When is counselling needed?

Sometimes counselling is the best way to start to tackle stress or distress. The reasons for seeking counselling may be varied, for instance, feeling:

upset

depressed

lonely

hopeless

angry

inadequate

unheard

It can be hard work, but can help deal with individual's problems and handle the demands of home and work.

What can counselling offer?

The opportunity to:
be listened to in a confidential environment
explore fears in an atmosphere of acceptance
explore difficulties in making and sustaining relationships
help to make sense of confusion
talk freely and openly with a professionally trained counsellor

The overall aim of counselling is to provide an opportunity for the client to work towards living in a way he or she experiences as more satisfying and resourceful. The objectives of particular counselling relationships will vary according to the clients' needs.

Above all, the aim of a counselling situation is to create an environment of trust and relative security in which personal exploration and growth can take place - to create a 'safe' space where problems can be listened to sympathetically.

The purpose in counselling is to try to help the client to make sense of his or her thoughts and feelings, not just in relation to others, but also in how they relate to themselves.

Counselling cannot change the client's experiences from the past, but it can be hoped that between counsellor and client the 'creative' process will enable the traumas and conflicts to be worked through and to be put into historical perspective.

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