Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs - General:

  • Over Zoom. I have clients from UK, Australia, Canada, Europe, NZ and USA.

    I hold sessions in evenings and Saturdays to accommodate international time zones and my clients’ busy schedules.

  • I offer both coaching and counselling, and while they share similarities, they serve different purposes.

    During our initial session, we’ll clarify together which approach best suits your needs. Here’s an overview of both:

    Coaching is ideal if you’re:

    💫 Looking for actionable strategies to make specific behavioural changes, manage overwhelm and sustain success in a way that works for you.

    💫 Wanting to support to clarify or move towards your goals, strengthen existing skills, improve your day to day life, behaviours and habits —without revisiting your entire past.

    💫 Coaching typically requires three months of regular sessions to create lasting change.

    Weekly or fortnightly sessions are recommended to maintain momentum, depending on how much time you need to apply strategies between sessions.

    Counselling may be the right fit if:

    💫 You’re feeling stuck or noticing recurring patterns in your life that don’t quite make sense, and want to explore ‘the why’, which is often rooted in early experiences.

    💫 You know there is underlying emotional ‘debris’ or subconscious beliefs that are causing you distress or holding you back, rather than focussing solely on present-day solutions.

    💫 You're struggling with deeper emotional pain or find that talking with a trusted professional helps you process emotions and gain self-awareness

    💫 Counselling sessions can be taken at a pace that suits you, but a minimum of monthly is recommended to maintain growth and momentum.


  • My qualifications, training and relevant experience include:

    • Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), 2017

    • Master of Counselling (graduate in 2024), Grad Cert (completed 2022)

    • Certified Grey Area Drinking Coach (2021) - personally trained by Jolene Park, integrative practitioner and functional nutritionist

    • Accredited ADHD Coach Training, ADDCA USA - (2023)

    • Lifeline suicide prevention training (ASIST) 2019

    • SMART Recovery Facilitator training (2021)

    • Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) Certification - (underway, 2023)

    • Science of Wellbeing, Yale University - (underway, 2023)

    • Trauma-informed care for Alcohol and Other Drug Practice, Insight (2022)

    • Non-violent communication (2014) - by Marshall Rosenberg PhD

    • I also founded and ran Untoxicated - a grassroots, peer support charity - and personally supported hundreds of people to change their relationship with alcohol.

    • Decades of professional and personal development including therapy, counselling, coaching, self-study around trauma, family systems, attachment theory, Taoism, EFT, polyvagal theory and somatic healing, nervous system regulation, shadow archetypes, inner child work, meditation, yoga.

    • Lived experience of intergenerational mental health, addiction, eating disorders, cPTSD, co-dependency, panic and phobias, adverse childhood experiences and a late diagnosis of ADHD at 48.

    • No. As a registered counsellor and coach a referral is not required.

    • I wrote a blog here on the pros and cons of mental health care plans (the medical model).

  • That’s incredibly dependent on each client; their history, their presenting concerns, and any complexity.

    For many clients, and in my own experience as a client, feeling supported in itself goes a long way, but generally speaking to make lasting changes it’s likely you’ll need around 3 months with fortnightly sessions.

    This gives you time to integrate and apply what we’ve discussed, while maintaining momentum and accountability. Like a gym membership, it can be all too easy to put sessions off, particularly when behaviour change gets hard.


    Making the commitment to yourself by booking a block in advance is likely to drive the most positive outcomes, particularly with ADHD.

    • No, coaches and counsellors are not yet eligible for these (although this is likely in future).

    • Many of my clients prefer that their information will not be available on their medical record - a mental health disorder diagnosis is required to access the MHCP - and there are potential legal, professional and other implications to be aware of so you can decide which option is right for you.

    • You can read my blog discussing the pros and cons of MHCPs, here.

    • The cost of seeing a counsellor/coach is usually around the same as the out of pocket gap fee when seeing a psychologist.

  • Sure do! For NDIS, as long as you’re plan or self managed and our work together supports you in your goals, we’re good to go!

    Please note, that it is your responsibility to make sure that the services you claim under NDIS are eligible for reimbursement, covered by your funding, and claimed under the correct category. If unsure, your support coordinator or LAC can provide guidance.

    For Access to Work clients, you can apply for things like ADHD Coaching with up to £65,000 GBP for supports to help you maintain employment. For more information: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/eligibility

    Contact me: faye@fayelawrence.com.au to discuss payment arrangements/invoicing.

    • It’s possible. If coaching services are related to your work performance then you may be able to claim them on your tax return.

    • If coaching is related to ADHD and you’re employed or self-employed you’ll likely to be able to claim $1,600 coaching per annum under the Aus Govt. Employment Assistance Fund. For more information: https://www.fayelawrence.com.au/govt-funding-adhd-coaching-eaf

    • Your accountant will be able to advise. Self-education expenses (which coaching falls under) can be claimed by employees or businesses if there is a significant focus on increasing income-earning capacity, workplace strategies etc.

