Pictured above: Teresa Lewis of Lewis Psychology - counselling a client

A huge increase in executive clients needing support in the face of challenging economic conditions has led to significant growth for Wolverhampton-based Lewis Psychology. 

Launched two years ago, with the aim of providing professional and accessible counselling and coaching services to individuals and organisations around the West Midlands and Staffordshire, Lewis Psychology has had to more than treble its team to cope with demand over the past year. 

Founder and executive coach Teresa Lewis explains: "We've grown at a rate way beyond our forecasts and had to take on several new staff this year. People come to us for all sorts of reasons - it could be a workplace issue, or a relationship breakdown, or a financial issue that is causing distress.  Whatever the reason, we offer support when it is most needed."

The challenging economic climate has definitely increased stress levels, sometimes to breaking point. Teresa says "We are being employed by private and public sector organisations to help employees cope with internal restructuring and the stress of being made redundant and finding a new job.  And we are working with mangers and leaders many of whom are struggling with decision-making around issues such as making staff redundant, how to increase the bottom line in such difficult times and whether to sell up or keep going." 

Lewis Psychology also offers support for managers on how to handle difficult employees or situations, giving them help to tackle any issues they may have so that they can work effectively and efficiently.

Teresa believes that work-related issues invariably have a psychological dimension, indeed, they often reside one or more levels deeper than the presenting issue. "This may manifest in the very way a person is framing or perceiving their issue," she says, "or in self limiting belief systems. It may also be in how the person feels about themselves, their colleagues or their work and life as a whole. It is often most obvious when they attempt to change some long standing behavioural pattern and find that they keep 'reverting to type'. That is why we place such importance on the psychological and behavioural change skills of our coaches."

At a time of upheaval and change, Teresa says executive coaching offers at least four valuable things: time and space to reflect rather than just do; an honest and direct relationship with someone outside of the organisation who can support, whilst at the same time challenge and encourage; respectful, honest, balanced and timely feedback to enhance performance, learning and development; and tools and techniques that can be used when dealing with everyday tasks and new challenges.

Lewis Psychology is a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means that the profits generated through its growth will be ploughed back into the business to extend its services and create employment opportunities, particularly for those most disadvantaged in the labour market.

Teresa explains: "When I set up the business, I was clear that I wanted to work for more than just profit. As a CIC Lewis Psychology has transparent and defined social objectives and I am able to use my entrepreneurial skills to provide benefit to the local community."