How long does it take until I’ll be ‘fixed’?
First of all, please rest assured that no matter how bad, sad or mad you feel right now, you are not ‘broken’. The challenges you are facing right now, as difficult as they may be, are in perfect divine order; and you finding this website and reading this page, and considering working with me, is also in perfect divine order. And the decision you make to work with me or look for another solution, is also the perfect decision for you right now.
That said, counselling is very much a personal journey, and while Energy Therapies can give very quick relief from issues which cause pain, often other issues bubble up to the surface. You may have heard that counselling is like peeling an onion – you deal with one layer, and the next is there just waiting for you to explore it. My personal analogy is that it’s like an electronic game: you get through the challenges and rewards of one level, only to find another level waiting; but the big difference is that for this next level, you have a whole bunch of new ‘powerups’ that you earned in the previous level, to help you get through this next level.
When I started viewing life this way, it became much more joyful for me. My clients are able to learn the same ‘powerups’ I use, and how to apply them in their lives away from our sessions. So over a few weeks you’ll develop some new coping strategies and be able to incorporate them into your life.
In terms of how long does each session take, usually about 80 minutes. During our first session together we get to know one another and I’ll take a comprehensive life history. This eagle-eye view of your life is likely to begin identifying some of your life patterns, and often gives a clear starting point. The first session will also give you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you’d like to, and we’ll agree on the frequency of future sessions.Â
The most important thing for you to remember is that you are in complete control of your counselling experience, I am a facilitator to help you move through your current challenges to a more resourceful state so you can live your best life.
Q. How much do counselling sessions cost? Is this negotiable?
My standard charge is $120 per 1.5 hour session. I will offer a reduced fee for students or people experiencing financial hardship, please ask. Sometimes sessions go longer because of the timing of how issues surface – I don’t like to send you home/back to work in an upset state, so where possible we will work through or at least settle that issue. This extra time is usually charged in increments of my hourly rate.
I offer a 10% discount for blocks of four sessions paid in advance; that is $430 for four sessions.
Q. How do you accept payment, and on what schedule?
In person, I accept cash, EFTPOS, credit cards and direct bank deposit. If we’re doing phone sessions I accept direct bank deposit or PayPal through my website.
Q. Am I charged for missed counselling sessions?
I make myself available at the agreed time, and whether or not you keep the appointment, I will charge for sessions you miss because I still have costs to meet. If you’re not able to attend and can give me 24 hours notice, no charge will apply. If you’re ill and really can’t make the session, we can negotiate.
Q. Am I charged for planned holidays?
No, because we won’t book sessions while you’re away. However if you forget about a holiday and don’t advise me that you’ll miss a session, normal payment and cancellation procedures will apply.
Q. How long would you expect us to work together?
I am a holistic counsellor and energy therapist, not a psychoanalyst. In my experience, most people just want the pain they’re feeling to be gone and don’t have to understand the source of it, though such understanding may come anyway during the course of counselling. But understanding of the cause is the aim of psychoanalysis, not counselling.
Most people find that four to six sessions are enough to deal with the issue they really want to clear up. That said, smaller issues = smaller number of sessions; larger issue = larger number of sessions. EFT is much much quicker than any other therapy I’ve ever come across so you could readily expect that you’d get good resolution within the timeframes mentioned above. I will likely also teach you The Sedona Method of releasing.
Q. Do I have to commit to a minimum number of counselling sessions in advance?
Counselling is a personal journey for you. At our first session we’ll talk about your commitment and discuss the possible number of sessions to deal with your issue/s. However it’s impossible to predict how many sessions are needed because of the infinite number of unique variables in each person’s life situation and experience. I do encourage you to commit to at least four sessions, because while energy therapy can be very effective for most issues, there are no guaranteed magic bullets.
Q. Will our discussions be kept confidential?
All our discussions are strictly confidential, and strictly between us. You may of course choose to then discuss the issues with anyone else in your life, but rest assured I will not do so. The only circumstance in which this will change is during professional supervision. Counsellors who are members of the Australian Counselling Association are required to have regular supervision (“debriefing”) and if I discuss your case with my supervisor, please be assured you are not identified in any way.
Q. Are there any circumstances under which my personal details would be shared with someone else?
Note the question above regarding supervision.
If I refer you to another practitioner, such as an acupuncturist or naturopath, I will give them a broad outline of the issues, without getting into specifics, to help them understand the basis on which they’re beginning their work with you.
There is one other circumstance in which I will discuss your case with anyone, and that is where you’ve indicated you are a threat to your own safety, or another person’s safety. I will advise you if this occurs. Please note this is a legal requirement under Australian law.
Q. Do you keep written notes of counselling sessions?
At times I make notes during our sessions to help me recall the details. When I do make notes all pages are secured in my locked metal filing cabinet. You may request to see these notes at any time.
Q. Will you tape record any of our counselling sessions? May I record the sessions?
I rarely record a session, and if I do do so it will be for supervision purposes. (Supervision is a process that all professional counsellors take part in). If you want to record any session please ask for my consent before you do so. It’s worth mentioning that none of my clients have ever requested to record a session.
Q. What is this ‘supervision’? Aren’t you experienced?
All professional counsellors in Australia are required by their various professional bodies to undertake regular debriefing sessions with another counsellor, one who has done specific training in counselling supervision (and even these counsellors have supervision!). This process ensures that the counsellor maintains their own mental and emotional health, does not burn out, and has backup and support. Supervision is also an opportunity for the counsellor to discuss any aspects of any particular client’s case that might not be moving as expected or desired. It’s part of the Ongoing Professional Development for a counsellor, along with continuing study, conferences, and so on.
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