What is Counselling?

Counselling is a process of communication between the counsellor and client, usually conducted with the goal of helping the client to gain a greater sense of wellbeing in life or overcome a crisis situation. Counselling has gone on in one form or another for millennia, but is now a formal discipline. A counsellor has undergone a course of training and should be a member of an ethical professional body. Counselling is an ethical and friendly relationship between the counsellor and client. In this relationship the counsellor applies counselling skills, qualities and techniques with the goal of assisting the client to overcome their problem scenario and also act as facilitator to help the client to work towards their aspirations.

Counsellors recognize that all people sometimes need help and social support as they move through the normal stages and transitions of life. This support may come in the form of moral support and the friendship of friends, family members or religious workers, or it could come in the form of a theraputic relationship with a counsellor. Unlike friends, family members or religious workers, counsellors hope to help the client with an ethos of facilitation rather than advice giving. The counsellor hopes to provide a structural, ethical and effective relationship to help the client in overcome difficulties and work for personal growth. Counselling may occur over a few or several sessions.

What can Counselling Help With?

Counselling may be helpful with

  • Overcoming Emotional Problems
  • Managing and Overcoming Depression
  • Overcoming Grief and Loss
  • Understanding Identity Issues
  • Dealing with Life Changes
  • Overcoming Interpersonal Problems
  • Overcoming Negative Thought Patterns
  • Overcoming Neurosis
  • Overcoming Relationship Problems
  • Self Exploration
  • Overcoming Stress and Anxiety