About counselling

Most people, from time to time, experience difficulties and painful events in their lives. They may be dealing with a particular crisis or life transition, struggling to cope with relationship difficulties, or experiencing general feelings of unhappiness and confusion.

Counselling seeks to provide a supportive and helping relationship where problems can be explored, thoughts and feelings expressed and possibilities for the future considered.

The counsellor will strive to be open-minded and non-judgemental in order to gain an understanding of the client’s difficulties and experiences. Counselling may help clients acquire better understanding of past and present conflicts, to recognise their own resources and consider possibilities for dealing with difficult situations. This may involve clarifying choices and opportunities for bringing about change; or alternatively may help clients come to terms with those aspects of their lives they are unable or do not wish to change.

Counselling practitioners differ in the way they work – a description of the different approaches can be found on the BACP website (www.bacp.co.uk).

Counselling does not provide a simple or magical answer to problems; however many people find it helpful to talk about their feelings and experiences within the supportive and confidential relationship provided by a professional counsellor.