General FAQs
Q1. Who is Lita Abella and what do you do?
We are a coaching, consulting, mediation, and education practice led by Lita Abella, JD, BCC, ACC, a strategic consultant and certified coach specializing in high-stress professionals and trauma-informed leadership. Our work integrates coaching and consulting services to support sustainable success and well-being for individuals and organizations.
Q2. Who do you primarily work with?
We primarily serve high-stress professionals and organizations, including law firms, bar associations, legal departments, public agencies, and mission-driven organizations. Many of our clients are leaders, lawyers, and professionals navigating burnout, vicarious trauma, ethical stress, and complex workplace dynamics.
Q3. What is your overall approach to working with clients?
Our approach is grounded in trauma-informed practices, ethics, and practical resilience. We focus on safety, trust, collaboration, and empowerment while offering concrete strategies that fit real-world, high-pressure environments.
Q4. Do you provide legal advice or legal representation?
No. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation in any of our services. All information, training, and coaching is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied on as legal advice.
Q5. Is coaching the same as therapy or mental health treatment?
No. Coaching is not therapy, counseling, or mental health treatment. Coaching focuses on goals, performance, and growth, while therapy addresses diagnosis, treatment, and healing of mental health conditions; we encourage clients to maintain appropriate mental health support where needed.
Q6. Is mediation the same as having an attorney represent me?
No. Mediation is a neutral, facilitated process to help parties communicate and reach their own agreements, and the mediator does not act as anyone’s attorney. Parties are encouraged to seek independent legal counsel for legal advice before, during, or after mediation.
Q7. Do you work with clients outside California or the United States?
Yes. Coaching, training, and speaking services are available virtually to clients nationwide and internationally, and in-person speaking is available when travel logistics and fees are covered. At this time, we work with English-speaking clients.
Q8. How do I get started working with you?
If you are looking for a speaker, please complete the Request for Speaker form. If you are seeking a coaching session, schedule a free 30-minute session to see if we are a fit for each other. If you are seeking training, facilitating a workshop, webinar, or mediation services, schedule a free 30-minute session or email Lita@LitaAbella.com and provide the information on what services you are seeking. We will discuss your goals, fit, and the best service options for your needs.
Coaching and Consulting FAQs
Q9. What types of coaching do you offer?
We offer executive and leadership coaching for high-stress professionals, as well as 1:1 trauma-informed coaching focused on burnout, vicarious trauma, work-life integration, and ethical leadership. Our coaching can be tailored for individuals or integrated into organizational initiatives. We also offer health & wellness coaching, personal & professional development coaching, and career and business coaching services.
Q10. How is your coaching trauma-informed?
Our coaching is grounded in trauma-informed principles such as safety, choice, collaboration, trust, and empowerment. We recognize the impact of chronic stress, exposure to trauma, and systemic pressures on professionals and design coaching to support resilience, regulation, and sustainable performance.
Q11. What does a typical coaching engagement look like?
Coaching sessions are usually 30, 45, or 60 minutes, scheduled at a cadence that fits your goals and capacity. We begin with a consultation to clarify objectives, and then co-create a coaching plan that may include leadership strategies, boundaries, communication skills, and resilience practices.
Q12. What are your coaching fees?
Coaching fees vary depending on the type of engagement, frequency, and whether we are working with individuals or organizations. We typically provide ranges and then offer a custom quote after a brief consultation.
Q13. How do I schedule a coaching consultation?
You can use our online scheduling link to book a Zoom consultation at a time that works for you. During this conversation, we will explore your needs, answer questions, and determine whether our services are a good fit.
Mediation FAQs
Q14. What kinds of mediation services do you provide?
We provide mediation services focused on workplace and organizational conflicts, particularly in high-stress environments and professional settings. Our mediation approach is trauma-informed and designed to promote safety, communication, and realistic agreements.
Q15. How is your mediation approach different?
We bring a unique blend of legal, investigative, and trauma-informed experience to mediation, with an understanding of high-pressure professional cultures. We pay close attention to emotional safety and power dynamics while guiding parties toward practical, durable solutions.
Q16. Do you offer online mediation?
Yes. Mediation can be conducted online, which is often convenient for busy professionals and parties in different locations. In-person mediation may be available for local clients where appropriate and feasible.
Q17. How do I inquire about mediation services?
You can contact us by email to briefly describe your situation and desired outcomes. We will follow up to discuss whether mediation is appropriate and outline the next steps.
Speaking, CLEs, and Training FAQs
Q18. What topics do you speak and train on?
We speak and train on trauma-informed practices for high-stress professionals, lawyer well-being, burnout and vicarious trauma, ethical leadership, workplace culture, and resilience. Many of our programs are grounded in The ABELLA Model™ and are tailored to legal and professional audiences.
