How does a consultation work?
When looking to work with someone in private practice, for counselling or life coaching, you can take time to find “the right fit.” Most practitioners offer to talk with you before you commit to anything. Some call this an “assessment” or “onboarding”, but I prefer to say “consultation”, as we are coming to a decision together.
Most people wish to have the first meeting and subsequent sessions in person, so I outline that process below. Some clients need to work online, or to have this as an option, and more details about how that works can be found on this page. Either way, the structure of the consultation is essentially the same.
It would be understandable to feel apprehensive about meeting a coach or counsellor for the first time. On arrival, I want you to be able to relax and settle into the surroundings, get used to the sound of my voice, and so on. After welcoming you and covering the “domestics” (fire exits, toilets, etc.), I talk about my approach and how things such as confidentiality and contracting work.
I pause at this point before you tell me any details about your situation. It is possible that you might have decided not to go any further at this time. If so, then we can leave it at that, with no obligation. If you do wish to explore a bit further, then you can tell me a little about what has brought you here. This is treated confidentially, as if it were an actual session, and I ask that you stay within your comfort zone at this time.
Finally, if we both think that we could work well together, and can find a mutually suitable time slot, then we would agree to start on a specific date. There is still the chance to change your mind before then, as we don’t sign a contract (examples elsewhere on the website) until the first session.