What is Counselling?

Counselling is an opportunity for people to explore issues in their lives which are causing them problems or which they would like to change. By paying close attention to what the client says, the counsellor attempts to understand the issues from the client's point of view and offer clarification and an alternative perspective.

Sometimes bottled up feelings of anger, anxiety, grief or embarrassment may be difficult to manage, and counsellors will encourage clients to express these feelings. Their training enables counsellors to accept and reflect on a client's problems without becoming burdened by them.

Counselling involves talking to a trained therapist whose job is to help the client find their own solutions. Counsellors do not direct clients to take a particular course of action, but may help clients to examine in detail different options for change.

Counsellors offer a confidential service which means that nothing said in the counselling room is spoken about outside that space except in the context of professional supervision. The other exceptions to this are when there are concerns about personal safety or protecting children.