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Why online sessions?Mumshine specialises in online counselling and online coaching sessions. As a practitioner, I pride myself on being able to bring the same warmth, empathy and connection to online sessions whilst providing my clients with the ability to join from a place that is comfortable for them and save the valuable time usually spent commuting to appointments and waiting. Imagine joining an online counselling session in your PJs with a cuppa, some tissues and from your favourite chair or joining an online coaching call from your lunch break. Also by offering online services, I am able to support mothers throughout Australia with their mental health and wellbeing needs.
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What do online sessions look and feel like?I encourage all of my clients to join sessions from a space and time that suits them where they are able to speak freely and comfortably. Clients often bring drinks (non alcoholic of course), blankets, tissues and even note pads. It is OK to have a furry friend with you for comfort too, the space and time is all about you. Prior to your session you will be sent a link from the Halaxy platform which you can click on at the time of your session and it will take you into a waiting room to test your sound and camera. I love using Halaxy as it is encrypted and is very reliable, however if you have any issues, call or text me and we can go to the backup platform. Sessions then run like a normal face to face conversation, I am able to share my screen with you to talk you through any materials or handouts that we may use. Once your session ends, I will send you any materials and links so you have an easy list to go to and you can go about your day, taking the time you would normally spend commuting to an appointment for a bit of self care.
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How much do sessions cost and how long are they?Most one-on-one sessions (life coaching and counselling) have the one, flat rate whether in-person or online. Sessions are $150 and run for 50 minutes. Return to Work Sessions run longer at 90 minutes with a fee of $250 given the amount of material to be covered. During this time, you will have Freya's complete focus and care. Sessions are not eligible for medicare or private health rebates at this time. Some clients say they have strong feelings after the session and it is often a good idea to set aside some time for self-care if you can. By offering online, I encourage clients to use the time they would normally spend commuting to sessions for this.
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Can children attend sessions or be in the room with me?Whilst as busy mums it can be difficult to fit everything into the day, we are not able to have children attend sessions. This is to protect your privacy and confidentiality and also to ensure that you are truly able to speak freely without interruption or without needing to censor what you say. I want to ensure that you get the most out of the session. If this is not possible for you as you are a breastfeeding mother, please contact me via hello@mumshine.com.au or 0466965526 and we can discuss some options to suit.
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What is your cancellation policy?We will do our best to ensure that you never miss a session by sending reminders and if things do come up, I ask all clients to contact me ASAP to talk about rescheduling, or alternate options. My ability to help mums is based on being able to see them and generally I need 48 hours to bring someone forward and fill the space. As such, if you cancel or change an appointment within 48 hours of the session time, 100% of the session fee will be debited from your card on file. If there are things outside of your control, please call or email as soon as possible so we can work together on an alternative.
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What is the difference between life coaching and counselling?Counselling and life coaching are both valuable forms of support, but they serve distinct purposes for mothers facing various challenges. Counselling primarily addresses emotional and psychological challenges. Mothers often grapple with depression, anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed or inadequate, and counselling offers a safe space to explore these issues with a trained therapist. Counsellors help mothers process their feelings, identify triggers, and develop coping strategies . They focus on healing and personal growth through self-reflection and emotional regulation. On the other hand, life coaching concentrates on achieving specific goals and personal development. Mothers may seek coaching to improve time management, set and achieve health or life objectives, or enhance parenting skills. Coaches provide guidance, motivation, and accountability to help mothers reach their desired outcomes. Life coaching is results-oriented, focusing on building skills, confidence, and resilience. Mumshine sees the benefit in both of these modalities. You don't need to decide which one is right for you as this can be discussed and agreed in your initial session.
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What is the difference between counselling and psychology?Counselling is typically a shorter-term, solution-focused support system. It assists mothers in addressing specific life challenges, such as parenting struggles or relationship issues. It offers practical strategies and emotional guidance to enhance well-being. Psychology, on the other hand, delves deeper into mental processes and behaviours. It involves comprehensive assessments, diagnosis and often explores underlying psychological issues, like postpartum depression or anxiety disorders. Psychologists employ evidence-based therapies for longer-term mental health management. Both services are valuable for mothers, but counselling suits immediate concerns, while psychology offers in-depth analysis and treatment for more complex and enduring issues. Many people choose to see a psychologist as they are covered under a mental-health care plan (counsellors are not currently) so this can be a cheaper option. If you decide counselling is the right place to start, your counsellor has a duty of care to make sure that they only support you in areas where they are best suited to do so. As such, if in the process of counselling more complex mental health challenges arise, your counsellor may speak to you about referring you to a psychologist or specialised practitioner, who is better skilled to suit your needs. This is a collaborative process between counsellor and client, so even if you start with counselling - other options remain open.
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What should I expect in the first counselling session?First sessions will start with a brief overview of the process so you know what to expect from the counselling process including key items such as confidentiality and record keeping and if you have not had a chance to complete the intake form, we will run through these questions together. After this, it is all about you. Freya will seek to understand what brings you to sessions and what goals, outcome or change you would like to achieve. This will then allow Freya to develop a tailor made counselling plan for you to help you to achieve these goals and measure progress. Clients often say they feel tired or drained after the first session as it can feel quite intense as you work through the situation that brought you to counselling and the feelings that surround it. As such, we recommend you book sessions on days where you can find a bit of time and space to be kind to yourself after and have a bit of time to process your feelings.