    • Work-related challenges are often a critical part of coaching with my ADHD clients.

  • Great question! In Australia, these terms can be used somewhat interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they refer to professionals with distinct roles and qualifications. Here's a simplified explanation of the differences:

    Coach: A coach typically focuses on helping individuals set and achieve specific goals in their personal or professional lives. They provide guidance, motivation, and strategies for improvement but do not delve into mental health issues or provide therapy.

    Counsellor: Counsellors offer support and guidance to individuals facing various life challenges, such as relationship issues, grief, stress, or career concerns. They help clients explore their feelings and develop coping strategies.

    Therapist: This is a broad term that can encompass both counsellors and psychotherapists. Therapists help clients address emotional and psychological issues, improve mental well-being, and develop coping skills.

    Psychotherapist: Psychotherapists focus on deep exploration of a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They often work with clients on long-term issues and aim to bring about lasting change through various therapeutic approaches.

    Psychologist: Psychologists have advanced degrees in psychology and are trained to assess and treat a wide range of mental health issues using evidence-based therapies. They may specialise in areas like clinical psychology or neuropsychology.

    Clinical Psychologist: Clinical psychologists specialise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. They often work in clinical settings and are licensed to provide therapy for mental health conditions.

    Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They can prescribe medication, offer therapy, and diagnose and treat mental illnesses. They often work with individuals who may need both medical and psychological treatment.

    It's important to note that these definitions can vary slightly depending on the specific qualifications and regulations in Australia. It's advisable to research the specific credentials and expertise of the individual you are considering.

Alcohol or ADHD clients:

  • No, you don’t. If you’re like so many of us, you’ve probably been on and off of the alcohol-free path for a while. Research shows this is many, many years for a lot of people, decades even.

    I work with you where you’re at. We don’t have to do the ‘forever’ thing if that’s not where you want to go. You might want to have a break, you might want to cut back. We’ll talk about your goals and go from there.

  • It’s a great question, but one that’s almost impossible to answer.

    Clients may have done well while we’ve been working together and either continue that, or not. I may not know.

    Clients may not be at the ‘stage of change’ where they are ready.

    Even the best rehabs and facilities in the world often have low success rates because the nature of alcohol dependence is so complex.

    Basically if you think about working with a personal trainer or an exercise physiologist … I can work with you in a very individualised way incorporating your lifestyle, beliefs, provide support and give you the tools and strategies, but I can’t do the work for you. No one can.

    Take a look at the many testimonials from satisfied clients HERE.

  • No! Lots of people are grey area drinkers (see here). They’re high functioning, drink moderately sometimes, but overdo it more often than they’d like.

    I wrote a blog on ‘Am I An Alcoholic?’ here to answer this more thoroughly.

  • No, not at all! However, the majority of my clients understand themselves as having ADHD, autism, AuDHD or highly sensitive person.

    I do have clients also - particularly related to alcohol use - who do not identify with any of the above and just want to tackle their substance use.

  • You’re in luck! I wrote some blog posts about this with lots of information about ADHD and the diagnostic process.

    This will give you the initial steps to test the waters and get a handle on what to do next.

    • No, not at all. Many people want to explore whether ADHD is a possibility for them by learning more, finding out what’s involved in and whether they even want to seek a diagnosis. There’s also often a long waiting period involved to go through the process.

    • Many neurodivergent people are now self-identifying. Clients may have had a child or parent or sibling recently been diagnosed which - due to the high level of heritability in neurodiversity - means family members will likely begin to question their own histories and experiences through that lens.

    • If you feel your executive functioning needs some bolstering, that’s fine too! No dx necessary.


  • Yes. The following are outside my scope of practice:

    • Crisis response/24 hour therapy

    • Court mandated therapy

    • People who are actively suicidal (Note: suicidal intent is different to suicidal ideation; many people have thoughts of suicide from time to time, which is different to active planning)

    • Those experiencing acute levels of mental ill-health or addiction that require a higher level of care e.g. rehab/detox/psychiatric support
      ——————————

    If we start working together and during this time it becomes evident that clinical intervention is required, I will recommend additional or alternative support.

    My priority - and duty of care - is always your wellbeing.

    Having undergone much therapy myself over the years (inc. an array of modalities and supports), I’ve experienced the good, the bad and the ugly.

    It’s so important that when you reach for support of any kind, you find what is useful to you by someone suitably equipped and qualified to do that with you, safely.

BOOK APPT

“Faye’s lived experience was the thing that attracted me to her as a coach. She has a lovely friendly and accepting manner.

I didnt feel judged, ashamed or spoken down to. Her approach matched my personality well.“

t, nsw - female, 50s, business owner