What is Counselling?

and how do you find the right counsellor

What is Counselling?

Counselling is a therapeutic relationship to facilitate change for a discomforted client. People enter into counselling so that they might find a more satisfactory way to live. Counselling helps to support emotional growth and well-being. Counselling is an agreement entered into by a client and counsellor. It is non-exploitative.

Sessions are usually about 50 minutes long. They will start with the counsellor offering an initial assessment. Together with the client, the goals the client would like to achieve are discussed before creating a contract for this work. Practical considerations of times, fees, confidentiality, data protection etc are all established at this point too. Clients have a right to expect transparency from the counsellor. They should find a counsellor they feel is right for them.

The counsellor will sign post the client to alternative help if they believe a different kind of therapy or other expertise would be more appropriate for the client.

The counsellor will abide by the Ethical Framework of the British Association (BACP) for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Counselling is an active engagement requiring commitment, introspection and reflection from both parties.

It is a partnership process meaning that the client and the counsellor participate in decisions about the treatment and ending therapy.

Counselling addresses a diverse number of emotional problems including depression, anxiety, problems of addiction, abuse, trauma grief, relationship issues, and death anxieties.

How do I choose a Counsellor?

It may be that you have a word of mouth referral for a counsellor from a friend. Or you might choose to go to the BACP for a list of accredited therapists.

You will need to know that they adhere to a code of ethics.

It is important that you feel comfortable and at ease to share intimate personal feelings thoughts and experiences so that you can create a good working relationship.

A counsellor should be open about their fees, credentials and experience.