Frequently Asked Questions

Counselling How long will I need to come for Counselling? The length of time people come for counselling varies according to their needs and financial situation. For some, as few as 1-4 sessions are sufficient for them to make the changes they need in their life. For others, deeper long-term work is more appropriate. I may suggest we start with up to 6 weekly sessions, at which point we will review  progress, the stage you have reached and discuss how many more sessions you think might be needed. Sessions are usually once a week to start with, at the same time each week, if possible. Payment is made on a session by session basis. What if I start counselling and have reservations about the counsellor? It is important that you work with someone you feel safe with and can trust. I invite all new clients to attend an initial consultation, so that you can see whether you feel comfortable with me. At that point there is no obligation whatsoever to continue and I can help you to find another counsellor if you wish. You are perfectly entitled to ask any counsellor about their training, qualifications and approach/methods. All counsellors should be fully qualified, unless they are trainees, in which case they must tell you this. All counsellors must adhere to a recognised Code of Ethics and Practice and have ongoing supervision no matter how experienced they are. I am accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which means I am a nationally registered practitioner, adhering to the above criteria. Will you give me advice about what to do? Some people imagine that as long as they tell the counsellor 'enough about the problem', then the counsellor will sort things out for them. This is often how we approach our GP.  We tell the doctor our symptoms and then he/she prescribes a 'cure'. This does not happen in therapy. I will provide the framework, but counselling is not about giving advice or telling you what to do (although sometimes I may offer ideas and a new perspective). I will not be analysing or judging you or prescribing any forms of medication. Instead, I will be facilitating your own discoveries and understanding of yourself, using tried and tested techniques to help you to move forward. How will I know if the therapy is working? We will closely monitor your progress throughout the period you are having counselling. It is common to feel an immediate relief in coming to counselling, because you are starting to deal with the problems and perhaps talking about it for the first time. Often people want a 'quick fix' and this is very rare in therapy. There may not be a sudden revelation or 'answer' which turns everything around for you. Changes are often quite small, but over a period of time many of the clients I work with realise that significant improvements have taken place. Much of the improvement depends on your own commitment to the process and a willingness to reflect and develop awareness between sessions. Life-Coaching How is Life-Coaching different to Counselling? Life-Coaching often examines practical problems such as managing finances, balancing life-style, developing assertiveness or planning for a new career. Counselling on the other hand, often concentrates on emotional problems and recurring issues. This is not to say that Life-Coaching would ignore any patterns which were holding you back, but coaching spends more time searching for solutions in the here and now, rather than exploring deep emotional problems from the past. Life-Coaching and Counselling share many skills and techniques in common, such as constructive listening, open-ended questions and a non-judgemental approach. Life-Coaching tends to focus on the present and the future, helping someone to recognise their strengths, skills, values, priorities and motivations. This kind of clarity can then lead to a person understanding more about how they would like their life to be, what they are naturally suited to and how they could find most fulfilment. As a qualified Counsellor, additionally trained in Life-Coaching methods, Alison is in an ideal position to recognise the kind of approach which could suit you best. How long will I need to come for Life-Coaching? The length of time you will benefit from Life-Coaching will usually be in relation to the nature of the changes you wish to make. A complete career change is likely to require longer-term coaching than, say, resolving short-term problems with credit-card debt. You can make use of Life-Coaching in monthly blocks. We would review your progress during each month so you can decide about continuing. You can also take breaks and return for more coaching later in the year. With flexible coaching options available, you can change for example, from face-to-face consultations to email if this would suit you better.