Frequently Asked Questions

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If yours is not here, the discovery call is the right place to ask it.

About Rising Within

  • Youth tutoring is available for K–12 students (kindergarten through 12th grade). Adult coaching is available for clients 18 and older. Workshops are adult-focused (18+) unless explicitly marked as a youth program.

  • Rising Within is based in Lakeside, Arizona, in the White Mountains region.

    • Youth tutoring: in person across the White Mountains region (Lakeside, Show Low, Pinetop, and surrounding communities) and online.

    • Adult coaching: in person regionally and online throughout the U.S. via Google Meet.

  • Yes. Rising Within is currently accepting new clients across all services. Availability is confirmed during the discovery call.

  • No. Rising Within is a tutoring and coaching practice — not a licensed school. It does not issue grades, diplomas, or enrollment records.

  • No. Adult coaching is structured personal development, not therapy or licensed counseling. While the founder holds a B.S. in Psychology with a double major in Crisis Counseling and Addictions & Recovery, Rising Within does not provide clinical mental health treatment.

ESA & Payment

  • Yes. Rising Within is an approved Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) vendor.

  • Tutoring: Specific Subject. All ESA-funded sessions are tied to a specific academic subject for documentation.

  • No. ESA funds cannot be used for adult services. Adult coaching is private pay only.

  • No. ESA-billed families and private-pay families receive the same instruction at the same rates. ESA families receive documentation prepared for ClassWallet submission automatically; private-pay families can request the same documentation.

  • Rising Within issues invoices through QuickBooks. Parents then upload the invoice to their ClassWallet account, where the Arizona Department of Education reviews and approves it. Once approved, ClassWallet processes payment to Rising Within.

  • Invoices are issued at the time of booking. Payment is due before or at the start of the appointment.

    • Private-pay families and adult coaching clients: payment is processed through QuickBooks (card or bank transfer) before the session begins. Zelle or cash may be accepted as backup options.

    • ESA families: the invoice must be uploaded to ClassWallet before or at the start of the appointment. ADE review and ClassWallet payment processing follow their standard timeline after upload.

  • Rising Within will work with the Account Holder to re-document and resubmit the invoice where possible at no additional charge. Where re-submission is not possible or is also denied, the Account Holder remains responsible for services already rendered per the service agreement.

  • Possibly, depending on current ADE rules and category eligibility. Specialty materials Rising Within bills separately may be ESA-eligible under appropriate categories. Families remain responsible for ensuring purchases comply with current ESA program rules — when in doubt, check with ADE or ClassWallet before purchase.

  • Youth tutoring rates are on the Youth Pricing page. Adult coaching, workshop, and package rates are on the Adult Pricing page.

  • Supported pricing is available for families and individuals experiencing financial need. It is handled privately and is not automatic. Reach out confidentially to discuss.

Youth Tutoring

  • Rising Within tutors across six program areas:

    • Academic Foundations & Communication

    • STEM, Applied & Research

    • Outdoor, Land & Practical Sciences

    • Health, Movement & Wellness

    • Civics, Community & Leadership

    • Literature & Personal Development

    All ESA-funded instruction is documented under a specific academic subject.

  • Yes. 1:1 tutoring is the primary format and is best for targeted attention, skill-building, curriculum support, or acceleration in a specific subject.

  • Yes. Small groups of 2–5 students meet for structured 2-hour sessions, typically organized as learning pods, homeschool groups, or peer-based instruction.

  • Yes. Co-ops and workshops for groups of 6 or more students are available as single events or recurring series, scheduled at partner locations or outdoor sites.

  • Yes. Rising Within honors the curriculum your family has chosen, whether faith-based or secular, and tutors through it according to the academic subject being instructed. For ESA-funded sessions, religious or doctrinal instruction is not provided as the primary objective. Families who want explicit faith-based instruction may arrange that separately through private pay.

  • Yes. Tutoring is built around your family's curriculum choice — secular or faith-based, traditional or unconventional.

  • Not currently. Rising Within tutors through the curriculum your family has chosen. A Rising Within curriculum library (lesson plans, modules, workbooks) is in development for future release through the Shop.

  • Yes. Every student is met where they are. Pace, format, materials, and instructional approach are adapted to your child — not the other way around. Tutoring works alongside existing supports.

  • No. Rising Within is not a special education provider and does not replace your child's school team or formal IEP/504 services. Tutoring works alongside these supports, not in place of them.

  • No. Rising Within does not diagnose. For diagnostic services, please consult a licensed psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or other qualified provider.

  • Yes. Catch-up support, foundational skill-building, and focused remediation are common reasons families come to Rising Within.

  • Yes. Acceleration, enrichment, deeper subject exploration, and structured challenge work are all part of how Rising Within supports advanced learners.

  • This is decided at enrollment based on the student, format, and location. Parents are welcome to be present, especially for younger students or initial sessions. For older students and online sessions, parent presence is often unnecessary.

  • No. Rising Within does not provide transportation. In-person sessions occur at your home, a partner location, a public meeting space, or an outdoor site, depending on the agreed format.

