Editorial Policy

Go Well Services publishes information about counselling, mental health and wellbeing, subjects where accuracy genuinely matters. This page explains how that content is written, who is responsible for it, and the standards we hold ourselves to. If we ever fall short, our corrections policy tells you how to put it right.

1. Who is responsible for our content

Everything published on this website is the responsibility of Lydia Nightingale (BA Hons, Dip, MBACP), a person-centred counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and a member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN). Lydia reviews, edits and approves every article before it is published and is accountable for its accuracy.

Articles carry a visible author byline and a "last reviewed" date so you always know who stands behind a piece and when it was last checked.

2. Why we publish

We publish to help real people understand counselling and make informed choices about their own wellbeing, not to chase search rankings. Every page is written to answer a genuine question a reader might have. If the honest reason for a page would be "to rank for a keyword" rather than "to help someone", we don't publish it.

3. How our content is created (including AI assistance)

We're open about how our content is made. Some articles are drafted with the help of AI tools to speed up research and structure, but AI is only ever a starting point.

Our AI-assistance disclosure. Some content on this website is drafted with the help of AI tools. Every article is then reviewed, edited and approved by Lydia Nightingale (MBACP) before it is published, and Lydia is responsible for its accuracy. AI is never used to provide counselling, clinical, or personal advice, and it is never a substitute for speaking with a qualified therapist.

This is the standard wording that appears, in short form, on article bylines across the site. Where a specific piece relies more heavily on AI drafting, we say so on that page.

4. How we research and source

• We aim to base factual claims on reputable, primary sources, for example the BACP Ethical Framework, the NHS, and recognised mental-health organisations, and to link to them where it helps the reader.
• We define specialist terms the first time we use them.
• We distinguish between established evidence and Lydia's professional opinion or experience, and we don't present one as the other.
• We don't copy or lightly reword other people's work, and we don't use fake reviews, invented case studies, or stock images presented as real clients.

5. The line on advice (important)

The information on this website is general and educational. It is not a diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for personalised professional help, and reading it does not create a counselling relationship. Counselling is a confidential, individual process, nothing you read here replaces speaking with Lydia or another qualified practitioner.

If you are in crisis or worried about your safety, please use the emergency contacts on our Terms page (in the UK: call 999, or the Samaritans free on 116 123).

6. Accuracy and fact-checking

Before publishing, Lydia checks that claims are supported, sources are current, and nothing is misleading. We're human, and mistakes can still happen, when they do, we fix them openly and explain what changed. See our corrections policy.

7. Keeping content current

Each article shows a "last reviewed" date. We review wellbeing and health-related content at least once a year, and sooner if guidance changes. We only update the review date when we've genuinely re-checked the content, we never refresh a date just to make a page look more recent.

8. Independence and honesty

• We don't publish paid-for articles, hidden adverts, or sponsored placements dressed up as editorial content. If that ever changes, any such content will be clearly labelled.
• Any external links are included because we think they're genuinely useful, not because we've been paid to add them.
• We don't use clickbait, misleading headlines, or pop-ups that get in the way of the content you came to read.

9. Telling us about a problem

If something on this site looks wrong, out of date, or unclear, please tell us. We want to know. Our corrections policy explains how, or you can reach us through the contact page (email lydia@gowellservices.co.uk).

How this page was prepared. This editorial policy was drafted with AI assistance and is provided for Lydia's review. The AI-disclosure wording in section 3 is reused on article bylines, so please confirm you're happy with it before launch.