What Can I Expect From Counselling?
Counselling can be useful for anyone who wants to explore the way they’re thinking or feeling and to look further at worries or difficulties they are experiencing.
Counsellors are trained to listen without judgement. They are not there to tell you what to do or to give advice, but to support you through your own journey of discovery. They will work with you to find ways for you to go forward in a way that you feel happy with.
They can also help you to discover and develop a deeper sense of who you are and what you want and need.
Making the decision to engage in counselling and to work towards a better future for yourself is a big step and can feel daunting. It is important that you find a counsellor that you feel comfortable to be open with.
Your counsellor should set out clearly what you can expect from the sessions
For example, they may ask you questions such as:
Why do you feel counselling is right for you now?
What is your current life situation and history?
What is it that you are finding difficult at the moment?
You will have an opportunity to ask questions that you may have too.
Your counsellor should establish clear boundaries when you meet, this is known as a contract, and will cover things such as:
the way your personal data is held
dates and times of the counselling sessions
confidentiality agreement
how and when the counsellor can be contacted
Counselling often requires you to talk about difficult feelings, so it is worth noting that not every session will leave you feeling better. Counselling is a process which can take time. You will need to be engaged in the sessions and you will need to feel this from your counsellor too. As you move forward, you will hopefully begin to see differences in how you are feeling.
