Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Offer of a personalised Four Page Website


Website costs

It involves a low regular cost to maintain your domain, everyone has to pay this to keep their website domain on the internet.
You pay for:
  • ·      A Domain Name (generally every 2 years min but you can pay up to 10 years) - you will get a reminder from the company when it’s about to expire, this is normally a month beforehand.
  • ·      The Web Hosting (every month) - It’s advised you set up a Direct debit/standing order

Domain names can cost from £7 - £25 depending on what you choose, Example (www.your_name.co.uk)

Website Hosting (assuming you want to use my server) is £3.99 per month includes a matching email address (your_name.co.uk) mailbox size 1GB

Setup fee by me for the above inclusive of the first months hosting is £25.00. You are responsible for the up keep of you domain subscription, if you do not, your domain will be unregistered and someone else could then buy the right to use it, this is very important as a business to make sure this doesn't happen. I will ensure you are setup to receive the reminder and know what to do.

If you do not wish to have your own domain, I can host a sudo domain for you called www.essexcounsellingservices.co.uk/your_name.html’  

  • ·      Positive: You don’t need to worry about paying for a domain name, just the monthly web hosting costs.
  • ·      Negative: This sometimes doesn’t work very well.  It’s not advisable as it is not terribly efficient in search engines like Google. It normally confuses the front end user having to tap in EXACTLY the correct address, which is much longer and more complicated. This also would not have a matching email address for business contact.


Website Design

A four page website will cost around £400, you supply all written content and images you want (I hold no responsibility for copyright or royalty breaches). I can advise you on this in the design process.

An example of a four-page menu would be:

About Me   -  Services  -  Fees   -   Contact 

It can be changed to whatever you like. It’s very flexible and depending on if you wanted an extra page with small content I will let you know if there will be a cost involved, in many cases this is not an issue and can I can just build this in for you.

Good Advice: Look at other websites to gain ideas of what you like, colours, fly-ins, feedback boxes etc...This will help me to help you.

I will do an initial first stage design hosted on my testing server for your approval then the final build will go ahead once you’re happy.

I will create all SEO (search engine optimisation) for you free within the website (this helps people to find you) but this is not going to guarantee you will be high on web search engines like Google.
If this is something you think you must have then I would advise you to contact Google themselves, and they can advise you on a SEO package. There are ways to build your presence on Google and other search engines; I can certainly give you some tips and links to read regarding this.

·         Any additional future changes to the site will cost £25 per hour. After you have described the changes needed, I’ll let you know how long it will take me (most things can be done within the hour).

If you are interested and want to make a start, I can send you the list of questions to start creating your own website. Remember, this is your creation, it’s an extension of you, clients always find it exciting to finally get themselves on the internet, and it’s so important to have a website when you are starting a business no matter how big or small. It’s the place prospective clients will read about YOU.

If you would like to see a few of the websites that I have created here are some examples:

Extras

All of the Jpeg pictures of your new logo design will be sent to you automatically as part of the package. This will enable you to create business cards and leaflets etc.

If you would like me to organise these for you instead, I can give you a list of options and have them designed and delivered to you directly. This would vary in price, and I will give you a quote based on what you require.

If you feel brave enough though, websites like ‘Vistaprint’ are very helpful for beginners.

Mobile Version

Its often a good idea to have your website mobile friendly, to do this I have to design a separate working set of pages from the originals. I will create a mobile version which is vital for the modern website. Mobile contact is becoming more and more popular as the first point of contact for people.

If you would like this option it will cost only an extra            £50

Summary of the costs you need to think about:

Setup                                                              £  25.00
Monthly  ‘Web hosting’                              £    3.99
2 yearly   ‘Domain Name’                           £    7.00 - £25.00 (depending on choice)
4 Page Website                                            £400.00
Changes/alterations in future by Neil      £  25.00 (per hour)
Mobile Friendly                                            £  50.00
Business Cards/leaflets                               POA

I am happy to discuss any options and ways for you to pay.

This can all be very confusing for people who don’t understand how this works, rest assured I will help you every step of the way and I encourage you to contact me with questions and worries during the process.

Neil Ashdown
07713 149340

ndashdown@googlemail.com

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Labelling People as addicts... does this do more harm than good?

An addiction to certain behaviours are distractions. People do it to avoid the issues they have trouble facing in life past, present and future.

Research has shown that addiction can take many forms, drugs and alcohol being the most commonly known, but it can also be exercise, eating, sex, video games, shopping, attention seeking and often as one addiction is left, another takes its place... some harmful some not so harmful.

An addiction becomes labelled when engaging in a behaviour so excessively that other areas of life suffer.

Sufferers have something in common, they are avoiding dealing with problems and turn to behaviour that is repetitive, rewarding, comforting, familiar, and seemingly in their control (often unaware that it isn’t).

“They are all using these behaviours to try and avoid the stress of their lives, and in the process, are making things worse.”          Article in About.com

Instead of focusing on the addictive behaviours therapy should perhaps be focusing more on resolving the issues causing the emotional stressrather than fixating on the behaviour itself. Then the sufferer can be taught new skills for coping and gradually change their cognitions regarding their self worth and perception of the world.

It’s good to prepare people for relapse and remind them that the most important thing is their rational thought process and a focus on what they want out of life. 

Group therapy is good for recovery, but a broad spectrum of various types of addictive behaviour should perhaps be brought together (not just alcohol or drug abuse groups), it then takes the focus off  of the behaviour and more onto feelings and thoughts, heading towards what healthier option can be done instead to meet their needs and gain reward.


Of course, drug or alcohol abuse can cause huge damage to peoples lives, and it’s important that the seriousness of this particular behaviour is not diluted by someone addicted to exercise for example.


Obviously behaviours involving drugs or alcohol actually can cause a chemical addiction in the body to the substance. Some may argue that this is a true addiction where non-stop shopping for example is just a compulsion and the two should not be compared.


"I don’t really like the word ‘Addiction’ and I certainly don’t like people being labelled as one forever"                                                  (as they often are in certain substance abuse meetings).


So far I have seen friends, colleagues and clients frightened and changed by some of these meetings. While I’m sure some meetings are well controlled and effective and have helped people, I have also seen the damage that is left behind by others.


After all... I would certainly feel deflated and probably more depressed if I were labelled as ‘an addict’ forever.


“AA tells you not to rely on your own abilities because you have no ability to quit drinking without believing in God.”                                                                                  From the Book ‘Alcohol, How to give it up and be glad you did’ by Philip Tate Ph.D

Who was inspired by the great Dr. Albert Ellis Theorist in REBT.

So in this particular area of CBT you will find many theorists don’t believe in AA meetings or the like. They often find people who run them ‘preach’. But we mustn’t forget these meetings are free, and they become a 'haven' to people who are desperate.


It’s a shame there isn’t more available, and ideally meetings that are run within controlled parameters from a therapeutic counselling angle instead of some random person’s perceptions and opinions... 
After all, youngsters (especially) will look up to these people, trust their knowledge and take it onboard whether the information is right or wrong.


If you or someone you know is in need of some counselling in the Southend-on-Sea area, don’t hesitate to contact me at Therapy for Life by clicking here... Take care, Sam

Image from spiritual river
Source: http://addictions.about.com/od/howaddictionhappens/i/real_addictions_2.htm