Starting Coaching or Therapy
Starting Therapy and Coaching
Starting therapy or coaching can feel like a big step, especially when you are already overwhelmed, exhausted or trying to hold everything together whilst quietly struggling underneath it all.
This page is here to answer some of the practical questions you may have about working with me, including session fees, accessibility, how sessions work and what support may feel right for you.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is really about getting to know each other and exploring what has brought you here. You do not need to arrive with a perfectly clear explanation, a timeline of your life or the “right” words. Many people come feeling nervous, overwhelmed, unsure where to start or even unsure whether they are “allowed” to ask for support in the first place.
What if I don't know what to talk about?
You do not need to prepare a script before sessions or arrive knowing exactly where to begin. Sometimes sessions start with something very small:
“How your week has been?”
“A feeling you cannot shake.”
“You do not even know why you booked this.”
Often, the important things emerge naturally once there is space to slow down and feel heard. There may also be moments of silence, uncertainty or getting stuck. That is part of the process too, not something you are failing at. You are not expected to perform insight or have everything figured out before you arrive.
What if I cry, panic or be overwhelmed?
People cry, panic, dissociate, shut down, lose track of what they were saying, become angry, freeze or feel emotionally overwhelmed for many different reasons. Therapy and coaching can bring people into contact with emotions, memories, stress or exhaustion they have been carrying quietly for a long time.
You are not “too much” if that happens.
We would work at your pace and respond to what is happening in the moment together. Sometimes that may mean slowing things down, grounding, taking a pause, shifting focus or simply allowing space for whatever is there without needing to immediately fix it.
You are allowed to arrive as a human being, not a polished version of one.
Can I Have Coaching and Counselling Together?
Yes, absolutely. Whilst coaching and counselling are often spoken about as completely separate things, in reality, many people’s experiences naturally overlap both emotional and practical support needs.
My approach integrates coaching, counselling and psychotherapy flexibly depending on what feels most helpful for you at the time. This means we might explore emotional experiences, relationships and internal patterns in one session, whilst another focuses more practically on boundaries, work, decision-making, overwhelm or creating sustainable change.
What Is the Difference Between Therapy, Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching?
The truth is, there is often a lot of overlap between these terms, which can make things feel confusing when you are trying to figure out what kind of support you need.
Different practitioners may also use these words slightly differently depending on their training, approach and way of working.
Counselling often focuses on emotional wellbeing, relationships, difficult experiences and helping people explore what is happening in their lives in a supportive and reflective space.
Psychotherapy can involve many of the same areas as counselling, but often goes deeper into long-term patterns, emotional wounds, relational dynamics, identity, past experiences and how these continue to shape the present.
Coaching is usually more future-focused and practical. People may seek coaching around confidence, work, self-employment, decision-making, direction, burnout, accountability, boundaries or creating change in their lives.
How Will I Know When I’m Ready to Stop?
There is not usually one perfect moment where everything suddenly feels right.
Often, people begin to notice more subtle shifts over time.
You may find that:
Things feel more manageable
You understand yourself differently
You feel more able to cope or respond rather than constantly survive
Patterns start becoming clearer
You feel less stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected
You no longer feel the same need for regular support
Sometimes people reach a natural ending point.
Others choose to reduce sessions gradually over time.
Some return later during different periods of life when they need support again.
How Do I Know if We Are the Right Fit?
Finding the right therapist or coach is important. Even the most experienced practitioner will not be the right fit for everyone, and that is okay.
Often, the “right fit” is less about finding someone with perfect words or credentials, and more about whether you feel safe enough to be yourself, whether you feel heard and whether the relationship feels supportive, respectful and genuine.