What is Counselling?
Counselling can vary in the way it works, depending on the counsellor, their counselling modality (training), personal approach and any specialisms they may have. In general, the profession and research have found that counselling is most beneficial for the client, when there is a therapeutic alliance, or trusting relationship, established between client and counsellor.
In this therapeutic relationship, the counsellor will provide empathy in a non-judgemental and honest way. They will use their counselling skills, experience and knowledge to help their client understand their self at a deeper level, thereby creating opportunities for change and healing. The hope for clients, is that they can feel safe enough with their chosen counsellor, to be brave and explore, what is really going on for them. This may involve working through some painful feelings and experiences, and finding new ways to express their true self and needs.
What Counselling is not ?
Counselling is not about diagnosing clinical disorders nor providing directive solutions to problems. Whereas it can work very well alongside medicated conditions, it is not intended to provide an alternative to GP or specialist medical advice or support. Counselling will not avoid the client's innate need to express difficult feelings nor jump to conclusions for a quick fix. Counselling may sometimes advise though never tell you what to do or how to live. Neither will it support or condone illegal or harmful intentions toward the self or others.
What Benefits can be Expected?
The main benefits for clients are to enable a more fulfilled life by:
- increasing self-awareness and understanding (including the relationship with self and with others)
- healing and reducing the burden of troublesome emotions, thoughts and behaviour (creating new patterns and ways of being)
- increasing personal power and resilience (the ability to cope with or bounce back from adverse life challenges)
- discovering and enabling personal needs to feel happy and fulfilled (removing blocks to reaching one's potential)
