Introduction

 

Counselling is sometimes called the 'the talking cure', it gives you (the client) a chance to talk to a qualified professional in a safe, and confidential setting. In counselling you talk and the counsellor helps you to explore and clarify your thoughts and feelings about distressing or difficult and powerful emotions that may be stopping you from moving on with your life.

 

The aim of counselling is to enable you to explore these painful issues so that you can gain a deeper insight into yourself, understand the reason for your unhappiness so that you can overcome what is preventing you from taking control of you life and moving forward.

 

There are many theories and methods of counselling. An integrative counsellor believes that no one model or theory of counselling can adequately account for all aspects of human experience and combines aspects of different counselling models depending on the individual. All counsellors, however, irrespective of their orientation, believe that a good counselling relationship is essential to an effective positive outcome to therapy.

 

Your counsellor will create the right environment for an effective relationship with you. It is this relationship that makes it possible for you to develop trust. You will begin to feel heard, listened to and understood. He or she will not make decisions for you or tell you what to do.

 

Your counsellor enables you to explore the problem from your frame of reference, and then to focus on specific issues. The counsellor's attitude will be non-judgemental and accepting, her use of empathic understanding allows you to begin to feel heard. From time to time during the session she may need to paraphrase or summarise what she has heard to clarify and gain a better understanding from your point of view. Finally, your counsellor will help you to consider possible ways to act, devise a plan of action and how to put it into effect.

 

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