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What to expect from the counselling process?At the start of the process and in the early sessions, Freya will focus on establishing a safe and confidential space where you can share your concerns and objectives. Goals are jointly established and Freya will create a counselling plan which is unique to you. In the coming weeks Freya will work with you to deepen this relationship built on trust, empathy and "unconditional positive regard" (this means Freya is in your corner and will support you 100%) as you work together towards your goals discussing thoughts, emotions and beliefs which you may hold. Together we build coping strategies and learn new skills and tools to help you feel better, outside of sessions. We will check-in on progress and adjust the plan as we need to. Towards the end of the agreement, Freya will review your progress with you and celebrate your successes. When you have achieved your goals and are ready, the relationship will formally come to an end and in this process Freya will help you to establish further goals and supports, outside of this counselling relationship. Freya remains available should things change or new needs arise.
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How many sessions will I need?There is no set number of sessions, however counselling is designed to be a short-term intervention. Typically this is 6 - 10 sessions. We agree this together in the first session, based on your needs, review progress during this time and adjust up or down as needed. We do not lock you into a contract or 'package' for a set number of sessions and you can cancel at any time.
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Can I speak freely in sessions?Whether in person, or online, sessions are a safe space for you to express yourself and speak what is on your mind. Everything said in sessions, and even your identity as a client is kept strictly confidential and not discussed with others, so you know what you say goes no further. This is an important aspect of therapy and one that we take very seriously. There are only a few, rare, exceptions where confidentiality can be broken and this is the same across all counsellors and outlined in the counselling agreement as well as discussed in the first session.
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What is "homework"?Counsellors often agree "homework" with the clients to complete between sessions. This should be an enjoyable part of the process and is a two-way discussion and never something that is forced upon you. Homework is designed to allow you to practice any new skills and techniques you are learning in session in the real world or to provide a framework to reflect on when certain behaviours or thoughts are happening and the situations around this. Clients who complete their homework often get to their goals faster and often feel better about the progress they are achieving. Think of it like someone seeing a personal trainer once a week and only exercising then, versus someone that does 15 or 30 minutes of exercise outside of session each day. Who will reach their goals faster? We know that life gets busy, sometimes the homework exercise is not a good fit, or sometimes we avoid things which are difficult. This is all normal. You should never feel shame or cancel a session for not doing your homework, this happens to all of us. We would always prefer to see you and keep working towards your goals. You will never be judged or blamed for not doing it. At mumshine we aim for progress, not perfection.
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What to expect in the first coaching sessionIn the first session the coach will talk you through the process, so you know what to expect and give you a chance to ask questions so you feel comfortable and empowered. If you have not had a chance to complete the intake form, we will go through these questions together. Next Freya will work with you to understand what brings you to life coaching, the problem area you are faced with and what your goals from coaching are. Freya will work with you to understand your story, identify your strengths and agree some immediate priorities you want to focus on and will create a tailored coaching plan for you, this may involve sessions weekly or twice weekly depending on your goals, how fast you want to move and if you want additional motivation support to keep you on track. Many clients often feel excited and motivated leaving the first session so it is a great idea to pencil in some time after to get a head start on any actions you have decided on to get a great start to your new life.
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How many coaching sessions will I need?There is no set number of sessions, however life coaching is designed to be a short-term to medium-term intervention. Typically this is 10 - 16 sessions, depending on your goals and ambitions . We agree this together in the first session, review progress during this time and adjust up or down as needed. We do not lock you into a contract or 'package' for a set number of sessions and you can cancel at any time.
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What to expect from the coaching processAs a coach, Freya will not tell you what to do or how to do it. She will use her skills to help you explore and understand your options and work out what are the most powerful actions that you can take to have sustained change in the area of your life that you want. No 2 clients are the same and it is essential that coaching is tailored to you, your learning style, your strengths, the resources you have available and your hopes and dreams. Freya will then help you to stay on track with your goals, overcome the roadblocks or barriers that would normally stop you, help you to build your confidence and empowerment. We will check in on progress along the way and when you are ready we will either reduce coaching to check-ins every few months or cease sessions all together, depending on how you feel. Freya will remain available as a trusted partner for you, so if future challenges arise, you have a someone you know you can turn to who will help you achieve results.
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Can I speak freely in coaching sessions?This is an important question to ask when engaging a life coach. Not all coaches are bound by confidentiality. As Freya is a licenced counsellor, she extends the high standards of privacy and confidentiality that are in place for counselling clients to her life coaching clients as well. This means that whether in person, or online, sessions are a safe space for you to express yourself and speak what is on your mind. Everything said in sessions, and even your identity as a client is kept strictly confidential and not discussed with others, so you know what you say goes no further. This is an important aspect of therapy and one that we take very seriously. There are only a few, rare, exceptions where confidentiality can be broken and this is the same across all counsellors. These situations are outlined in the coaching agreement as well as discussed in the first session.
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Do I get "homework" in coaching?You sure do! You will have chosen this homework and will want to complete it as it will take you closer to your goals and you will feel motivated, curious and empowered about completing it. This really is an enjoyable part of the process where you learn so much about yourself and are able to break through barriers which have held you back before. Clients who complete their homework often get to their goals faster and often feel better about the progress they are achieving. Think of it like someone seeing a personal trainer once a week and only exercising then versus someone that does 15 or 30 minutes of exercise outside of session each day. Who will reach their goals faster? We know that life gets busy, sometimes the homework exercise is not a good fit in practice and sometimes we avoid things which are difficult. This is all normal. You should never feel shame or cancel a session for not doing your homework, this happens to all of us. We would always prefer to see you and keep working towards your goals. You will never be judged or blamed for not doing it. At mumshine we aim for progress, not perfection.
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