Your Initial Consultation
A gentle first step – simply a conversation.
Reaching out for support can sometimes feel like the hardest part.
You may be wondering whether what you’re experiencing is something I can help with. You may have questions about how I work, or perhaps you’re not quite sure what you need – you simply know that things feel difficult at the moment.
That’s absolutely fine.
You don’t need to have everything worked out before getting in touch.
Your Free Initial Consultation
I offer a free 30-minute initial consultation so that we can meet and have a relaxed conversation before you decide whether you’d like to work with me.
It’s an opportunity for you to tell me a little about what has brought you here, how your grief or loss is affecting you and what you feel you might need support with.
You can share as much or as little as feels comfortable.
I’ll also explain more about how I work, the different approaches I may draw upon and what working together could look like for you.
And, importantly, you can ask me anything you’d like to know.
There’s No Pressure to Continue
Your initial consultation isn’t a therapy session and there is no expectation that you need to make a decision about further sessions there and then. It’s simply an opportunity for us to talk and for you to decide whether you feel I am the right person to support you. I also want to make sure that I feel my experience and approach are appropriate for what you need.
If we both feel that working together could be helpful, we can discuss what happens next.
If you decide not to continue, that’s okay too.
All you’re signing up for is a conversation.
How We Can Meet
Your free initial consultation can take place:
Online – from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
By telephone – if you would simply prefer to talk.
Choose whichever feels most comfortable for you.
If We Decide to Work Together
If, following our initial conversation, we decide to continue, our sessions will be shaped around you, your experience and what you need. Sessions are approximately 60 minutes, but may be longer, and can take place face-to-face at The Garden Room or online.
There isn’t a standard formula that everyone follows. We’ll begin by exploring what’s happening for you now and what you would like support with. From there, I’ll consider which elements of my approach may be most appropriate.
Our sessions might include therapeutic conversation, understanding more about grief and your responses to loss, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, NLP, BLAST, Edu-Therapy or coaching techniques. We won’t necessarily use all of these.
The approach serves you – you don’t have to fit the approach.
Between Sessions
Depending on the way we’re working together, I may suggest something for you to consider or practise between sessions.
If appropriate, I may also provide a relaxation recording that you can listen to at home.
This isn’t about giving you lots of “homework”.
Instead, it’s about helping you take some of what we explore together into everyday life and giving you additional resources to draw upon between our sessions.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
There isn’t one answer to this question.
Grief is individual, and so is the support we need.
Some approaches may naturally involve a more structured number of sessions, while other work may be more flexible.
We’ll talk about this during your initial consultation so that you understand what I’m recommending and why.
We’ll also review our work together as we go.
My intention is never for you to feel dependent on ongoing support.
I want our work to help you develop greater understanding, confidence and trust in your own ability to navigate life alongside your loss.
When You’re Ready
You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling to cope before asking for support.
And you don’t have to know exactly what you need.
If you’re wondering whether talking to someone might help, that’s enough of a reason to start a conversation.
Your first 30 minutes are free, relaxed and without obligation.
When you’re ready, I’d be very happy to meet you.