  • Yes. Formats can be adjusted as your family's needs change — for example, moving from 1:1 to small group, adding a sibling to a session, or transitioning to a workshop format. Schedule adjustments and rate changes are confirmed in writing before taking effect.

Adult Coaching

  • Coaching is structured personal development — forward-focused, non-clinical, working on goals, transitions, growth, and direction. Therapy is clinical practice, often addressing mental health conditions, and requires a licensed provider. Coaching is not a substitute for therapy.

  • Coaching is not for active mental health crises. The right care is a licensed therapist, counselor, crisis professional, or emergency support service. If you are in crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text. For immediate emergencies, call 911.

  • Faith-integrated coaching is the default approach at Rising Within. For clients who want it, sessions may integrate Scripture, spiritual formation, vocation as calling, and prayerful reflection.

  • Yes. Secular coaching is available by request during intake.

  • Life transitions, recovery and the slow rebuild, personal growth and self-discovery, goal clarity and accountability, career and calling, and faith-integrated reflection.

  • Engagements are open-ended, with fit and direction reviewed at agreed intervals. Some clients book individual sessions as needed; others commit to session packages of 4, 8, or 12 sessions for deeper work and modest savings.

  • Yes. Rising Within currently has two coaches — Brianna Au and Chloe Friot — and the discovery call helps determine which coach may be the best fit based on specialty, focus area, and availability. Rates are the same for both coaches.

  • Yes. Coaching conversations are private and notes are kept secure. As with all professional relationships, there are limited exceptions involving legal or safety obligations, which are explained during intake.

Workshops

  • Current workshop topics include Goal Clarity & Accountability, Career & Calling, Faith-Integrated Sessions, and Veteran-Focused Sessions. Additional topics can be developed from the adult coaching focus areas by request.

  • Yes. Custom-booked workshops are available for organizations, faith communities, veterans' groups, professional teams, women's circles, and other gatherings. Pricing is quoted based on scope, format, group size, and location.

  • Open-registration workshops are adult-focused (18+) unless explicitly marked otherwise. Workshops for youth are part of the youth tutoring service, not the adult workshop track.

  • Workshop payments are paid in advance and non-refundable unless the workshop is cancelled due to not meeting minimum enrollment. If Rising Within cancels for any reason, registrants receive a full refund or may transfer to a future date.

Shop & Resources

  • Not yet. The Shop is in development. Resources will be released as they are ready — not before.

  • Lesson plans, curriculum modules, student workbooks, adult journals and reflective workbooks, and future writing projects, including the Rising Within memoir project.

  • When materials are released, their ESA-compliance status will be clearly noted on each product page. Families remain responsible for ensuring purchases comply with current ESA program rules.

  • Yes. Join the Rising Within newsletter to be notified when resources are released.

Cancellations, Emergencies & Logistics

    • More than 48 hours' notice: full reschedule at no charge

    • Between 24 and 48 hours' notice: 50% session charge applies

    • Less than 24 hours' notice or no-shows: full session charge

    • Workshop, retreat, and intensive payments are paid in advance and non-refundable unless otherwise stated

    Genuine emergencies are handled with care.

  • Genuine emergencies, severe weather, and illness are handled with care and flexibility. Sessions cancelled for weather or illness are rescheduled at no charge whenever possible. For predictable illness situations, please give as much notice as you can.

  • If Rising Within needs to cancel a session, rescheduling is offered first. If a session cannot be rescheduled within a reasonable window, the session is credited back to your account or refunded according to the service agreement.

    • ESA families: itemized invoices prepared for ClassWallet, including required service details, dates, student name, subject area, and total amount.

    • Private-pay families: itemized invoices with payment instructions. Additional documentation on request.

    • Adult coaching clients: itemized invoices and scheduling details. Additional documentation on request.

  • Yes. All required onboarding forms must be completed before services begin. No signed paperwork, no services — no exceptions.

  • The first step is a free 20-minute discovery call. From there, scheduling and onboarding follow before services begin. See the Getting Started page for the full process.

Safety & Boundaries

  • Yes. Brianna Au holds an Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Documentation can be provided on request.

  • Yes. Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-3620), Rising Within is a mandatory reporter for suspected child abuse or neglect. This obligation is explained in detail in the Non-Clinical Scope Disclosure and FERPA & COPPA Notice provided during onboarding.

  • No. Rising Within is not an emergency service.

    • For immediate danger or medical emergencies, call 911.

    • For mental health crises, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).

  • No. Rising Within provides educational tutoring and non-clinical coaching. Rising Within is not licensed to provide medical, psychiatric, legal, or financial advice. For these matters, please consult appropriately licensed professionals.

  • Yes. All Rising Within sessions are led directly by Rising Within staff. Safety considerations — including location selection, age-appropriate activities, weather awareness, and required participant supervision — are built into session planning.

  • Generally no. Rising Within does not photograph or record sessions as a standard practice. Any use of photos or recordings for marketing, social media, or other purposes requires explicit written consent from the parent (for youth) or the client (for adults).

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