Counselling

What is Counselling

Counselling in its most basic form is helping to identify informed options so one is able to resolve a personal or group problem. The counsellor does not necessarily aim to make the decision for the counsellee. However in the process of enquiry, the counsellor, like a guide, helps to point the light in the right direction so the enquirer themselves, appear to make the discovery. This enlightenment is critical. It is like an 'Aha-a' moment! 

This self discovery is important. It establishes in the mind of the counsellee how they may have inadvertently allowed themselves to be bearing an unnecessary burden, by failing to establish a link in their role, maintaining the problem. An analogy might be drawn from the fire triangle where the three elements - heat, oxygen and fuel need to be present to ignite a flame. Remove any one of these elements the flame is promptly extinguished. Counselling perhaps helps the individual to recognise which of these elements metaphorically, is maintaining their problem. Once this is identified, it is the choice of the individual to decide to stop the fire by removing the element involved in their situation. Through counselling or "guided therapy", one learns to look in to the problem rather than being trapped within it, and not know how to resolve it.

Counselling has however evolved to become a recognised form of support or therapy for individuals needing help with decision making or resolving a problem.

Finding a Counsellor

The Counselling Therapist is someone trained in offering counselling to individuals who consider their problems to be amenable to such intervention. Such therapist will be registered with a government accredited counselling body.

In the UK, the following link to the PSA will assist anyone to find an accredited counsellor.

Attending Counselling sessions

Counselling until recently typically involves booking an appointment to meet with the counsellor at a nominated location, usually an office. This is not necessarily the case with the advent of multiple means communication.

Formal counselling sessions can now be arranged via the following means:

• By email
• Online Chat links
• Telephone sessions
• Video link sessions
• Face-to-face meeting

Counselling is more often done on an individual bases. However group counselling sessions may also be arranged as part of an intervention such as a peer group, work place or family setting.