Who, What, When?

Five Things People ALWAYS Want To Know About Counsellingexistential-counselling.co.uk /blog

1. What is counselling?

Counselling is a type of talking therapy. It is different from psychiatry because itdoes not involve medication. It is a special type of conversation which mainlyuses words, but can involve drawing, role playing or other creative methods. It isthe counsellor’s job to create a safe relationship so that the other person cantalk about what is troubling them. Having the space to talk about difficult things inour lives can be very helpful.

2. What is counselling for?

Counselling can be useful for anyone who has troubling things to talk about. Itmay be difficult to talk to close friends and family and so it can be useful to havesomeone outside of the situation to listen in a non- judgemental way.

3. What is it about counselling that works?

Having the space to talk about worries, with a warm and compassionate personcan help us feel better about those worries. Sitting down and focussing onourselves can help us to put into words things we may have been ignoring. Doing this for an hour a week can oftenhelp people make sense of their lives.

4. Where can I f ind a therapist?

There are a number of good online directories which list local counsellors in your area and tell you about theirexperience. The BACP and Counselling Directory are two good places to start. Your GP can help make a referral tolocal talking therapies services which are free, but you may have to wait to see a counsellor.

5. Is it depressing being a counsellor?

I don’t find it depressing being a counsellor. I take great hope from the resourcefulness of the people I see and theirability to make changes in their lives. It is important for counsellors to look after themselves though and to make suretheir personal problems are not getting in the way of listening.

“What things have you always wanted to know about counselling?”