your goals. Your coach will help you identify independent living skills you may need such as opening a bank account, meal planning and shopping within a budget. Your coach will also help you learn how to register for classes or look for a job.
If you are enrolled in classes, you will attend study groups and meet with your academic adviser. You will be encouraged to explore your own interests and to take advantage of the many community resources that are available in the
You will attend meetings and groups and you will work with your coach on an individual coaching plan that reinforces the goals that you set for yourself initially. Also you will continue to revise your goals and address issues as they arise. Your coach will help you learn new coping skills and strategies to help you as you move forward. You will begin working with your Inner Connections Journal.
What happens during evenings and weekends?
At Inner Connections you will also have the opportunity to learn how to manage your unstructured time. You may choose to participate in healthy, fun, supervised activities like cooking classes, bike rides, rock climbing, concerts, jam sessions and movies. Students often plan group activities, and if there's enough interest and the weather permits, we often take students on outdoor adventures such as skiing, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, etc. As you progress through Inner Connections, we help you balance your life with fun, work, and relaxation. You are given the time and encouraged to explore your spiritual life, practice meditative arts through yoga or tai chi, work out regularly, and pursue your intellectual, musical or artistic interests.
Students are required to enroll for 4 months initially. After the first 4 months, many students move out of the coaching house but live locally and participate as a distance intensive student. It is not uncommon however for students stay for 6 to 9 months and some stay for a year or more.
Is the coaching house overseen by staff personnel?
Yes and no. Our mentor lives in a separate apartment under the same roof as the students. There are curfews, meetings and responsibilities. We do not however provide 24-hour supervision. Students need to be mature enough to live on their own with unstructured, unsupervised time. We do require that students comply with our rules and policies, complete chores daily, plan menus, shop for food and household supplies weekly.
How much spending money do students need?
Inner Connections asks that students come with under $40. In addition to their weekly food budget of $75 we hold a discretionary account where students can request funds for essentials and at the same time engage with their coach regarding accountability about their needs and wants.
If I live in the IC house, do you supply the food?
Each student receives $75 per week to buy food and household supplies. We provide transportation to a grocery store once each week, and assist with healthy shopping. We also offer a nutrition class and individual meetings with our nutritionist.
If I don’t have a car, how will I get around?
Most students do not have their own car at first. Downtown Keene, which has many job opportunities, and Keene State College are just a short walk from the coaching house. We do suggest bringing a bike and a helmet. Other transportation can be arranged as needed. After 2 months, students can apply to their coach to have a car at IC and their requests are considered on an individual basis.
Inner Connections is not a recovery program but we support an
individual’s choice to attend meetings. There are AA and NA meetings in
Each student is given a membership to the local YMCA which is in walking distance from the house. Each student also gets 5 weeks with a personal trainer.
Coaching is becoming one of the leading tools people use to live extraordinary lives.
How is coaching different from therapy?
Therapy goes into depth about issues, usually dealing with the past. Coaching is action-oriented and focuses on the present and future. Your coach enables you to determine your own "answers." Coaching does disregard the past but it considers it in relationship to the present and understanding patterns and behaviors that have brought you here.
What is coaching and how will my life coach help me?
Coaching is becoming one of the leading tools people use to create the life that they want. Through ongoing coaching sessions, you identify what's most important to you and align your thoughts, words, and actions accordingly. Our coaches work with you to identify what you want and support you in achieving a life that reflects your integrity, dreams and values. Your life coach also provides ongoing encouragement and guidance from a caring adult with a young adult's best interests in mind. We work closely with students to embrace new challenges as they develop healthy and fulfilling lives. The coaching relationship provides structure, accountability and a safe place for the young adult to be honest without fear of judgment.
Your coach will encourage you to set goals you truly want to achieve. He will ask you to do more than you may have done on your own. Also to help you focus in order to produce results more quickly. Your coach will provide the tools, support, and structure to accomplish more.
What Does Inner Connections Cost?