Q19. Do your programs qualify for MCLE or CLE credit?
Yes, our programs qualify for MCLE/CLE credit in categories such as competency, ethics, and elimination of bias, depending on the jurisdiction and provider requirements. We work with organizations and approved providers to align content with relevant credit standards.
Q20. What types of organizations book you to speak?
We work with law firms, bar associations, courts, legal departments, public agencies, academic institutions, and mission-driven organizations. Our programs are designed for attorneys, leaders, educators, law enforcement and first responders, public service workers, and high-stress professional teams.
Q21. Do you customize presentations and trainings for specific organizations?
Yes. We regularly customize keynotes, workshops, and trainings to reflect your organizational context, practice areas, and audience needs. We can align content with your strategic goals, policies, and existing wellness or DEI initiatives.
Q22. What formats do you offer for speaking and training?
We offer keynotes, breakout sessions, half-day and full-day trainings, and multi-session series, delivered virtually or in person. We can also design interactive workshops and CLE programs tailored to your schedule and format preferences.
Q23. Do you offer in-person speaking outside your local area?
Yes. We speak locally, nationally, and internationally, subject to travel logistics and fees being covered by the host organization. We coordinate travel and schedule details during the booking process.
Q24. How do we request you as a speaker for our event?
You can complete our Request for Speaker form with details about your event, audience, and goals. Once submitted, we will follow up to discuss availability, format, logistics, and next steps.
Q25. How do we arrange a custom training or workshop for our organization?
For custom training or workshops, please contact us by email with a brief description of your organization and desired outcomes. We will schedule a conversation to assess needs and design a tailored program.
Q26. What are your speaking and training fees?
Speaking and training fees vary based on format, duration, preparation, and travel. We provide customized proposals and can discuss ranges once we understand your event or program needs.
Q27. Can you integrate your content into our existing wellness or DEI initiatives?
Yes. We can partner with your existing wellness, DEI, or professional development initiatives to ensure alignment and integration. Our trauma-informed approach can complement and strengthen current internal efforts.
The ABELLA Model™ and Book FAQs
Q28. What is The ABELLA Model?
The ABELLA Model is a trauma-informed framework developed by Lita Abella for leading and supporting high-stress professionals. It offers practical, structured guidance for addressing burnout, vicarious trauma, and the invisible burdens that impact performance and well-being.
Q29. Who is The ABELLA Model designed for?
The ABELLA Model is designed for leaders, managers, and professionals in high-stress environments—including legal, public safety, and mission-driven sectors—who want to lead with empathy, structure, and trauma-informed practices. It is also relevant for organizations seeking healthier workplace cultures.
Q30. Do you offer trainings based on The ABELLA Model?
Yes. We offer workshops, trainings, and speaking programs centered on The ABELLA Model and its application in real-world settings. These can be tailored for leadership teams, departments, or full organizations.
Q31. How is The ABELLA Model used in your coaching and consulting?
The ABELLA Model informs how we assess stressors, design interventions, and support leaders and teams. It provides a shared language and structure for understanding impact, building resilience, and implementing sustainable change.
Q32. Is there a workbook that complements The ABELLA Model?
Yes. Resilient Lawyering: A Practicable Guide for Sustainable Well-Being in Law explains The ABELLA Model and offers practical tools, assessments, and resources for attorneys and legal professionals. The book is designed for both individuals and organizations that want guidance on trauma-informed leadership and practice. She is in the process of creating workbooks for other industries.
Q33. How can I learn more or bring The ABELLA Model to my organization?
You can contact us at Lita@LitaAbella.com to schedule a conversation about trainings, keynotes, or consulting engagements using The ABELLA Model. We will help you determine the best way to integrate the framework into your organization’s goals.
Affiliates, Courses, and Extra Income Tools FAQs
Q34. What affiliate and extra income resources do you offer?
We share carefully selected tools, programs, and resources that support entrepreneurs, professionals, and organizations in their growth and operations. These may include platforms, educational resources, and services we personally use and recommend.
Q35. What is your Skool.com offering?
We host courses on Skool.com that expand on entrepreneurship, professional development, and related topics. These courses provide an additional way to learn from our experience in a structured, community-oriented format. You can find more about Lita’s Entrepreneur Academy on Skool here.
Q36. Do you earn affiliate income from some of the resources you recommend?
Yes, some links and programs we recommend may provide us with affiliate income or commissions at no additional cost to you. We only share resources that we believe can genuinely benefit our audience.
Q37. How do I know which offerings are right for me—coaching, training, Skool courses, or something else?
If you are unsure which offering fits your needs, we encourage you to reach out and briefly describe your goals and context. We can then recommend whether individual coaching, organizational training, speaking, or one of our courses or resource options is the best starting point.