Frequently Asked Questions 

What is Counselling?

Counselling  involves talking to someone who is trained to listen , It is a talking therapy which gives people  the opportunity to work through specific life issues. Counselling offers a safe place which is private and confidential to talk openly about things that are difficult to talk about. Counselling can work at either ends of the scale , one end could be brief Counselling to deal with a specific problem, at the other end could  be intense work  to deal with deep rooted problems, This depends on the individual person and their own personal needs, and how therapy works for them.  

A Counsellor can also be described as somebody who has been trained to work alongside people to help them identify some of the following things: 

• Where they are.
• How they got where they are.
•  Who they want to be.
• How they are going to get where they want to be.

Counselling is a way of helping people to identify and achieve solutions to their problems from within themselves . This usually is done with looking at situations with an emphasis on change .    

How do I know if I need Counselling?

Only you can decide whether you wish to try Counselling . Just talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference. Counselling  provides a regular time for those in distress to explore their feelings and talk about their problems. A Counsellor can  help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to live the life you deserve.

Counselling can help you if you: 

• Are unsure how to deal with a situation.
•  Feel there is nobody to talk to,  or anybody who understands.
•  Want some help in making a difficult decision.
•  You have tried to deal with an issue alone but have not succeeded. 

Counselling can help you work with your problem from a different perspective. Often we can get caught up in a problem and feel that there is no way out. Counselling can  help you see a problem objectively and find solutions you may not have thought of .  

What will Counselling do for me ?

Counselling can among other things:

• Help work through and overcome challenging events or issues .
• Learn to trust and believe in yourself . 
• Help work through and manage issues that are difficult to deal with.
• Learn how to break negative cycles so you can live life more healthier and create new opportunities for yourself. 
• Help to find focus in areas that feel out of control. 
• Provide the right tools to help you to cope and deal with situations or issues. 
• Help you understand that seeking Counselling is not a sign of weakness, it is a way of becoming mentally and emotionally stronger.   

What kind of problems can I talk to a Counsellor about?

Counselling is a individual experience , it is about you as person. Here are a few issues that may be brought into Counselling :

• Family issues , partners, parents, children divorce  
• Relationship difficulties -family friends, colleagues, commitment jealousy or abuse. 
• Lack of confidence, worries about failing, feeling judges , not being good enough. 
• Repeated destructive behaviour, binge eating /drinking, harming self , abusive relationships.

Would it be better just to talk to friends or family?

Counselling often works as it encourages people to talk with their friends and family and to use social networks . Nevertheless their can be some drawbacks as to using family and friends as your only support. 

• Family and friends may find it difficult to keep things confidential and have a conflict of loyalty. 
• They may become upset themselves by what you are telling them.
• They may be upset or angry if you do not accept their advice.
• If you need lots of help your friends may start to feel resentful and overburdened especially if they have their own problems, and you may begin to feel guilty. 

Counselors can often provide more specialist support than friends and family, they can look at the situation objectively. 

What is expected of me in Counselling ?

In the Counselling process a level of commitment is needed from you. It is expected that you attend sessions that have been arranged between you and your Counsellor .Sessions last for 50 minutes 

.A contract will be set up in the first session explaining what is required to keep the Counsellor and client 'safe.' his contract will be 'set up working  within the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapists code of ethics and guidelines.

 If a sessions is to be cancelled the Counsellor would  generally expect 24 hours notice  unless there were unforeseen circumstances. 

There  needs to be a willingness to work through what is going on for you in thoughts , feelings and behaviour .Counsellors understand this may be difficult , and are there to support you through the process and  to work at your pace.  

How long do I have to come to Counselling for? 

That is your choice, you can come as often or as little as you want to. Often there is an underlying fear that people may get trapped and come more than they want to or need to . As a Counsellor working ethically we  would not encourage you to come to sessions longer than required .We would have regular reviews to see how the Counselling is working,  which is an opportunity to discuss endings if that was what you want. 

Some people come to Counselling for a few sessions however it is a good idea to think about expecting at leant six sessions. The door is always open to return to Counselling at a later date for however long you wish. To do more in depth work it would be expected that Counselling could take longer.   In some cases your Counsellor may refer you to another specialist service , this would be discussed with you first and of course it is your decision whether you would like to do this.  would only be considered if the Counsellor felt a specialist service may be more beneficial to you.  

How many people in the UK have Counselling ?

The figures are uncertain, however, the number of qualified Counsellors has tripled in the last 10 years to keep up with demand. There are millions of people all over the world affected by emotional  problems. Those who do not experience some form of emotional  distress at some time during their lives are probably fairly unusual and extremely lucky.