Career development, Coaching and 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. You may start with up to 6 weekly sessions, after which 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. All new clients are invited to attend an initial consultation, to see whether they feel comfortable with Helen. At that point there is no obligation whatsoever to continue.
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. Helen is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which means she is 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. Helen will provide the framework, but counselling is not about giving advice or telling you what to do (although sometimes Helen may offer ideas and a new perspective). She will not be analysing or judging you or prescribing any forms of medication. Instead, she 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 clients 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 from Counselling?
Life-Coaching often examines practical problems such as 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 and Career- coaching methods, Helen 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 stress at work.
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.
Terms and Conditions for Counselling and Life-Coaching
Initial Contact
if you are interested in Life Coaching please contact Helen by e-mail. Helen will arrange a time for you to phone her for a brief free consultation.
Payment
You will required to pay for your session in advance by cheque or cash.
Re-scheduling, cancellations and missed appointments
If you need to re-schedule an appointment, 24 hours notice is required. If you fail to attend an appointment, without giving two hours notice, you will be charged the full fee.
If you are late for your appointment, it will still end at the original appointed time.
Confidentiality
Helen works under a strict ‘Ethical Framework for Good Practice’ established by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). It outlines the ways in which counselling and life-coaching should be conducted.
Whilst not entitled to divulge any information or details under normal circumstances, if Helen felt you were in immediate danger to yourself, or to any other person, she would need to consider involving another person/agency. She would always try to discuss this with you first and this would only apply in extreme circumstances.
We both need to recognise the limitations of counselling and life-coaching and we both reserve the right to end the agreement with one weeks’ notice.
Supervision
In accordance with BACP regulations all counsellors are required to receive Supervision of their counselling. A supervisor is someone consulted regularly to discuss work and receive support and guidance. In this setting Helen may discuss some details of your situation, but will not give your name, so that confidentiality is preserved. Supervisors never attends sessions and you will never be introduced to this person.
What happens next?
If you agree to these Terms and Conditions please contact Helen by phone or email confirming you are interested, and decide when you would like to make your first appointment. Once this is agreed, you can then send a cheque payable to Helen Allott (I will send you the address) to cover the first session at the current rates. She will email/call you on receipt of your payment and confirm the start date for your counselling or life-coaching.
Some Useful Links
Northern Initiative on Women and Eating
1 Pink Lane
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 5DW
www.niwe.org.uk
B-EAT (formerly Eating Disorders Association)
103 Prince of Wales Road
Norwich
NR1 1DW
www.b-eat.co.uk
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Unit 15
St John’s Business Park
Lutterworth
Leicestershire LE17 4HB
www.bacp.co.uk
Aurora Creative Arts
Simple NLP