questions about counselling

Counselling is a talking therapy where you meet with a trained professional to explore personal issues, feelings or challenges in a safe environment. A counsellor won't tell you what to do but will listen, support and guide you to discover your own insights and solutions.

Counselling covers a wide range of issues and no problem is too big or too small if it's impacting your daily life and relationships. From anxiety and depressive periods, addiction, work stress, past trauma or abuse, bereavement or family or relationship struggles.

Counselling can help people understand themselves better, work through difficulties that may be old patterns or new triggers, develop coping techniques and strategies to adopt healthier ways of living and improve general well-being.

A first session usually sets the scene and goals are discussed. The role of the counsellor is to make you feel at ease and explain how sessions work. Therapy is a process that develops with regular momentum, enabling you to be as open as you can.

This is a common question and doesn't mean you need to reach a crisis point. Likely you have been feeling overwhelmed or low, mood changes or even feeling numb. You might be withdrawing or facing a major life change, or experiencing physical problems relating to eating or sleeping.

Yes. Counselling is strictly confidential and what you say stays in the room. The only time a counsellor may need to break this agreement is if they believed you were at risk of seriously harming yourself or somebody else. This is a fundamental aspect of therapy.

This is important as having a trusting rapport with your therapist is key to openness and comfort. Check they are registered and belong to a regulatory body like the BACP. Also look at their specialisms or approaches and use the first session to get a 'feel' for the connection.

Some people experience a 'flight into health' once they start counselling as they are doing something about a problem - but therapy is rarely linear, especially once deeper emotions surface and you need to learn how to channel them healthily.

You can stop counselling at any time but the longer you have been in therapy it is important to bring sessions to a safe close and not finish suddenly as this can do more harm than good.