What is the difference between coaching and counselling?
Quite simply counselling often requires some looking back and reflecting on your life and coaching is about the here and now and setting goals for the future. If you feel happy and that you life is working for you then it may be that you would love someone to hold you to account and to support you to make your dreams happen. Then coaching is for you.
On the other hand if you are feeling lost, devastated or stuck in some way then it could be that some deeper work is required in order to move forwards. Sometimes it’s a combination of therapy and coaching that will work for you.
What should I look for when seeking a counsellor?
- Is the therapist registered and accredited with the BACP or UKCP?
- Has the therapist participated significantly in his or her own counselling or psychotherapy?
- Does the therapist participate in continued professional development?
- What is the therapist’s theoretical approach and philosophy? Many will provide this information on their website and/or will provide this to you on the first session.
- Does the therapist have experience in the issues that you are going to them for?
What happens in the first session?
Psychotherapeutic counselling is a talk therapy. In the first session you might feel awkward and nervous and this is normal. You may also experience some emotional pain throughout your counselling as you start to speak about your life. The first session should be used as a way of getting to know me and to see if I’m the right person and if Integrative Psychosynthesis is the right therapeutic approach for you. It is also a time for me to get to know you. After the session you might think about:
- Is this someone I can come to trust?
- Did I feel at ease?
It is perfectly acceptable to meet up with several potential therapists to find one you feel you can trust and work with.
How many sessions will I need?
I offer short term or long-term work and it really depends on a person’s reasons for having counselling and what happens after several sessions. Some people come with a specific issue that they resolve within 8 sessions others come into therapy because they want to know themselves better and are looking to do some deeper long-term work.
Who do I work with?
I work with people who feel that I am the right ‘fit’ for them regardless of their situation, story or background. I’m not yet qualified to work with children or couples.
Do you offer a sliding fee scale?
Yes I offer a sliding fee scale to those experiencing genuine financial difficulty. This is limited to one client a week at any one time.