What is counselling ?
There are ‘lots’ of different Counselling ‘out there, but what is counselling? Counselling is mainly a talking therapy. It is the chance to talk about any difficulties, problems or worries that you might be experiencing, in a safe confidential space without the fear of being judged.
Counselling may feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you have not done it before. Sometimes people are worried they might not feel comfortable talking to a counsellor about their issues, therefore finding the right one is important.
Feeling comfortable and being able to trust that person enables you to explore your difficulties. This will help you to get the most out of your therapy.
Many Counsellors offer an introduction to introduce themselves and explain a bit about what they do. This gives both you and your therapist the opportunity to see if you are both happy to work together. This is something I offer. I believe it is important for people to feel comfortable as it is the basis of forming a good therapeutic relationship, as this will help you benefit from your therapy.
I do not feel that I can be of the best support, I may signpost you or recommend a qualified counsellor that may be better suited to your difficulties.
Counselling can be sort for many different reasons. Throughout life, there are many ups and downs and different challenges thrown in our path. This might be due to depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, low self-esteem, or relationship issues. Perhaps you have lost a loved one, or pet, and are struggling with feelings of grief. Emotions leave us feeling overwhelmed. Entering different stages throughout our life, these changes have a big impact on us and our daily lives such as menopause.
People often seek out counselling if they are ‘feeling stuck’ which may be impacting on living their life in a way that they would like. Counselling also offers the chance to reflect, to be heard and to learn about yourself which will help you to move forward. Speaking to a qualified counsellor can really make a difference and help support you in moving forward and reaching a place you would like to be.
Whatever your difficulties Counsellors are trained to listen, support and help you explore in a non-judgmental way, and therefore are different to that from family and friends. Often friends and family are in close relationships with you and therefore may not listen in a non-judgmental way, or you may not feel able to speak entirely in depth.
Counselling enables issues to be explored safely working one to one in a confidential environment. Helping to understand and make sense of things, to make your own choices with confidence that is right for you in your life.
