Frequently Asked Questions
We have divided our FAQ page into counselling related questions & counsellor training related questions.
Click here to jump to counsellor training related questions, or scroll down.
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If you cannot find the question/answer you are looking for, please contact us here.
Counselling Related Questions
Where are you based?
We have therapy rooms in several locations, including Crays Hill (Billericay), Wickford & Bowers Gifford, Essex. We also work online nationally all over the UK and have supported people with counselling from overseas many times.
What is counselling?
Counselling is a talking therapy offering you a completely confidential and safe space to open up and talk about your thoughts and feelings - whether they are from your past, present day or about your future. Counselling is many things but perhaps best described as a process, unique to the individual. The goal is to empower you, to feel better, offering you new perspectives.
What is life coaching?
Life coaching is to help you acknowledge where you are today more clearly, and then help and support you in finding ways, strategies and tools to move you forward and closer toward your goals. Coaches tend to stay in the present and look ahead with you to your future.
What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy weighs focus on past issues that might be contributing to present day problems. It is often significantly longer term work. In contrast, counselling is often focussed on specific issues or situations, such as anxiety or bereavement, and takes place over weeks to several months. In practice, however, there is a significant overlap between the two terms and both are nicknamed just 'therapy'. Many counsellors have training and skills that would fall under the heading of psychotherapy, for example CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), therefore work in a psychotherapeutic way (hence Psychotherapeutic Counselling). Many counsellors will also gain further and necessary training to register as a psychotherapist. It's worth noting Carl Rogers, a famous psychologist, coined the term 'counselling' in the USA during the 1940s, a time when US psychologists were not legally permitted to use the term psychotherapy to describe their work without a medical license.
What are your fees?
Assessments are free of charge and last up to 30 minutes.  We will invite you to tell us what you need help with. ​​Please refer to our fees section here for counselling appointments thereafter.
Do you offer concessions?
We offer concessions for NHS key workers, people in unemployment or have low income. Please get in touch to find out how we can help you.
Who do you work with?
We work with individuals and couples. We welcome all men and women over the age of 18, regardless of disability, sexuality, race, religion or national origin.
What happens in our first session?
You will meet your counsellor for the first time in person or online. The first session is designed to obtain your background information and your reasons for entering therapy or coaching. This is an opportunity for you to start to talk about things, perhaps you have never spoken about before, for your counsellor or coach to get a sense of what is troubling you.
How many sessions will I need?
The counselling process is definitely a process and not a switch. The process can be short-term (maybe 6 or 8 sessions) to much longer term (maybe half to a full year). However, this is really determined by what issue(s) you bring to session and at what depth you want to work at with your counsellor. You decide with your counsellor when to end.
What method of payment do you accept?
Payment is due in advance of each session by bank transfer. ​Other arrangements can be discussed with, please ask.
Counsellor Training Related Questions
Can I get a training placement with Life Perspective?
Yes! Please contact us, we frequently work with external trainee counsellors and can offer a placement for our affordable counselling service (low income and unemployed clients). We will support you with regular case management and can offer you supervision.
Why train with Life Perspective?
Life Perspective Counselling Training is a smaller institution which enables us to offer a very personalised and high quality training. We are not a huge academic institution with a high staff turnover. You will be recognised as a highly valued member of our trainee counsellor community and have an opportunity to practice counselling in placement within our agency.
Why choose the CPCAB training route?
Follow the link to the taster training and be sure to listen to the podcast and watch the free online taster.
Is online training better?
We offer online and in-person training from our training centre in Wickford, Essex. Online is convenient and is the same content and just as good as in-person training, so it really is a preference. Since the pandemic, it is also considered safer and ultimately when you qualify as a practitioner, you may well work with online clients, so it's relevant training. Please note, at Level 4 only, 75% of the training is in-person, this is a CPCAB and BACP requirement.
How much does it cost?
Please refer to our course list. By clicking the 'Full Details' button for any course, the fees are shown on each page.
Where are you based?
We are based in Wickford, Essex. Our address is Great Broomfields, Cranfield Park Road, Essex, SS12 9EP.
If your questions haven't been answered on this page, please contact us directly.