FAQs: Counselling

What is Counselling?
Very few people really understand what counselling actually means, associating the word with weakness, self-indulgence and view counselling as something that only happens to other people, certainly not themselves. In counselling this is called denial. Counselling is about confronting issues in such a manner that they enable you to live your life in a more resourceful manner. Counselling is about identifying your internal strengths and taking responsibility for your own emotions and behaviour and not accepting other peoples views, ways and opinions. Counselling is about finding the real you and being the real you. Counselling provides a forum where individuals or couples come together with a Counsellor to seek solutions to a specific problem, to learn new coping skills, to become better organised, to seek an answer about a life dilemma, to function more maturely or to clarify what is ailing them. Counselling is a process through which individuals can come to a greater understanding of themselves and their relationship with other people. From this may emerge the possibility of change, enabling individuals to engage more appropriately with the world so that they are able to live in a less damaging and more satisfying way. Part of the process is simply about being heard. That, of itself, may be enough to enable someone to move on . What is also important is the willingness of the counsellor to really engage with the client - to build a relationship based on trust, understanding and respect through which a safe place for exploration and possible change can be erealised. The role f a counselor is that of facilitator who enable the process to take place. It is not about forcing change or coercing individuals into "behaving". Above all, counseling is based on respecting and valuing the individual, accepting the need for clients to devewlop in their own way within their own time.

Is Counselling a Substitute for seeing a Doctor?
Anyone who is worried about this should consult their GP and mention they are considering counseling. Counselling can often support and complement medical treatment.

Who needs Counselling?
The simple answer is probably every one of us some time in our lives. Work or family stresses, emotional crises, money pressures, bereavement - these and many other factors can pus us into feelings of anxiety or depression.

How can Counselling help?
Firstly by providing an empathic, supportive listening ear. Then progressively, by working through your problems, enabling you to find new ways of coping. Counselling helps you rediscover the power to manage your life. The process of counselling is one of self-empowerment, of gaining internal strength and facing the world in a manner that is self enhancing. This clearly has many and varying consequences, and it enables those people who have received some form of counselling to feel in control of themselves, more self-assured; this in turn can have very positive effects on peoples relationships and on their health. Quite simply, when people are able to be in touch with their feelings and emotions they begin to take more control and manage their emotions so that their emotions do not manage them, both in terms of their relationships and health/well being.

How does talking to a stranger help?
You'll find that talking to a trained counselor in total confidence, can be much easier and more therapeutic than talking to friends or family.

Do Counsellors give Advice?
Very rarely - the aim is to empower you to find your own solutions, and rebuild your self-esteem.

When can Counselling Help?
When you know that you cant just "pull yourself together". When you feel anxious and disempowered. When your self-esteem is low.

What happens at the first Counselling session?
At the initial session (this may run into two sessions or be a 'double' session) the counsellor will evaluate your needs and recommend the number of sessions you will need.

How frequently are the Sessions?
Normally these are weekly or two weekly.

How long do Sessions last?
Normally 50 minutes.

How many Sessions will I need?
Some problems can be dealt with within six or eight sessions. If the problems are more severe, especially chronic or long-term difficulties, then it may take much longer.

What happens in a Counselling Session?
Sessions will review the various situations and relationships that may be troublesome for you. Specifically, we will want to learn the kinds of thoughts and assumptions you may have, what behaviours you engage in that are rewarding or punitive to yourself or others, and your style of communicating and listening. The overall goal is to solve your problems.

Is Counselling Confidential?
All personal information is treated in the strictest confidence and remains confidential to the counsellor. This is crucial for you to feel able to trust the service, knowing that it is safe to talk openly about what is happening. This strict confidentiality rule would only be broken, in most cases with the client's consent, should exceptional circumstances arise which give the counsellor good grounds for believing that serious harm may be caused to the client or to others. The counselor also receives supervision of their work and your sessions may be discussed, in confidence with their supervisor. Every effort is made to maintain your anonymity.

What Is Telephone Counselling?
Most counselling is face-to-face. It will take place either in aroom at the counsellors premises, your employers premises or at your own home. For many, this is inconvenient or difficult to arrange and they may wish to consider telepohne counselling. For FAQs and more information about telephone counselling click here

How Do I decide whether I need Counselling?
Counselling may be for you if you are feeling anxious, depressed, worried about work or personal problems, bereavement, phobias or feel unfulfilled in any sense and nothing seems to help. You may have tried to cope with your problems on your own but you find it hard to deal with. Counselling can help you develop the necessary coping skills and can provide you with a set of new strategies you can apply to make your problem manageable.

FAQs provided by www.welisten.co.uk and www.resolvehelp.com

Professional Bodies

The main professional body for counselling is the British Association for Counselling (BAC). The aim to promote the understanding and awaerness of counselling; increase the availability of trained and supervised counsellors; maintain and raise standards of training and practice; provide support for those using counselling skills and opportunities for their continual professional development; respond to requests for information and advice on matters relating to counselling and represent counselling at national and international levels.

   The BAC has developed Codes of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors, Counselling Skills, Trainers and for the Supervision of Counsellors. They operate an acceditation scheme for individual counsellors, trainers and supervisors and for counselling training courses. They run an information office annd sell directories descibing counselling services and training in counselling.

British Association for Counselling
1 Regent Place
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 2PJ
Tel: 01788 578328
Website: http://www.counselling.co.uk

Training

Many local colleges and universities run training courses in counselling as well as independent trainers.

All courses except those at an introductory level should be validated. The minimum qualification for a sole counsellling practitioner is usually considered to be a Diploma in Counselling and counsellors themselves should undergo regular supervision.

Validating organisations include:

Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB)
PO Box 1768, Glastonbury,
Somerset BA6 9FE.
Tel: 01458 835333

Central School of Counselling & Therapy Ltd (CSCT)
118 - 120 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0JR
Tel: 0171 836 1711

Links

Resolve 20th January 2003