Interior Design Support for Counselors & Healers
Do you need help decorating your dream therapy, coaching, or small business office?
As a therapist, coach and many years as a space designer, I enjoy supporting colleagues with designing their ideal therapy or healing space.
We all bring different areas of creativity into our professional roles. For example, interior design is something that I deeply enjoy. I have always had a natural talent in this creative venue that emerged very early in my life. As a fellow therapist, you may be a wonderful artist, painter, writer, sculptor or musician, but struggle with interior design, room layout, furniture selection, color scheme, understanding scale and balance, or how to accessorize.
Colleagues often share that while they are excited to be achieving their professional dreams and goals, their office space does not reflect who they are as a therapist. They want a space for clients that supports the healing journey, yet are not sure how to create this.
This is where I love to step in with my design experience and provide support, guidance and direction. I work collaboratively, drawing on each person's unique aesthetic.
You don't have to pay a king's ransom or hire an expensive interior designer in order to have a beautiful and affordable office. In fact, I prefer to help my colleagues creatively "design on a dime" so that you can put the focus on the work you love.
This is achieved virtually via Zoom or face time as you walk me through your office space room-by-room, corner-by-corner, wall-by-wall to clearly map out each design step. It is so fun to team up and watch a once stressful or overwhelming process transform into a fun and exciting project.
Here are answers to commonly asked questions:
How do we meet: Once you schedule a design consulting session, you will send me a short video and several photos at least a day or two prior to our meeting. Your smart phone camera is just fine for this step.
While your photos do not have to be perfect, I will need photos with good lighting, and as much natural day lighting as possible. Simply opening up doors and windows and turning on all lights should be just fine.
Once you have your photos and video complete, email me the attachment so that I can download and review, and the fun begins! Together we will roll up our sleeves and come up with ideas to transform your space!
QUICK MEETING PREP TIP: For each room in your office that you would like my design support, take at least one photo from each corner of the room toward the center of the space so that I can see all angles. Then stand in the center of the room and take a photo into each corner of the room so that I have this perspective as well.
What happens during the session? You will either send me a Zoom link and we will meet via Zoom, or you may Face time me from your actual office so that you can take me through a virtual tour.
Please do not worry about looking your professional best as you may need to get on a step stool and measure or sit on the ground. I will show up to these virtual meetings in my casual yoga clothes as well so that you do not feel like the odd person out.
During the session I will ask you a few questions about what you like and dislike, colors, furniture, accessories, honing in on your specific tastes, in order to help you to create a design aesthetic.
QUICK MEETING PREP TIP: If there are Pinterest boards that you have done, or rooms that you have seen that you enjoy, this is the time to include those links.
What do I need to do to prepare: These are the tools you will need to bring to your office for our meeting:
Smart phone with Facetime or tablet with Facetime or Zoom;
Make sure your device is powered up at 100%
A way to prop up your phone or tablet (a stand, or even a bowl is fine) in case I need to watch you hold up a print or a piece of wall art;
A measuring tape (the yellow carpenter measuring tape found at any hardware store with a retractable tape);
A small safe and supportive step stool with no slip feet;
A notepad and preferably a pencil with an eraser, but a pen is fine too;
Comfy clothing and an open heart ready to learn
Can you help me with furniture placement? Absolutely! Make sure you have a stand for your phone, tablet or laptop so that you can position it in a way that allows me to see the room. Then, in real time we will arrange the furniture configuration, as long as it is not too heavy for you so that you are not injured.
Any other tips to prepare? You will want to take specific notes, measurements, and ask me any questions you have as I walk you through design ideas, details and tasks - just as if I was in the space with you in real time. I may even have you move a chair, lamp, plant or table (as long as they are not too heavy) and re-position.
If you are designing an empty space that really needs a lot of TLC, re-purposing a guest bedroom or spare space in your home, or wanting to warm up a large commercial space, that is fine. No matter what your specific project looks likes, I will team up with you drawing on my years of designing interiors.
What areas can you help me with?
Wall color and trim ideas
Wall covering ideas
Flooring Ideas
Window Treatment ideas
Area rugs or carpeting ideas
Lighting ideas
Furniture style and placement suggestions
Layout and scale suggestions
Accessories suggestions
Art and wall treatments suggestions
QUICK TIP: If you have specific furniture that you will keep in the space, or a particular piece of artwork or special item that you would like to add to your office space, be sure to take photos of these pieces as well. And please don't forget to include ceiling and floor shots so that I can really see the space through your eyes.
Let's start designing your beautiful office space!
What if my design style is different than yours? I work with you to create an office that reflects your "art" and soul as a therapist or healer.
For example, you might love vivid pops of color, or more neutral tones. Perhaps you feel most energized and happy in spaces with a lot of light, or an office that offers cozier lighting. If you are all about bright and fun, let's do it! Maybe your space has a theme, or specific needs for presentations or child therapy.
Or perhaps you have an oddly shaped room that you want to use in your office that is currently wasted space, and you would like to transform this in order to create more leveraged income through workshops and group meetings.
I have no idea what my style is, can you help me? You might be a person who has no idea what your design style is, and are saying to yourself, "Yep, that's me Mari, I have no idea where to begin!" that’s OK, you are not alone. People have different creative talents. You may, for example, have a beautiful website that you are proud of, but feel lost in decorating your office space.
What is your fee for design consulting? My fee is $185 per 50 minutes of design consulting support. You can schedule on my calendar by selecting the business coaching option.
See below for a few more design photos…
Here are a few more before and after office design photos..
The owners of this building would not allow the tenants to change the odd mustard yellow and drab brown walls. The space had no windows, ugly florescent lighting, unattractive industrial carpeting, and it was dark and dingy. It was a delight to help transform this small office into a jewel of a therapy space with warm lighting, soft fabrics, comfy but attractive furniture, curved lines, complimenting textures, interesting art, a large area rug, mirrors, and faux windows. A separate and unique space for a desk and filing cabinet was a must within this little one room office which is not always easy to achieve in a tiny space. Take a look…
If you would like to set up an appointment, you may schedule here, please note that there is typically a 4-6 week wait list.
Once your session is on the calendar, please email me your photos and video and email to me prior to your design session at mari@thecounselorscoach.com.
You may also send your color preferences, and pictures that resonate with you from Pinterest if you like.
Questions? Don't hesitate to reach out! Let's create a space you feel really good about.
Kindly and in support,
