I have over 25 years of experience in the field and am a qualified teacher and U.K. registered therapist. 

Yet, I suspect that doesn't answer the real question. 

If I could distil all I've learnt about people in my work, I would say: People are unique, and problems are less so. Underlying our concerns is an emotional desire to know we'll be okay and have what it takes to meet the demands we face.  

From this perspective, my offer is about helping you understand your situation clearly and confidently and then implementing the tools and skills you need to convert this development into assured and practical progress. 

It's worth noting that the rapport between two people underpins any supportive relationship. We neither tend to confide in nor take guidance from people we don't like and respect. 

So an initial sense of whether someone can help must be informed by whether you feel comfortable and acknowledged in their company. 

This question often arises, so I hope it helps to make a distinction. While coaching and counselling share similarities, there are some key differences: 

Typically, counselling (a type of therapy) is a process-based support model - addressing past events to improve your present circumstances. 

Coaching entails a more goal-orientated emphasis - assessing your present circumstances, clarifying your goals, and implementing actions to support your future endeavours. 

You might think of counselling as addressing 'yesterday' to create capacity for 'today'. Then, coaching utilises this additional scope to expand your horizons for 'tomorrow'. 

Often people contact me for counselling, while coaching would be more to their advantage. Likewise, others enquire about coaching, yet a brief assessment reveals a need for counselling. 

As you might suspect, we're in the complex waters of individual lives, so it's not clean-cut. Trust and integrity underpin successful work, and I'll always be open about what I believe will best support you.

In many cases, a combination of counselling and coaching is most effective. Counselling helps process past experiences, while coaching focuses on setting and achieving future goals. By working together, we can determine the best approach for your needs.

I'm a qualified teacher and a U.K. registered therapist.

You deserve to feel assured and confident in the person you choose to support you. 

Please ask me for more details about my background and qualifications. I'm happy to elaborate. 

Before our first session, we'll have an initial call to discuss your circumstances and expectations. I'll then send you a questionnaire and initial assessment to gather more information to guide our first meeting.

Our meetings generally last between 50-60 minutes. 

To start a meeting, I often ask, 'What would have happened if, after this meeting, you felt it had been meaningful?' 

Sometimes, you will have a specific desire or outcome in mind. Other times, you may wish to share and explore your thoughts - and to see where this leads. However we progress, I check to make sure our time together supports you in a relevant and meaningful way.

I may provide personalised support between sessions, including suggested readings, guided audio meditations, and brief video messages. I carefully consider each client's needs, and this extra level of care - so clients tell me - is highly appreciated.

Depending on your location, our meetings can be either face-to-face, online or both. Online sessions take place via a secure, confidential one-click platform. 

For online meetings, I use a HIPAA-compliant telemedicine service called Doxy. HIPAA refers to the standards required to ensure client privacy and confidentiality. Doxy.me uses full-volume encryption and AES 256-bit standard encryption. Our time online is safe and private.