Angela Herrera Koren, M.Div., MA Coun.
Coaching for Clergy
Because it’s a weird, wonderful, sometimes very hard job, and you are still human
You’re a leader in a progressive denomination
You have years of training. You’ve read books, done internships, racked up experience, and been to conferences. But somehow there’s a missing piece. Maybe you’re navigating a big personal transition while living in the public eye- and no one ever talked about this. Or you’re trying to discern the difference between authenticity and transparency, between privacy and secrecy. You’re wondering how to be a whole human while leading, and it has been hard to find someone who can hold it all with you: the concerns and dynamics unique to being an ordained leader, and the way deeply personal questions take on additional complexity in that role.
You could use some support where the two come together: person + vocation
A confidential space where it’s safe to ask hard questions, explore your doubts and longings, and not have to have it all together. A listener who knows about both: the work of religious leadership, and being human with all the questions and vulnerability that entails.
I’m here for it
I’m Angela Herrera Koren, a clergy coach and licensed therapist with sixteen years of experience as a congregational minister. I know the personal nature of this work: from the passion and commitment that derive from a sense of calling, to the pride and imposter syndrome of serving as a public symbol or conducting a capital campaign, to the way leading through “unprecedented times“ (again!) can fundamentally shift our lives and our work. I’m familiar with the paradoxically (and uncomfortably) conservative projections placed on the leaders of progressive congregations, and the shadow that can cast in our personal lives. I also know many progressive clergy who have such a deep sense of faith they wonder if they are “too religious” for their theologically liberal setting!
Much has been written about congregations as “family systems,” and about how to lead, drawing from the field of counseling psychology. However the inner experience of clergy in their role is not as well articulated or supported. Exploring it with you, in service to your ministry and your wholeness, is my passion.
I am also the author of the Therapy Tips for Clergy substack.
About
I hold a Master of Divinity from Harvard and a Master in Counseling from New Mexico Highlands University. In June 2025, I completed a fifteen year ministry at First Unitarian Church in Albuquerque and transitioned into private practice as a therapist (serving New Mexico) and clergy coach. I am a bit of a “digital nomad” in this new life, traveling around the world as my wife completes rabbinic school with an international fellowship. I am a practicing Reform Jew (which is compatible with Unitarian Universalism, a non-creedal, non-supercessionist, non-Christian tradition despite its old fashioned name).
I work with UU, Jewish, Christian and other clergy serving progressive communities. I am LGBTQIA+ inclusive and welcome clients in non-traditional relationship structures.
Neurodivergent? I’m here for that, too!
Services & Fees
Individual
Individual sessions are tailored to your needs and goals. They can be scheduled as a “one-off,” occasional, or regularly occurring. You may schedule them weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or as needed.
Sessions are held via Zoom unless special arrangements are made for an in person meeting.
Clergy Teams
Regardless of staffing structure, clergy who serve together have a different relationship than a secular supervisor/supervisee or coworkers. The health of your team has a big impact on the health of your congregation. Coaching deepens mutual understanding while honoring your respective roles. It also creates space to articulate team dynamics and surface and process any areas of tension that might otherwise get swept aside in the busy-ness of congregational life (only to sabotage things later!). I have personally experienced the value of clergy team coaching as Assistant, Associate, and Senior Minister, and am happy to offer this service to others.
Team coaching can consist of one or many sessions. I can also work with you to design and facilitate start up conversations/retreats for new clergy teams.
Fees
An initial 15-minute consult is free! I want you to have an opportunity to ask questions and see if it feels like a fit.
My regular fee is $150 per hour, or $225 for 90 minutes. I also offer sliding scale spots. If cost is a barrier, please don’t hesitate to reach out to see if one is available!
Retreat pricing varies based on length and location.
Coaching is done via Zoom, unless special arrangements are made for in person sessions/retreats.
FAQ’s
Is coaching the same as therapy?
No. As a coach, I do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Therapy is often past-oriented (i.e. processing childhood and other experiences) while coaching is focused on the present and is vocationally-oriented. My coaching business is separate from my therapy practice, which can only accept clients in states where I am licensed.
However, as a minister with training in psychotherapy, I bring particular insights to coaching, including knowledge of human development across the lifespan, psychodynamic principles, the psychology of religious leadership, and aspects of organizational psychology. If it turns out therapy would be a better fit for you, I will do my best to offer you a referral.
How is this different from the UU Minister Association’s coaching program?
The UUMA offers low-cost, goal-oriented, peer-to-peer coaching. It is geared toward strategies clergy can implement to move their congregations forward.
I offer coaching geared toward the intrapersonal aspects of ministry- how it impacts you, how you relate to it, what personal growth or inner challenges you are bringing to it- and how these are interacting with your ministry.
UU clergy can find info about the UUMA coaching program here.
Who pays for coaching?
Many clergy use professional development or expense funds. I am happy to provide an invoice for your congregation’s records. Some choose to pay out of pocket. Either way, the content of our sessions is confidential. Coaching is not covered by insurance.
What is your fee?
My fee is $150 per hour, or $225 for 90 minutes. I also offer sliding scale spots. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to see if one is available!
Are sessions confidential?
Yes. Except for certain limits (such as mandated reporting), which I will go over with you in the first session, our conversations are confidential.
To whom are you accountable?
My coaching work is considered a community ministry. I am accountable to the UU Minister Association’s Code of Conduct, which you can find here.
Are they covered by HIPAA?
No. Coaching is not therapy and is not healthcare. Therefore, HIPAA does not apply.
Get in touch.
Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute initial conversation. Coaching is personal. See if it feels like a fit. No obligation or pressure.