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Counselling FAQ

What do you need to know? Here are some frequently asked questions, if this doesn't answer your question use the contact page to send your question.

What is counselling?

Counselling is the space and time to think and talk about you and you alone. People find it helpful for different reasons. It can:

  • Help you talk about something difficult that you’ve never shared before

  • allow you to explore parts of yourself and your relationships and help you make sense of them

  • help you to clarify a way forward through difficult situations

  • give you the confidence and courage to make significant changes to your behaviour

  • help to release the tension and stress that builds up and teach you how to cope better

  • provide support and comfort that someone is there for you

  • give you a safe place to work things out

Counselling isn’t about the counsellor giving you all the answers. It’s about them supporting you as you find your own solutions and help build your confidence and self-esteem.

What kind of problems can counselling help with?

Counselling can help with a wide range of issues. Like; Abuse, Addiction, Anger, Anxiety and Stress, Bereavement and loss, Depression, Divorce, Eating Disorders, Fears, Gender,  Health Issues, Major life changes, Relationships, Sexuality, Trauma, Violence, Work issues.

What types of counselling do you offer?

Short term psychotherapeutic counselling

  • Dealing with issues related to problem solving or difficult events that you are going through, using the skills you already have to help yourself. This may be 6,12 or 18 sessions.

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Longer term psychotherapeutic counselling  

  • This deals with identifying, understanding and coming to terms with patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that have developed over the course of your life and which are getting in the way of you living a comfortable and happy life today. 

What is the initial assessment?

The first stage of any counselling is an assessment session which lasts for around 50 minutes. During this time, the counsellor will ask certain questions about you and your life. This information helps to make an initial assessment of your circumstance and is important because it helps to establish whether you are the counsellor can work together. 

What does the counsellor do?

Listening carefully is the largest part of what all counsellors do. They help clients to work through the problem areas in their lives and help them decide what steps they want to take next. Counsellors will always let the work proceed at the client’s pace. They offer support while the client begins to make changes to how they want to be and live their life. 

What do I talk about?

Before attending your first counselling session, it may be helpful to prepare by writing down your reasons for seeking help, to make describing your thoughts and feelings to a counsellor more comfortable.  You can talk about anything that is on your mind, however large or small you think your problem is. You might find yourself saying things you had not expected to say.  A counsellor will always help you explore your circumstances and options.

FAQ: FAQ
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