Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

What happens in a counselling session?

Each session is unique and shaped around you, what you are experiencing and what feels important to explore. Creating a safe, non-judgemental space where you feel comfortable to share and explore at your own pace is at the heart of my work.

 

We will talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you would like support with and what you hope to gain from our time together. We will set intentions and goals that feel meaningful to you, returning to these as we go, knowing that what you need may change along the way.

Sessions can be held online or outdoors, where we can walk, sit under a tree or on a rock, or, when the weather allows, walk along the water’s edge with our feet in the ocean. We can follow what feels right for you in the moment, making space for what is coming up and what needs attention.

 

My role is to walk alongside you with compassion and curiosity, listening deeply and supporting you to understand yourself, your feelings and your experiences, and to find ways forward that feel right for you.

Online sessions offer the same space to talk, explore what is happening for you and receive support at your own pace. We will meet via Zoom, and you are welcome to find a comfortable, private space where you can feel at ease and speak openly. We will work together in much the same way, staying connected to what you need and what feels important to explore.

We meet at a place that feels comfortable for you. You can choose to meet between Kingscliff Boat Harbour or Fingal Head Surf Club or the lighthouse car park.

We will walk and talk, or sit together if that feels better for you, whether under a tree, on a bench or on a rock. If the weather permits and you feel comfortable, we can walk along the water’s edge with our feet in the water.

There is no set way we need to do this. We can walk, sit, pause and take our time. We will find a way that feels right for you on the day.

I believe nature can be a powerful, living resource that supports us as we reconnect with ourselves. There is something about being outdoors, moving our bodies, feeling the fresh air and being surrounded by the natural world that can help us feel more present and connected.

Research suggests that spending time in nature and movement can support our wellbeing, ease feelings of stress and anxiety, and help us feel more settled. For some women, walking alongside someone can also feel more natural and less confronting than sitting face to face in a room. There is space to look out at the water, notice what is around us, pause when we need to and allow the conversation to unfold in its own time.

Nature doesn’t take away what we are feeling, but it can offer another kind of support as we meet what is happening within us.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you come. You don’t need to know exactly what you want to say or have the right words to explain what you are experiencing.

We can begin with where you are. My role is to walk alongside you with compassion and curiosity, offering a space where you can explore what is happening, at your own pace.

You are welcome to bring your feelings and emotions into our sessions. You don’t need to hold everything together or worry about having to explain or justify what you feel.

We will make space for what is present, with care and respect for what you need in that moment. There is no expectation that you have to share more than you feel ready to, and we can take our time.

Yes, I offer both one to one and group Family Constellation sessions.

In a one to one session, we use abstract objects to represent people, relationships or elements of your family system. This allows us to explore what is happening and what might be asking for attention, at a pace that feels right for you.

In a group session, other people take on the role of representatives. Through the constellation, we can explore what comes into view within the family system and acknowledge what may not have been seen or understood before.

Both ways offer an opportunity to explore your concerns, and we can find the approach that feels most suitable for you.

If the weather isn’t suitable, we can arrange an online session instead or find another suitable time to meet. Your comfort and having a space where you can feel supported are important.

No. You might come with something specific that you want to explore, or you might simply know that something doesn’t feel right and you want to understand yourself better.

We can begin with what is happening in your life now and explore what is asking for your attention. You don’t need to arrive with the answers. We can discover what matters as we go.

If you are looking for a space to explore your feelings, experiences, relationships or patterns in your life, one to one counselling may be a place to begin.

If you are curious about the patterns and relationships within your family system, Family Constellations may be something you would like to explore, either one to one or in a group.

The Authentic Woman Project offers a space, either shared with other women or 1:1, to reconnect with yourself, explore your voice and expression, and practise being more fully yourself in your everyday life.

If you are unsure, you are welcome to reach out and we can explore what might best support you.