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Counseling is a type of talking therapy that allows a person to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential and dependable environment.
A counselor is trained to listen with empathy (by putting themselves in your shoes). They can help you deal with any negative thoughts and feelings that you have.
Sometimes, the term 'counseling' is used to refer to talking therapies in general, but counselling is also a specific type of therapy in its own right.
Other psychological therapies include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and relationship therapy (which could be between members of a family, a couple or work colleagues).
Read more about other psychological therapies.
What is counseling used for?
Talking therapies, such as counseling, can be used to treat many different health conditions including:
- depression
- anxiety
- borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- long-term illnesses
- eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia
- drug misuse
How can counseling help?
Counseling aims to help you deal with and overcome issues that are causing pain or making you feel uncomfortable.
It can provide a safe and regular space for you to talk and explore difficult feelings. The counselor is there to support you and respect your views. They will not usually give advice, but will help you to find your own insight and understanding of your problems.
Counseling can help you to:
- cope with a bereavement or relationship breakdown
- cope with redundancy or work-related stress
- explore issues such as sexual identity
- deal with issues that are preventing you from achieving your ambitions
- deal with feelings of depression or sadness, and have a more positive outlook on life
- understand yourself and your problems better
- feel more confident
- develop a better understanding of other people's points of view
Counseling can often involve talking about difficult or painful feelings and, as you begin to face them, you may feel worse in some ways. However, with the help and support of your therapist, you should gradually start to feel better.
In most cases, it takes a number of sessions before the counseling starts to make a difference, and a regular commitment is required to make the best use of the therapy.
What to expect from counseling
During your counseling sessions, you will be encouraged to express your feelings and emotions freely. By discussing your concerns with you, the counselor can help you to gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, as well as identifying ways of finding your own solutions to problems.
The counselor may encourage you to identify issues and, if appropriate, take personal responsibility for them. They will be able to help you recognize the effects of other people and their actions, and explore alternative ways of coping with them.
It can be a great relief to share your worries and fears with someone who acknowledges your feelings and is able to help you reach a positive solution.
Trusting your counselor
A good counselor will focus on you and listen without judging or criticizing you. They may help you find out about how you could deal with your problems, but they should not tell you what to do.
For counseling to be effective, you need to build a trusting and safe relationship with your counselor. If you feel that you and your counsellor are not getting on, or that you are not getting the most out of your sessions, you should discuss this with your counselor.
If the situation does not improve, or your counselor is dismissive or unwilling to discuss the issue, it is perfectly acceptable to look for another counselor with whom you feel more comfortable.
If you are seeing an NHS counselor who is attached to your GP surgery, your GP may be able to arrange for you to see another NHS counselor. Alternatively, you could pay to see a private counsellor. Many counselors and counseling organizations offer a sliding scale of fees, where the more sessions you have, the cheaper it becomes.
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