FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I’ve never done this before, what should I expect?
The Holistic Counselling & Coaching sessions are guided so you will easily be able to follow and work on specifically what is holding you back. I use spiritual techniques such as energy healing, guided visualisation, thought clearing, and emotional release body work to really get down to the nitty gritty of the underlying thoughts, beliefs and emotions causing your distress, fear, inaction or anxiety etc.
How do the sessions work?
During our 1:1 (or group) online session, we will discuss what is happening for you, areas of concern and what you hope to achieve. I then help you come up with a plan of action, working on three main levels – Firstly, we’ll uncover what is preventing you from moving forward. Secondly, I will assist you to let go of the mental and emotional pain. Lastly, I will teach you techniques that you can use outside of session to keep the issues at bay.
How does holistic counselling differ from other counselling?
Holistic counselling is different because it understands that our lives are made up of a number of different aspects – physical, emotional, psychological and energetic – which work together to influence the way we think, how we feel, what we believe, and ultimately how we behave. Holistic counselling aims to address all of these aspects concurrently as they are connected, treating the whole person not just the symptoms of stress. I also teach you how to become more involved in your own healing so that you begin to feel more empowered over your stress.
The other major difference is that a technique using forgiveness can be used to help release or eliminate the problematic, and often negative, thoughts, beliefs and feelings that we carry around with us. Forgiveness is a very powerful tool. See article ‘Forgiveness is the decision not to suffer’) or Why Use Forgiveness (below)
Why use energy healing?
Energetic Healing is perfect for first timers as you are giving your emotional body a voice for the first time. For some people this is a scary and vulnerable position to be in but be assured that you will be in safe hands as I am an experienced Counsellor with Psychology and counselling qualifications. The energy healing component is an effective way of releasing the emotions that you have long held in your mind and body, providing you with relaxation and relief. While the old ‘stuff’ is leaving you could experience a few days of mixed emotions.
Energy healing is very effective in helping you to release the pent up energy of unresolved emotions or emotional blocks that you are holding on to in your mind and body. Left to their own devices these unresolved emotions can cause havoc on your mental and physical wellbeing. Energy healing helps you to decrease the risk of unresolved emotional energy turning into physical discomfort (e.g. headaches, tension, stomach aches, fatigue) and physical illness and disease, as well as mental ill health such as depression and anxiety. It works in a similar way to acupuncture but without the needles!
You may feel tingles, warmth, light pressure, stomach gurgles or you may not feel anything at all. These are all normal experiences of energy healing. Most people report feeling ‘lighter’, relaxed and relief at the end of a session. You don’t need to be ‘spiritual’ for the energy to work; you just need to be open and willing to give it a try.
Do I have to be ‘spiritual’ for this to work?
No. Just come with an open mind and willingness to try, the techniques work whether you feel it or not, whether you believe it or not, but you won’t see tangible results if you absolutely believe it won’t work. What you believe is what you get.
What is forgiveness and why use it?
Forgiveness simply means letting go of the pain, hurt, anger, suffering etc that you are feeling that is preventing you from moving on or from feeling a state of peace. Forgiveness is not used in a stereotypical religious sense, as in “I have done wrong and I must be punished or forgiven”. It is simply a technique whereby you can release the thoughts, beliefs, emotions that are causing you stress and distress. It is used as a way to break through the blocks that are preventing you from moving forward and gives you back your power. Forgiving someone does not mean that you are condoning someone else’s (or your own) inappropriate behaviour. It is a tool that brings peace and happiness into your life as you realise that you are the one who is in control of your feelings and thoughts, and therefore you are the one who can let it all go. Forgiveness is a very powerful and profound tool, it’s motivating, it’s exciting, it’s empowering!
Why are at home exercises given between sessions?
There are many simple exercises that you can do at home or at work to reduce or relieve your stress between sessions. Just like a Physio or fitness trainer gives you exercises to do at home to prevent you reinjuring yourself, at home exercises build on the work done in session and provides you with relief, giving you back your sense of empowerment.
Will it work for me?
The best way for you to know whether this is the right approach for you is to give it a try. It works differently for everyone and is not everyone’s cup of tea, however if you are open and willing to make changes then there is no reason why it couldn’t work for you too.