What Counselling Is About/Why Visit A Professional Counsellor?

 

It is probably easier to tell you what counselling is not, than what it is.  Counselling is not gossipping, it is not getting advice from someone, or simply retelling your story so that it becomes a narrative which defines you rather than an event you will learn from.  (You can get all of the above from a friend, relative or stranger). 

 

Counselling is a process where the counsellor is a contractor (contracted by you), to work along side you to repair areas of your relationship or life which are causing you pain or giving you stress. Counselling tools include their qualifications and membership to professional bodies (this gives you some guarantee that they will cause no harm and refer on to specialist services if they are not able to assist you in the way you require).  Other tools are essential also, such as their relationship development and enhancement skills, empathetic regard, respect, supportive intention, skill and experience.

 

Reasons you may seek counselling.

 

- reduce the level of fear you carry in your life.

- increase the love and sense of belonging and connection with other people.

- decrease anxiety, stress and sadness.

 

Successful outcomes rely on: 

                                                                                     

- being able to  facilitate a shift from being a victim (Ï don't get enough"), to an agent of action ("what can I do?").  It is a move away from blaming others to accepting responsibility.

- The role of the counselling relationship between client and counsellor cannot be overstated - it is the foundation on which all work is performed. Carl Rogers named three ingredients that counselors give to successful therapeutic relationships: congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding.