Counselling and coaching FAQ
1) How much do you charge?
I had to put this one first because honestly, there's no easy standard answer. The best I can say is that the average is about $100 per hour. If you have a very complex family situation (poly families come to mind, or cohabiting families like living with another family or in laws), it's more. If you have a single, very specific question you need three coaching sessions for and you pre-book/pre-pay? It's less.
See, no easy answer but plan on about $100 per hour and yes, you can apply for the sliding scale rate as needed.
2) How often will I see you?
This also has no easy answer. For some people, weekly makes sense. For others, twice per month. For some coaching clients, we work together in specific chunks of time to deal with specific concerns. Don't worry, just like the rates, we'll figure it out.
3) Are you an actual therapist/coach/counsellor?
You bet. In different jurisdictions the titles are different. In BC (my home province) I am licensed to provide therapy services. I have an MSW in health/mental health. My doctorate is in progress and is entirely research based. It's relevant to simple living but not a counselling/therapy credential.
4) How much "simple living" experience have you had?
More than a little! I come from farming and gardening people. As a young person, I raised rabbits, goats, llamas, and horses. My extended family had a commercial beef, sheep, and chicken operation. And then I moved to the city for a very long time (because:love).
When LG was born, the Woodsman and I decided we'd start considering getting out of the city but didn't actually make it happen until LG was about two.
From then, we've raised chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, rabbits, and probably something else I'm forgetting. I learned the hard way about the importance of making sure you have the right animals for the right environment. The sheep were an on going struggle in our forest. The goats have been a treat. And yes, I have milked both.
I've also struggled with woodland gardening. Let me tell you, that's been an education. Garden in a forest on the side of a mountain... I don't recommend it but you know, sometimes you have what you have and you just learn to make it work. I can help you with that.
We are a wood heat (for cooking at times), putting up food, bread baking, raising our own meat, eating out of the garden kind of family. In this adult iteration, I'm at about 14 years. You might say I've done some stuff.
5) What happens in counselling?
Counselling/therapy are deep work that help you develop resiliency, self-compassion, and emotional/mental health. In counselling you can work on old hurts (we all have them, that's not navel gazing), current concerns (with an eye to problem solving), emotional regulation, and deepen your understanding of yourself.
You don't have to get into every aspect of your past, hate your mother (or parents), or your partner. You don't have to have a mental health diagnosis.
Therapy should always be compassionate, confidential (except where legal exceptions are required), and cultural sensitive.
I don't offer psychological testing or medication.
I do provide clinical consultation as well.
6) What is coaching then?
Coaching is more problem/situation specific. It's about working through current issues, and supporting you in really concrete goals.
Some of my clients have started as coaching clients but realized that they had interfering issues that were preventing the coaching from being successful. Some of my counselling clients have decided they really need coaching. We negotiate as we go.
Sound good? Contact me to book your appointment.