Counselling and coaching questions answered by Carl Argent
Counselling & coaching.
Your questions answered.
Starting can bring questions about the practical details as well as how it might feel. Explore the answers below, or contact me about anything that is still unclear.
Free no-obligation call · Coaching consultations last 30 minutes.
Questions about coaching.
Coaching is available for life decisions, personal development, ADHD and leadership. A free 30-minute conversation helps us find a starting point.
How do you use Positive Psychology in coaching?
We explore your values, strengths, motivation and wellbeing, then connect that understanding to a practical goal. This can involve a strengths reflection, a decision exercise or a small change to try between sessions. We make room for difficulties as well as what is going well.
Do I need a clear goal before starting?
No. You can bring a decision, a recurring difficulty or a sense that something needs to change. Part of the work is clarifying what you want. If you have one decision to think through, a single Clarity Session may be enough; if you want to work on attention, planning and follow-through, read about ADHD coaching.
What are your coaching fees?
Individual coaching is £85 for 60 minutes or £125 for 90 minutes; these rates apply to life coaching and Life After Therapy coaching. ADHD coaching is £110 for 60 minutes or £155 for 90 minutes, beginning with a £165, 90-minute mapping session; six-session blocks are 10% less, and the ADHD at Work programme is £695 self-funded or £900 when an employer or Access to Work pays (£150 a session). A one-off Clarity Session is £125. Executive coaching starts from £150 for 75 minutes; company-sponsored engagements are quoted separately. Rates are held for 12 months from your first paid session. After that, fees are reviewed no more than once a year, with at least four weeks’ written notice of any change.
How do we review progress?
We agree what would make coaching useful to you. That might be making a decision, having a conversation or finding a more workable routine. We review what you have tried, what you learned and its effect on your wellbeing, then decide the next step together.
‘How I feel’ questions
What issues can counselling help with?
You might feel drawn to counselling if:
- You’re carrying emotions that feel heavy, tangled, or hard to name
- You’ve been suffering with stress, anxiety and/or panic for a while
- Life feels stuck, uncertain, or out of balance
- You’re navigating loss, change, or relational challenges
- You sense repeating patterns but aren’t sure how to shift them
- You long for a space to reflect, heal, or reconnect with your inner self
What is the best way to tackle stress, anxiety and panic?
If you’re asking yourself this question and visiting my site, you’re on the right track. First and foremost, these are natural part of how we cope with threats as human-beings. Anxiety is the body’s signal to our mind that something is not quite right, the world or life feels threatening in some way. It can also be caused by persistent worry, which might be to do with behaving or acting in a way that goes against our values.
Think of anxiety as the signal and stress as the preparation for action. Stress preps the body for action to counter-act the threat. We often feel more alert, ready to go, heart beating quicker, breathing shallow, cortisol released into our blood. Panic can be caused by a variety of concerns but it usually follows on from persistent or chronic anxiety or stress.
The body and mind can only cope with so much feeling of insecurity that anxiety signals and the stress response we experience. In a world where the tiger lives inside us and cannot be perceived as easily, anxiety, stress and panic are all products of trying to cope in a world that is not designed for how we see the world.
You can read my blog on stress and anxiety perspectives on understanding anxiety for more information.
General counselling questions
How often should I attend counselling?
It is up to you based on cost, how stable you feel about the presenting issue, and your availability. Most clients attend sessions once per week because this offers a good amount of time to process what has been spoken about the week before and to prepare for the next session. Weekly sessions also offer continuity and momentum.
I would only recommend monthly sessions for clients post therapy who wish to engage in further knowledge about themselves. I offer growth counselling in this case. Ad hoc sessions are only recommended for clients that need to speak about an unpredictable issue.
Is everything I say confidential?
Professional counselling establishes a firm premise that client confidentiality is paramount. Of course this has legal exceptions that I am obligated to tell you about by Law. These will be advised before our first counselling session and are set out in your working agreement. My Privacy Notice explains how I keep your information safe.
What happens in a typical counselling session?
There is no fixed format: as your focus shifts, so will what you want to explore. Alongside talking, you may learn practical skills that help you cope, create space, see things differently and choose how to respond. Sessions are 50 minutes.
Questions about my practice
What issues can you help with?
I am a fully qualified professional counsellor which means that I work within an ethical framework so I can offer a safe space for my clients. I can offer issue-focussed counselling that concerns moderate emotional challenges such as stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, bereavement and loss, and life transitions.
I could offer a full list but as long as your presenting issues sounds like a match I can offer counselling to you. I offer a free initial consultation to help with this: 20 minutes by telephone for individual counselling, or 30 minutes by Google Meet for relationship counselling.
What happens in the first counselling session?
The first session is a follow-on from the initial chat and serves as a confirmation that we want to work together in the long term. It gives us both a chance to see how we bond and how you react to my style of counselling.
This is important because every therapist’s approach is unique, just like the client’s experience. We will talk about progress about every 6 sessions. You can stop or pause counselling at any time.
You don’t have to bear all so to speak at the first session, or even second session. It is really the beginning as we learn to trust each other.
What happens if I miss a session?
