Professional Listener FAQ What is a Professional Listener? The short answer is: Someone who listens to you for a fee. Thats it in a nutshell. A Professional Listener is not a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Licensed Therapist, or Clergy. My role as a Professional Listener is to allow you to express yourself without fear of repercussions. Your sessions are confidential. We exchange a Non-Disclosure Form we both sign. There are limits to this Non-Disclosure Form. Since I am not in the Medical or Religious fields, I am not sworn to complete silence. I am bound by law that if approached to give information to the appropriate legal agencies; I must do so. With that in mind, please do not express outright statements of doing harm or anything illegal that might lead back to you. Please use common sense. You are encouraged to talk about the issues that are affecting you. These can range from something at home, a friend, a co-worker, a manager, or even the company you work for. It could be the current state of affairs in your city, state, the country or the world. It could be personal feelings that you have that trouble you. If you have a presentation youd like to try out to someone whos not a family member or friend, a Professional Listener can be a great help! We give you the chance to go through your presentation and iron out any rough spots before you address your audience. I will not give you advice. Thats not what a Professional Listener will do. I will ask you pointed questions. You may have already thought of these questions, but have gone through a mental loop where you cant seem to get past them. A Professional Listener might see alternate options that we can present that can possibly open new doors of thought and reason. We dont tell you what to do, think, or say. We offer you the chance to find your own path. Many times, people will utilize a Professional Listener to get things off their chest. If that is what you need; go for it! Vent! Swear! Yell, if you need to. We understand youre not attacking us. Its very normal for people to find a point when theyve simply run out of steam. They might start looking a little sheepish, but thats okay. We reassure you that its normal. They might start laughing, and again; thats perfectly normal, too! If it helps to relive your stress, anger, anxiety, or fear its worth it! Thats what a Professional Listener is, isnt, and can be for you. How Much Do You Charge? Each Professional Listener has their own rate schedule. I keep it easy for everyone. My rate is $95 for one hour. Please compare that with other Professional Listeners. For individuals who work with companies I have made arrangements with, my rates are as follows:
Please check with me to see if your company has agreed to allow Lifes Services to work with their employees. You might want to let them know about Lifes Services if they are not. I accept Credit or Debit cards through a special link on my website. If were seeing each other in person I can still accept Credit or Debit cards as well as cash. You will receive a receipt either way. I Dont Want My Boss To Know Im Talking With You! Please be assured that your employer will not know of our discussions. If you want to tell them, then that will be your decision. I will not offer your employer any information about you. I do not work for them, I work for you. If your employer wishes to pay for your sessions, that is between you and your employer. I will respect your decision either way. The only information I will give to your employer is the number of contacts I have made through them. This is only fair as they have agreed to allow me to be available to you. What Experience Do You Have? I have been professionally trained and have worked in the Customer Service field for over forty years. It has been easy for me to work in this industry because of my natural ability to empathize and help get to the point of any issues presented to me. If I have one Super Power, it is the ability to Listen! In todays world, a lot of people have lost this ability. They are quick to come back with what they know. What they think. What they heard. What they hear, and what they do next seems more in line with trying to impress you with whats in their head; not yours. I have the knack to let people get things off their chest without being judgmental. I have people walking up to me all the time and start talking like Im a long lost friend. Odd as that might seem, thats absolutely true! Do You Have References? No. I do not, and will not ask for references. If I gave out that kind of information, it would break my promise to my clients. I appreciate the request. This service is based on trust, privacy, and respect. I will not lose my livelihood and reputation by breaching this trust. How Do I Know You Wont Sell Or Publish What You Hear? Thats a very understandable question. It seems that everyone is trying to sell some kind of Tell All book. I honestly do not have the time, nor the inclination to do such a thing. I like to keep myself busy by trying to help people, not use them. When we co-sign the Non-Disclosure Form, we are promising each other a few things. My promise to you is that your information is safe with me. The same situation regarding this question is the exact same as those listed in the question Do You Have References? Lifes Services is a company devoted to helping other people, and we do not take advantage of our clients. What Happens If I Come To You With Really Bad Problems? I will be very honest with you if that situation happens. If I do not think that you would benefit from a Professional Listener, I will suggest that you seek the help of a Psychologist, Therapist, or perhaps your Clergy. I would love to help you by allowing you the chance to express yourself and get your mind at ease, but I do admit that there might be times when an issue might be beyond my abilities or skill set. What If We Start A Session, And I Decide I Dont Like You? Thats a fair question! Not everyone hits it off when they meet and start talking. If thats the case, I will ask you why you feel this way. With your help I might be able to avert that issue in the future. Then again, some people are just put off by others. Thats natural, and completely understandable. If you dont care for me because of personal and subjective reasons, I will give you a 100% refund if you let me know this within the first fifteen minutes. If after fifteen minutes to one hour you make this decision, I will refund 50%. Can I Talk To You More Than One Time? Absolutely! If you find the need to vent or talk about your concerns, I encourage you to reach out to Lifes Services. Sometimes your original issue wasnt taken care of from your last session, and you want to work out an alternate thought process. Or, maybe something completely new has come up. Why You, And Not My Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Etc? Sometimes those closest to you try to shield you, comfort you, and misdirect you for various reasons. Their intentions might be good, but they dont help you get to the root of the problem. They might offer advice that wont offend you. Advice you should find on your own. Maybe their intentions are not aligned with yours. You dont want to have that. And, finally, you dont want to inadvertently alienate anyone. With Lifes Services, that wont happen. One person and one Professional ListenerThats all, and no judgments! Should I Call You, or Should I Email You First? Whatever you feel comfortable with. Please visit our Contact Page for our hours if you call. Im Still Not Sure Thats completely understandable. Take some time and think about it. Lifes Services is here for you if you want to reach out. We want to help! |
