What is a typical coaching session?
Where do we meet, and how often?
How long does a programme last?
Is it confidential?
What are your fees?
How do I get in touch?

What is a typical coaching session?
All my coaching programmes are bespoke - unique and built with you in mind. During our first meeting, I will listen to your needs and make sure I understand your objectives and timescales. I'll ensure that I build any preferred ways of working into your bespoke programme, and you can also expect me to be open and honest. For example, if I think that my skills cannot help you get the results you seek, I will say so.

Although there is no “typical” coaching programme, there are some things that cut across every piece of client work and these are:

• An assessment of your needs and objectives.
• An assessment of where you are now, how close you are, or far away from your objectives.
• A plan to help you get there.

For further illustration of my work, please see the testimonials section to hear direct from past clients about their experiences. You can also call me or e mail me with any specific questions.
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Where do we meet, and how often?
Where we meet to work is down to you. Appointments can be held in a client’s work place, at their home, at my premises or at an external venue. In terms of frequency, typically no more than every two weeks and no less than every five weeks in order to keep the momentum going. I will draw up a suggested timetable as part of the follow up to our initial meeting. In between face to face meetings, we will plan e mail and phone follow ups. Face to face sessions are likely to be more frequent at the beginning of the programme.
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How long does a coaching programme last?
This will be driven by your objectives. For example if you have a defined business goal that you wish to achieve then the time line will reflect this. At thriving ivy, the most frequently requested programmes are of 6 month or 12 month duration.
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Is it confidential?
Yes. We will draw up a confidentiality agreement at our first session.
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What are your fees?
I offer a free 30 minute consultation meeting aimed at answering your questions and helping you to decide if I am the right coach for you. After that I charge £150 for an initial session of 90 minutes duration. This fee includes the work that I will do post meeting in writing a proposal for you based on our discussions. The fee is refundable if you proceed with the programme within 3 months.
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How do I get in touch?
If you would like to make an appointment, or discuss your specific needs prior to this, please call me on 01582 873176 or mobile 07951 103917. Alternatively, use the contacts page or e mail info@thrivingivy.com
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How do I make an appointment?
Can I talk to you before my first appointment?
Do I need to book a series of appointments?
How long does a session last?
What are your fees?
Do you see couples?
Do you see children?
What kind of issues do you specialise in?
Where does the name Thriving ivy come from?

How do I make an appointment?
You can call me on 01582 873176 or mobile 07951 103917. There is a private and confidential answering machine, so if I can’t get to the phone please leave a message, or your number and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Or you can use the contacts page, or e mail Judith@thrivingivy.com.
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Can I talk to you before my first appointment?
Definitely, if it helps you. The web site is set out to tell you something about my service; however some clients prefer to talk to the counsellor prior to making an appointment. Plus, if you have a very busy diary it can help to discuss availability live.
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Do I need to book a series of appointments?
This is really up to you and depends on what you want from counselling. For example, some clients have a very specific need that they want to focus on, such as dealing with anxiety as a result of pressure at work. In this situation it may take seven or eight sessions to make progress and get satisfactory results for a client. For others, where you and I need to explore underlying issues and explore deeply hidden problems, you may decide on longer term help.

Ultimately, the choice is yours and you will not be pressurised into having more sessions than you want. You can stop counselling at any time, even where you have booked a number of sessions in advance.
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How long does a session last?
60 minutes.
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What are your fees?
My fees are £40 per session for individuals and £60 for couple counselling.
I have a number of sessions per week that I reserve for unemployed or those on low income. Please mention this when booking with me.

I am a registered consellor with Retail Trust, the principal charity of the retail sector. If you work in retail, you may be able to get financial assistance with these costs. Please mention this when you contact me or visit www.retailtrust.org.uk

If you are working towards qualification as a counsellor and need to bring up your level of personal therapy then please phone or email for details.
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Do you see couples?
Yes.
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Do you see children?
Yes.
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What kind of issues do you specialise in?
As examples, I work with clients with family and relationship issues, work related stress and anxieties; child/parent relationships; and problems created by alcohol and/or drug dependency.

I don’t have a “tick list” of issues that I work with, as I feel that this can be detrimental to our work. I prefer for you to tell me in your own time and words what brings you to counselling. I will always be open and honest with you and if I feel I cannot help you or your needs are outside of my skill I will say so.
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Where does the name Thriving Ivy come from?
I wanted to call my company something memorable, as well as something that reflected what I do and what my work is about. It’s easy to find ourselves merely surviving, or constantly striving. In my work, I encourage you to stop and reflect and consider - is this what you want or would you rather thrive?

And as for the ivy, well its tenacious, it springs back up even when chopped to the core, and can weather storms and extremes of many kinds. For me, the combination of the two conjures up strength, growth and beauty - and I like the sound of it!
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