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What is counselling used for?

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Counselling is a kind of therapy for talking that allows individuals to talk about their feelings and problems in a secure and confidential setting.

A counsellor can be trained to hear to you with compassion (by taking themselves into your position). They can assist you in dealing the negative emotions or feelings that you are experiencing.

Sometimes, the word “counselling” is used to describe talking therapies, however counselling is also a form of therapy on its own.

Other therapies for psychological disorders include psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as well as relationship therapy. It can be between members of families, couples or colleagues from work.

What exactly is counselling used for?

Counselling and other forms of therapy can help people with a variety of mental health issues, such as:

depression

anxiety

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

long-term illnesses

eating disorders, for example, anorexia and bulimia

drug misuse

What can counselling do to help?

Counselling is a way to assist you in overcoming and conquer problems that cause emotional discomfort or make people feel uneasy.

It is an open and safe space to talk to others and discuss difficult emotions. The counsellor is there to assist you and accept your viewpoints. They will not usually offer guidance, but they can help you gain your own insight into and understand your issues.

Counselling is a great way to help:

face a loss or break-up in a relationship

manage redundancy and stress from work

discuss issues like sexuality

tackle issues that hinder you from reaching your goals

overcome the feelings of sadness or depression deal with sadness or depression and keep a positive attitude towards life.

manage anxiety and stress help you deal with anxiety, allowing you to worry less about your worries

Learn to understand yourself and your issues better

Feel more secure

gain a greater appreciation of different views

Counselling is often about speaking about painful or difficult experiences. When you face these feelings, you might be feeling worse in certain ways. But, with the help and assistance by your counsellor, you will gradually feel better.

In the majority of cases it will take a couple of sessions before counselling begins to show results and a constant commitment is needed for the greatest benefit of the treatment.

What should you expect from counselling

During your sessions with counsellors during your sessions, you’ll be encouraged let your emotions and thoughts out. When you discuss your concerns with the counsellor, they will help you gain more understanding of your feelings and thinking processes and also help you identify methods to find your own solutions for problems.

It’s a wonderful comfort to talk about your concerns and anxieties with someone who understands your emotions and can to guide you to an effective solution.

The counselling process will be conducted:

Telephone
Online

Counselling can be provided as a single appointment, as a shorter course of sessions spread over several months or weeks or as a long course that runs for a number of months or even years.

Believing in your counsellor

A good counsellor will concentrate on your needs and will not judge or critiquing you. They can help you figure the best way to solve your issues however they shouldn’t be telling you what you should do.

In order for counselling to be successful it is essential to establish an enduring and secure relationship with your counsellor. If you think it’s like your counsellor and you aren’t on or finding it difficult to get the best value out of the sessions, discuss the issue with them or refer them to a different counsellor.