I will send you a text message to confirm you are safe, otherwise you will receive an email asking if you would like to book another session. If you are new to my practice, cancellations or rescheduling with less than 24 hours’ notice may be charged. If you were already a client before 25 September 2026, your agreed notice period still applies.
I am autistic – do you offer shorter sessions if I struggle with longer ones?
Yes, I offer flexible sessions if you autistic, and I offer 30-minute sessions. This gives you complete flexibility over your session-length so you get the most out of the session.
Can I sit on the floor?
Yes, I have bean bags or if you prefer we can conduct the session directly on the floor.
Can I do sessions online or by phone?
Yes, I offer in-person, online with video via Google Meet, or telephone sessions. We will speak about which mode of counselling would best suit you during the initial assessment.
Do I have to have video on during an online session?
Ideally because it is much harder to conduct a session if I cannot see you. If this is an issue for you, please bring it to my attention during the free initial assessment.
What if I feel unsafe or overwhelmed during a session?
You can bring that to my attention as soon as you can. I will immediately slow the pace and invite your to grounding techniques such as breathing or sensory awareness. I may also shift the focus away from what we are talking about to the present moment.
I will monitor you and when you feel safe to continue we can, or we might close the session prematurely. Your physical and psychological safety is paramount. I am also a Mental Health First Aider so if you feel anxious or feeling like a panic attack is on the way, I can help you to recover.
What qualifications do you have?
I am fully qualified professional counsellor which means I have undergone at least 300 hours of classroom training, 100 hours of counselling in placement. These have led to a Level 4 Diploma. I am also studying to become a qualified Positive Psychology Practitioner. The training of a counsellor never stops however. I am committed to constant and consistent learning based on my ongoing needs to best support my clients. I am also an Emotionally-Focused Therapist (EFT).
How do I book my first session?
I ask new clients to book a free initial consultation: 20 minutes by telephone for individual counselling, or 30 minutes by Google Meet for relationship counselling. Afterwards, if you would like to continue with counselling, I will book the first session in line with our mutual availability.
Can I speak to someone before committing to therapy?
Yes, you can reach out to me at any time by telephone, email or WhatsApp and if I am not immediately available I will get back to you as soon as I can.
What if I’ve had a bad experience with counselling before?
It’s completely understandable to feel hesitant after a difficult experience with therapy. Counselling is a vulnerable process, and when it doesn’t feel safe, attuned, or helpful, it can leave lasting emotional echoes. I honour that history. If you’ve felt unheard, misunderstood, or even harmed in a previous therapeutic space, I invite you to bring that into the room – gently, and at your own pace. You won’t be judged or rushed. You have complete control over how you would like your therapy to be.
Can I have the same session time every week?
Absolutely! In fact I welcome that because a consistent weekly slot helps create rhythm, reliability, and emotional safety, especially when life feels unpredictable. If your schedule changes or you need flexibility, I’ll do my best to accommodate. But your regular slot is yours for as long as you need it.
Do you offer home visits?
Yes, if you cannot attend my office in person or online video sessions, I can usually accommodate home visits within a 7 mile radius of SS3 postcode. This covers, Rochford, Leigh, Chalkwell, Westcliff, Southchurch and Wakering areas. My office has two flights of stairs so is not suitable for accessible clients with walking difficulties. You might also have social anxiety (used to be called agoraphobia), which are other reasons I could accommodate a home visit.
Financial questions
Do you offer reduced rates or concessions?
Yes, this is covered in my website current counselling fees.
Is there a cancellation policy or fee for cancellation?
If you are new to my practice, cancelling or rescheduling with less than 24 hours’ notice will normally incur the session fee, unless exceptional circumstances apply. If you were already a client before 25 September 2026, your agreed notice period still applies. Each circumstance will be considered uniquely. I don’t charge a cancellation or rescheduling fee when you give at least your agreed notice period.
How and when do I pay?
Fees are paid by bank transfer before each session. The account details are in your confirmation email and working agreement, and I send a reminder the evening before. Your rate is held for 12 months from your first paid session; after that, fees are reviewed no more than once a year, with at least four weeks’ written notice of any change.
Can I pay per session or in blocks?
For individual coaching, including life coaching, ADHD follow-on sessions and Life After Therapy, you can pay per session or save 10% on a six-session block paid in full. Please see the current service fees for the applicable session lengths and six-session prices. The initial ADHD coaching assessment is separate. Counselling sessions do not have a multiple-session discount. Executive coaching is agreed separately. See coaching fees or counselling fees.
Location questions
Where are you located
My office is located at the Caulfield Road end of Richmond Avenue, a two minute walk from Shoeburyness High School. My office is also served by these bus services from the City centre: 2, 7, 8, 9 and 21A.
Where can I park?
I don’t offer dedicated parking but there is ample free residential street parking either in Richmond Avenue or adjacent streets.
Do you offer a toilet facility?
I don’t offer a toilet facility but there are public toilets at East Beach and also at the Ness Road end of Campfield Road.
If you have any questions that are not addressed on this page, please reach out via the Contact Me page.
You don’t need the whole story.
Just a place to begin.
We can talk about what brings you here, what you might need and whether working together feels right for you.