Question 1

How do I know if I need counselling and/or life coaching?

Accepted Answer

If you are finding life tough in any way or if you’re feeling stuck, unheard or not understood by others you will benefit from counselling or life coaching. Seeing a professional who has an outside but educated mind, can help you to work things out about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. They can help you to understand your life better.

Question 2

What’s the difference between counselling and life coaching?

Accepted Answer

Both involve making changes if you want to live a more fruitful life. Both give you someone without bias, someone outside of your life who is there just for you, and puts you at the heart of the agenda.
Life Coaching is an activity that helps you to attain goals in the here and now – whether they be professional or person.
Counselling helps you to understand your life, behaviours, thoughts and feelings better so that you can make changes where needed.

Question 3

What can counselling help with?

Accepted Answer

All sorts of problems can benefit from counselling, here are some common ones:
 
Self esteem
Low mood
Anger
Identity (including gender identity)
Anxiety
Relationships
Dissatisfaction with life
Personal development
Spirituality
False self
Early experiences

Question 4

How do I know what the best approach for me is?

Accepted Answer

It depends a lot on what is important to you, if you are looking for strategies and not really interested to know the source of behaviours, then something like CBT may work for you. Whereas if you are interested to know and understand the source of your difficulties, then an Integrative approach might be a better fit.
If you feel that you don’t want to be directed in the work, then a purely person centred approach may work for you.
 
I am integrative in my approach and have a strong leaning towards the person-centred approach -  I work to understand your experience from your perspective. I also use relational approaches like psychodynamic, or attachment theories. These allow me to be flexible to fit the client, rather than them having to fit into a pigeon hole or box. I believe that the quality of the relationship is a key component.

Question 5

Do you do couples counselling?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do work with couples, when we have a couples slot vacant.

Question 6

Do you work with children?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do work with children from the age of 3 to 18. We will also work with the parents of 0 – 3 year olds. We are qualified to work with children, young people and adults.

Question 7

What are your prices?

Accepted Answer

Drop us an email to find out the current charges hello@wellbeingthroughcreativity.co.uk

Question 8

What hours do you work?

Accepted Answer

We offer daytime slots, evening slots as well as Saturday morning slots for your convenience.

Question 9

Can I see you in person and where are you located?

Accepted Answer

Due to the COVID-19 situation, and to look after your health as well as ours, We are currently offering only video sessions by skype. This means that you can access us from anywhere in the world, including your bedroom or living room. You will need a private space at your end though (we guarantee privacy from our end & we will discuss this at the first session).

Question 10

Can I have counselling over the phone or online?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I offer this as a permanent way of working as I realise how convenient this is for a lot of people. These methods of working allow us to work from where ever you asre in the world.

Question 11

Are Skype sessions cheaper than seeing you in person?

Accepted Answer

Skype sessions are charged at the same rate as an in-person session. This ensures equality of access as I don’t wish to discriminate on one method over the other.

Question 12

What type of therapy do you use?

Accepted Answer

I use Integrative Transpersonal. This means that I work holistically, bearing in mind that we all have physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects and that we are all at an energetic level, connected to each other and our environments. I take into account  spirituality whether that means religion or otherwise to you.

Question 13

Do I need to be artistic?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to be ‘artistic’ in a particular way; just to be open to using creative techniques ranging from meditation, mindfulness, creative visualisations, archetype cards, through to writing or drawing.

Question 14

How long will I need to wait for an appointment?

Accepted Answer

This will vary on how busy we are with other clients. At present, there is no waiting list and we have openings.

Question 15

What should I expect from a session?

Accepted Answer

The sessions are driven by you as the time is booked for and by you. You can talk about your biggest concern or you can talk about a lesser concern – it’s up to you. Some people like to get to know their therapist or coach before they talk about what’s really their main the concern – that is fine as trust is an important feature of the relationship and work.

Question 16

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

This is a tough question to answer as this will vary for each individual and what they bring. This is  why I offer packages of 12 sessions that can be purchased in a block in advance so that you have some knowledge of a potential end. But these are renewable / extendable. For those that don’t need to know, I do offer open-ended work too.

Question 17

I only want 1 session, will I still benefit from this?

Accepted Answer

1 session alone is likely to be of limited benefit, but it may give you something of value.

Question 18

How long is each session?

Accepted Answer

Each session is 50 minutes of face to face time for individuals, apart from the initial assessment which is 1.5 hours. This is longer because we use it to gather information about your context.

Question 19

Are my sessions confidential?

Accepted Answer

What we talk about in the room remains between us unless you talk about an issue of risk to yourself or someone else. Whilst I will try to talk to you first if I do have to talk to someone else outside our work, this is not always possible, and sometimes I may have to discuss things with someone else anyway. This is a rare occurrence.
The only other situation that I will talk about our work to someone else is in supervision. I am required by my ethical framework to have regular supervision, which is a way of ensuring that I am providing you with the best service that I can. So I will talk about the work on a need to know basis and the focus of the discussion is on how I have worked rather than on you.

Question 20

Are you registered with any professional bodies?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I am registered and accredited with the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).

Question 21

Are you insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we are insured and we are happy to show you certificates if you wish to see them.

Question 22

What happens if I miss a session?

Accepted Answer

If you miss a session by either not turning up or cancelling within 48 hours of the session, you will forfeit payment. If you give me more than 48 hours notice, we can re-book for another time at no extra charge.

Question 23

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Bank transfers in advance are the preferred method of payment. Payment must be made 48 hours prior to session in order to reserve the time for you.

Frequently Asked Questions