Frequently asked questions about counselling

How do I know counselling is for me?
The honest truth is you won't unless you try it! We recognise that counselling is not for everybody, and some clients may be better suited to other therapeutic strategies. However, many people find counselling useful to resolve difficulties and / or improve their health & well-being.

How does counselling work?
First and foremost, counselling works by giving you the chance to be heard. Your counsellor will give you time to talk, sob, shout or just think. It's an opportunity to look at the problem in a different way with someone who'll respect and value you as a person. Counselling will give you time and space, just for you, providing the opportunity to work towards living in a way you find more satisfying and resourceful. Although it's hard to measure exactly how effective counselling is, it's a profession that's rapidly growing as more and more people discover the benefits for themselves.

I'm really not 'crazy' or 'mad' so will counselling be useful for me?
Counselling is used effectively for all kinds of different issues that many of us experience at sometime in our lives. Some people come to counselling to resolve specific issues while others come to counselling to work out what is upsetting or bothering them. Some people come to counselling not because they have a problem but simply to learn more about themselves for self-development.

To see a counsellor does not mean that you are either mad or weak, but rather:

• you are an ordinary person who wants to deal with something in your life;
• you are experiencing a crisis or something is causing you concern;
• you want to face up to a problem and deal with it;
• you are experiencing a situation which is unfamiliar or challenging enough to feel threatening;
• people or circumstances around you are changing or you are changing.

Why should I talk to a counsellor?
The advantage counsellors have over friends is that counsellors don't have a vested interest in what you say or what action to take. We will try to help you reach the solution which is best for you. We hope you achieve greater clarity about what troubles you and the resources you have to deal with it.

What is counselling for:
Counselling can help you deal with a wide range of issues including:

So does it matter if I am not sure whether I ought to be seeing a counsellor?
No, it does not matter at all. Please come and have a discussion, if you feel comfortable you can carry on, if not you can stop. If your problem lies outside our area of expertise, we will put you in touch with the appropriate professionals.

When might my counsellor talk to someone else about me or my sessions?
There are three different answers to this question:

1. at your specific request;
2. when someone is at risk of actual harm:
   If you give the counsellor information which suggests that you, or another person, is at risk of actual harm, the counsellor has a legal responsibility to disclose this information. In the rare cases where this needs to happen, counsellors will make all possible arrangements to disclose such information with your permission, but passing the information on will not depend on your permission.
3. in supervision:
   As a requirement of their profession, all counsellors have supervision. They discuss their work with their supervisor, which is done without sharing any information which will make you identifiable in any way. Supervisors are required to maintain the confidentiality, and, since the supervision is focussed on the work of the counsellor, she or he does not have to identify you to their supervisor.

Will it go on my records that I have had counselling?
If your counselling is funded by your GP practice it will be noted on your records but without disclosing any details of the session. If you pay for it privately it will not be noted on your records.

Should I see a counsellor who is the same gender as me?
Counselling is about you, not about the counsellor, so really the counsellor's gender is not significant. However, if you do have a particular preference, we have male and female counsellors, so do tell us when you make your first appointment.

What if I need to talk to someone at night?
We do not have a night line to call. You can however telephone the Samaritans on 08457 909090 any time. Our practice is available during the daytime, between 9 and 5, with some flexibility.

How long will I have to wait to see a Counsellor?
There may be a short waiting list but you will be told the length of time when you call to make an appointment.

Can talking to a counsellors help with 'medical' or 'physical' problems'?
Yes, it can help. Most people would see 'medical' and 'physical' problems as those things which have to do with our bodies like headache, nausea, indigestion, tummy ache, erratic sleeping patterns, eating too much or too little, etc. However, there may also be a link to our minds and the way we think about ourselves or the world we live in. Talking to a counsellor may assist you in changing the way you think in order to reduce your stress and anxiety which sometimes causes the 'physical symptoms' listed above.

Ways counselling could be useful in health related matters:

• for people who go to the doctor due to physical symptoms, some of which may be resulting from relationship difficulties, financial worries, interpersonal conflict, or some form of abuse, etc.;
• for people who may be suffering from, or supporting someone who may have been diagnosed with, a terminal or serious illness. Illness can provoke a range of intense feelings and raise difficult personal questions. It is natural to experience fear, anger, sadness, confusion and helplessness if you or a loved one becomes ill. It can be helpful to talk to someone who understands and has experience in helping others during times of difficulty.

What can I expect from the counselling sessions?
Most sessions start with an informal but confidential conversation in a relaxing, and supportive atmosphere with a therapist. During this conversation, whether to meet again and/or the way to proceed will be jointly decided by you and the therapist. How the therapeutic process develops from this first meeting is a matter of consideration and shared choice, usually depending on your needs/preferences and professional opinion of the therapist. In very broad sense, the following gives a considered overview of some aspects of the therapeutic process.